Bred by Sheikh Mohammed’s Darley operation, Measured Tempo boasts a superb pedigree, being a half-sister to Prix du Jockey Club winner Anabaa Blue. The filly is by the great Sadler’s Wells - sire of five Vodafone Oaks winners including Godolphin’s Moonshell in 1995 - out of French Group Three winner Allez Les Trois, who is herself a half-sister to Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner Urban Sea and 2000 Guineas hero King’s Best. Measured Tempo made the short journey to Newmarket’s Rowley Mile course from Godolphin Stables for her only start to date in a soft ground seven-furlong maiden on October 28. The filly, with Frankie Dettori in the saddle, swept to the lead approaching the final furlong and drew clear of her 19 rivals to record a three length verdict over the smart Siamese Cat. On April 14, Measured Tempo came through a trial at Nad Al Sheba, Dubai, in satisfactory fashion and is now on target for a Vodafone Oaks trial.

Race Record: Starts: 1; 1st: 1; 2nd: 0; 3rd: 0: Win & Place Prize Money: £3,239

Godolphin
Godolphin is the racing entity of Sheikh Mohammed, other members of the ruling Maktoum family of Dubai and friends, and its aim is to prepare horses in Dubai during the winter. This approach highlights the benefits of Dubai’s mild winter climate and gives Godolphin’s horses the edge when challenging for major races worldwide. The experiment began on a small scale in the winter of 1992, with horses enjoying the advantages of the Arabian sunshine before arriving in Britain for the 1993 season. The Godolphin operation was properly established in 1994, with Hilal Ibrahim as trainer, when Balanchine won the Vodafone Oaks and Irish Derby. The following year, Saeed bin Suroor was appointed as the official trainer. When flown over from Dubai, the main base, in late April, the horses are stabled at Godolphin Stables and Moulton Paddocks in Newmarket. In 1999 and 2000, Godolphin’s two-year-olds were housed at the former Evry racecourse in France under the care of David Loder, who in 2001 relocated to Godolphin Stables in Newmarket, although 2003 was his last year as Godolphin’s juvenile handler and he has subsequently retired from training. All the Godolphin horses now come under Saeed bin Suroor’s control. Godolphin’s famous blue colours have been carried to victory in every British classic bar the Vodafone Derby, although Saeed bin Suroor did train Lammtarra to win the premier classic for Saeed Maktoum Al Maktoum in 1995 and Godolphin claims this success. The British Godolphin classic successes so far have been the Stan James 2000 Guineas (1996 Mark Of Esteem, 1999 Island Sands), Stan James 1000 Guineas (1998 Cape Verdi, 2002 Kazzia), Vodafone Oaks (1994 Balanchine, 1995 Moonshell, 2002 Kazzia) and St Leger (1995 Classic Cliche, 1998 Nedawi, 1999 Mutafaweq and 2004 Rule Of Law). Daylami led an historic 1-2-3 in the 1998 Coral-Eclipse, the first time that the same owner and trainer had the first three in a British Group One, and the Godolphin ambitions, other than landing the Vodafone Derby, include taking the American Triple Crown series, winning the Japan Cup and the Melbourne Cup. Godolphin’s tally of 132 Group/Grade One wins includes the Dubai World Cup (1999 Almutawakel, 2000 Dubai Millennium, 2002 Street Cry, 2003 Moon Ballad, 2006 Electrocutionist), Irish 2,000 Guineas (2000 Bachir, 2005 Dubawi), French 2,000 Guineas (2000 Bachir, 2005 Shamardal), Irish Derby (1994 Balanchine), Breeders’ Cup Turf (1999 Daylami, 2001 Fantastic Light), Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies’ (2001 Tempera), King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes (1997 & 1998 Swain, 1999 Daylami, 2004 Doyen), Irish Champion Stakes (1994 Cezanne, 1998 Swain, 1999 Daylami, 2001 Fantastic Light, 2002 Grandera), Irish St Leger (1998, 1999 Kayf Tara), Arlington Million (2003 Sulamani - the 100th G1 winner) and three Prix de l’Arc de Triomphes (1995 Lammtarra, 2001 Sakhee and 2002 Marienbard). Godolphin was leading British owner in 1996, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2004 and 2006.

VODAFONE OAKS WINS: 1994 BALANCHINE, 1995 MOONSHELL; 2002 KAZZIA

Saeed bin Suroor
Godolphin’s trainer, former police officer Saeed bin Suroor, was born in Dubai on October 10, 1967. He has been champion British trainer four times - in 1996, 1998, 1999 and 2004. Coupled with his phenomenal achievements with Godolphin, bin Suroor trained the unbeaten Lammtarra for Sheikh Mohammed’s nephew, Saeed Maktoum Al Maktoum, to win the 1995 Vodafone Derby, Ascot’s King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes and Prix de l ‘Arc de Triomphe. That the horse raced only four times in his career and yet was trained by bin Suroor to succeed in those three pre-eminent Group One events is an achievement which cannot be overstated. Bin Suroor is aided by racing manager Simon Crisford and an excellent team of staff. Cape Verdi’s 1000 Guineas win completed the full set of British classics for bin Suroor in 1998. His domestic classic winners are Stan James 1000 Guineas (1998 Cape Verdi, 2002 Kazzia), Stan James 2000 Guineas (1996 Mark Of Esteem, 1999 Island Sands), Vodafone Derby (1995 Lammtarra), Vodafone Oaks (1995 Moonshell, 2002 Kazzia) and St Leger (1995 Classic Cliche, 1998 Nedawi, 1999 Mutafaweq and 2004 Rule Of Law). Godolphin has enjoyed numerous other big-race wins worldwide and 2003 saw Godolphin achieve 100 Grade/Group One races with Sulamani’s victory in the Arlington Million. That figure has subsequently risen to 132 Group/Grade One victories. A very quiet 2006 yielded no Group One victories in Britain and a total of five in Europe, although Discreet Cat and Ashkal Way scored at the highest level in the US to complement Electrocutionist’s Dubai World Cup win.

VODAFONE OAKS WINS: 1995 MOONSHELL; 2002 KAZZIA