Race horse trainer Saeed bin Suroor announced Thursday morning that jockey Alan Garcia would ride Regal Ransom in Kentucky Derby 135 and jockey Ramon Dominguez would have the mount on Desert Party for Godolphin.
“Alan is staying on the horse he rode in Dubai,” race horse trainer Saeed bin Suroor said of the rider who won the UAE Derby (G2) by a half-length over Desert Party. “We have two very good riders.”
Bin Suroor had not seen his 2 Kentucky Derby starters since they left Dubai for Churchill Downs, arriving on April 9.
“I was surprised at how well they looked,” bin Suroor said. “Sometimes horses don’t travel well, but they look happy and in good condition. They look better to me than they did in Dubai.”
Exercise rider Bob Chapman handled morning duties on both colts. First out was Desert Party, who galloped 1 1/4 miles, and then Regal Ransom visited the starting gate and then galloped 1 1/4 miles.
“Both of them will work Saturday and Bob will handle both works,” bin Suroor said.
Godolphin is returning to the Kentucky Derby for the first time since Essence of Dubai ran ninth in 2002. Previous Godolphin Kentucky Derby entries were Worldly Manner (seventh in 1999), China Visit and Curule (sixth and seventh, respectively in 2000) and Express Tour (eighth in 2001).
“We are hoping for good fortune this time,” bin Suroor said. “I feel like we have better horses this time than we have had in the past. This is a tough race to win.”
Horse racing news edited from www.churchilldowns.com.
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