Ruling Court to test Classic credentials at Meydan

Charlie Appleby’s Derby-entered Ruling Court is set to return to action on Saturday in the Jumeirah 2000 Guineas at Meydan.

The Godolphin-owned son of Justify was a €2.3million breeze-up purchase who made a winning debut in a Sandown maiden in July before coming home third in a hot renewal of the Acomb at York behind The Lion In Winter and subsequent Royal Lodge victor Wimbledon Hawkeye.

He is as short as 12-1 and 16-1 for the 2000 Guineas and Derby respectively and is expected to run in a Classic trial to guide connections on which path to take, but first he will have an outing in warmer climes as one of two Appleby horses set for Listed action in this weekend’s one-mile contest.

The other is Hallasan, a gelded son of Pinatubo who has more experience in Dubai, having run there twice to date, firstly coming second in the Jumeirah Stakes and more recently winning the Jumeirah Guineas Trial ahead of stablemate Al Qudra.

Appleby said via the Godolphin website: “Ruling Court won impressively on his debut and put up another strong effort in the Acomb Stakes, when he finished third behind two nice colts.

“The plan is to give him one run out here before heading back to Europe for a Classic trial, and this will hopefully guide us whether we go down the Guineas or Derby route.

“Hallasan progressed from his first start of the season to win the trial for this, with Al Qudra going on to frank the form by winning out in Qatar.

“He’s a tough, honest horse, who should be competitive again.”

Back in action on the same card is Arabian Crown, a four-year-old with two Group Three titles on his CV who has been out of action since sustaining an injury in April last year.

He makes his comeback in the Dubai City Of Gold, a Group Two run over a mile and a half.

Appleby said: “Arabian Crown had a setback, which ruled him out of the summer, and we decided to give him plenty of time.

“He has done nothing wrong at home, but this will be his first start in a while and we expect him to improve on whatever he does here.”

Arabian Crown will be partnered by James Doyle, with William Buick riding multiple Group-class winner Silver Knott.

Appleby added: “Silver Knott produced a string of good efforts in the United States last year and doesn’t know how to run a bad race. A mile and a half is his best trip these days and he should be very competitive in this field.”

Stablemate Nations Pride, last year’s Arlington Million hero and a four-time scorer at elite level, features in the Group Two Singspiel Stakes over nine furlongs.