Gold Town wins UAE 2000 Guineas
Gold Town remained unbeaten on dirt and undefeated in Dubai with an easy win in Thursday’s Group 3 United Arab Emirates 2000 Guineas at Meydan Racecourse.
Gold Town is scheduled to have his next start in the $2 million UAE Derby at 1 3/16 miles on March 31 at Meydan. If he wins the UAE Derby, Gold Town might be pointed to the Kentucky Derby, said trainer Charlie Appleby.
Ridden by William Buick for Sheikh Mohammed’s Godolphin Racing, Gold Town led throughout the UAE 2000 Guineas at a mile, cruising to victory by 10 1/4 lengths over the longshot Gotti.
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“We were confident that this distance was going to be no problem, and the first thing William said when he got off was that the UAE Derby trip will never be a problem for him,” Appleby said on Godolphin’s website.
“If we were lucky enough to go and win the UAE Derby, then of course the logical step would be to aim for the Kentucky Derby. There aren’t the same options if we take a Street Cry gelding back to the UK, and there is no reason at all to be switching back to turf. He wouldn’t bring the same level of form to that surface.
“It’s very rare that you see horses quicken like he does on the dirt. It’s not a slog for him. He has got gears.”
Gold Town was part of a field of 15 in the UAE 2000 Guineas. He took the lead shortly after the start and was clear of his rivals with three furlongs remaining. Last Voyage, a Kentucky-bred owned by Godolphin, finished third.
Gold Town, who was favored at 4-11 with British bookmakers, has won half of his eight starts. In Great Britain last year, Gold Town won a maiden race on turf at Newbury in April and a minor handicap on turf at Newmarket in August. He was seventh in the Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot last June.
Gold Town was gelded after the Chesham. Gold Town won his first start on dirt at Meydan in an allowance race at seven furlongs on Jan. 25. He was fifth in a stakes for 2-year-olds on the Tapeta surface at Newcastle last May.