Sheik in blue heaven - Revitalised Godolphin team are ready to hit Classic trail this season

Whereas 12 months ago they had scant success at their carnival and lacked three-year-olds with any clout, the opposite is now the case.

Ibn Khaldun, winner of the Racing Post Trophy, worked beautifully on the Tapeta surface, invented by Michael Dickinson. He goes straight to Newmarket for the 2,000 Guineas (7-1 from 9s with Coral).

Laureldean Gale, who disappointed in the Prix Marcel Boussac at Longchamp in October having become over-excited in the preparade ring, has been working nicely and is a 1,000 Guineas (14-1) hope.

Godolphin are still unsure whether they have a Derby horse as there are doubts about Ibn Khaldun's stamina. But McCartney, who won the Champagne Stakes, will run in the Dante to see if he measures up.

Ramonti, who misses the Dubai Duty Free on Saturday because of an infected hind leg, will be aimed at the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot, which he won last year.

Godolphin manager Simon Crisford said: 'We have some really nice threeyear- olds this year — last year they lacked Classic potential.

'Ibn Khaldun will play a big part in the Guineas. The Derby is a different ball game because he is not bred to get a mile and a half. But he has the right credentials and profile. He's got loads of speed.

'We are a lot more hopeful than last year. This season we have proper three-year-olds who performed at two.

'The wheel turns and sometimes you have a good crop of yearlings and sometimes it's not possible to maintain championship form at the top level every season.

'We will have 175 horses at Newmarket this season (200 last year).

'Sixty of them are two-year-olds and among them is Meydan City (the $10 million Kingmambo colt). He is fantastic looking but we haven't been able to assess him yet.'

Jalil, the $9.7million colt who had disappointed until this year, takes on America's Horse of the Year, Curlin, in Saturday's $6 million Dubai World Cup.

He is unbeaten this year and keeps improving on dirt. He will be campaigned in America later this season.

His jockey Frankie Dettori said: 'I always liked the horse and he's come to himself and lived up to our expectations. He's improving with fresh legs.

'You can't get away from Curlin, whose credentials are second to none, and Jalil will need to step up again. Officially he is 11lb in front of us.'

Trainer Saeed bin Suroor nominated Rio De La Plata, a likely French 2,000 Guineas hope, as his horse to follow this season.

Fast Company, runner-up in the Dewhurst Stakes, is an intended runner in the 2,000 Guineas but has not been impressing in his work.

Crisford's pick of the Godolphin horses running at Nad al Sheba on Saturday are Diabolical (Golden Shaheen), Cocoa Beach — on whom Ted Durcan keeps the ride — in the UAE Derby and Elusive Warning in the Godolphin Mile.

Sheik Mohammed's decision to buy the Ingham family's Woodlands stud and all their bloodstock in Australia for £230 million is down to him being well received in the southern hemisphere.

His bloodstock advisor John Ferguson, who put the deal together, said: 'Sheik Mohammed's decision to expand is because of the positive reaction to him in Australia.

'It's a very exciting venture. As well as the mares and foals there are about 350 racehorses in training which we have bought.

'Until now we have had about 35 horses in training with Lee Freedman.'