Godolphin’s lack of success in the Melbourne Cup has made the global racing operation all the more keen to take away the major part of the $6.2 million prizemoney with either Lost In The Moment or stable newcomer Modun this year.
Sheikh Mohammed’s world renowned stable has made a dozen attempts to win the world’s richest 3200m race but so far its biggest victory in Australia has been with All The Good in the 2008 Caulfield Cup.
Godolphin landed its first Australian win with Hatha Anna in the 2001 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2500m) at Flemington, a race it also won in 2004 with Fantastic Love.
Faithful Son was Goldolphin’s first Cup runner, finishing seventh in 1998 and the following year stablemate Kayf Tara made the trip.
The 1998 Ascot Gold Cup winner was Cup favourite but had to be scratched days out with a suspensory injury.
The operation’s number one rider Frankie Dettori switched to stablemate Central Park and finished second to the Bart Cummings-trained Rogan Josh after trying to lead all the way with stablemates Pugin and Hatha Anna running 18th and 20th.
Lightning Arrow was 17th in 2000 but Give The Slip made a valiant attempt to lead all the way for Richard Hills in 2001 going down to Ethereal while Marienbard, who went on to win the 2002 Prix de L’rc de Triomphe, could manage only seventh.
Kerrin McEvoy rode Beekeeper into third place in 2002 while Mamool, the sire of the Anthony Freedman-trained Cup runner this year, Lucas Cranach, was sent out favourite in 2003 but finished last.
Mamool and Razkalla ran seventh and ninth respectively in 2004.
Kerrin McEvoy rode Crime Scene into second place in 2009 and last year was 16th aboard Campanologist with Dettori’s mount Holberg best of the eight internationals in sixth place.
“We’ll try until we win it,” trainer Saeed Bin Suroor said.
William Buick makes the trip from England to ride Lost In The Moment who drew barrier three, while Modun, drawn in gate five, will be handled by McEvoy.
Bin Suroor said Lost In The Moment liked to settle back and run on and did so when second, beaten a head under 60.5kg, to stablemate Opinion Poll in the Group Two Goodwood Cup (3200m) in July.
“Modun he likes to be in the middle,” he said.
Both Godolphin horses contested the Ebor (2800m) at York in August which is Britain’s premier staying handicap.
Lost In The Moment ran seventh behind Cup rival Moyenne Corniche while Modun was fourth.
While five-year-old Lost In The Moment has won four of 17 starts, Modun, formerly with Sir Michael Stoute, is having his first start for Godolphin.
The last-start winner of the Group Three September Stakes (2400m) on the all-weather track at Kempton, is a giant of a gelding by King’s Best.
The five-year-old has raced only eight times for three wins and three seconds.
“When he came to us he carried a bit of condition but now he’s really very fit and in good form,” Bin Suroor said.
“He’s happy, fresh, and healthy and I think the horse will run a huge race.”
Modun is at $26 with TAB Sportsbet with Lost In The Moment at $35.
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