Dubai Carnival: Margot Did in sprint mission

News / Timeform / 25 January 2012 / Leave a Comment

Margot Did (right) will head to Dubai.

"She obviously wasn't herself when she ran at Longchamp, but she had a little break after that and I'm happy with her now..."

Michael Bell's star filly Margot Did will head out to Dubai next month in preparation for a run in the Al Quoz Sprint at Meydan on World Cup night...

The four-year-old, rated 122 by Timeform, enjoyed a brilliant campaign in 2011, landing Listed prizes at Sandown and Ayr before grabbing Group 1 glory in the Nunthorpe at York.

She was disappointing on her only subsequent start in the Prix de l'Abbaye at Longchamp in October, but Bell is hopeful she can prove that run to be all wrong when she heads to sunnier climes.

"She is heading out there on February 26, along with Wigmore Hall, and she seems in good form," said Bell.

"She obviously wasn't herself when she ran at Longchamp, but she had a little break after that and I'm happy with her now.

"She showed she was very useful when winning the Nunthorpe last year, so hopefully we can get her back to that sort of form, or even the form she showed earlier last season.

"The plan is for her to run in a trial on Super Saturday, which is on March 10, and then go for the Al Quoz Sprint on World Cup night."

The globetrotting Wigmore Hall, who also bears a Timeform rating of 122, did his connections proud last year, winning the Jebel Hatta at Meydan before finishing third in the Dubai Duty Free.

The five-year-old went on to land the Grade One Northern Dancer Stakes at Woodbine.

"I'm very happy with him as well and he'll have a similar campaign to last year," Bell added.

"He looked a bit unlucky in the Duty Free last March and if we can get him back there in the same sort of form, he should run very well again."