Tuesday, 26 March, 2013
Group 1 US$10m Dubai World Cup, sponsored by Emirates Airline
Royal Delta – Displaying some of the personality that trainer Bill Mott has described as “sassy,” two-time American champion Royal Delta reared as she jogged past a throng of media onlookers, drawing a slight rebuke from assistant trainer and exercise rider Rodolphe Brisset. Settling immediately, Royal Delta glided into an effortless gallop and cruised once around the track impressively.
Animal Kingdom – On his first morning in Dubai, trainer Graham Motion sent Team Valor International’s 2011 Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom for a short burst of speed down the Meydan stretch, with Dubai Racing Club official Jim Cornes clocking the chestnut ridden by Alice Clapham in :36.24 for 600 metres. “That was exactly what I was looking for,” Motion said. “He looks terrific. I was very surprised he had a timed workout because it looked like he was just in an open gallop. He really seems to handle this track very well.”
Dullahan – Two days after his 1000-metre workout, Dullahan jogged a lap around Meydan with Tammy Fox in the saddle as trainer Dale Romans watched while surrounded by international media. “He’s feeling good,” Romans said of the towering chestnut who came off the track with a playful flourish, rearing several times as camera shutters whirred. “I think he’s ready.”
Meandre – It was business as usual for the Andre Fabre-trained Meandre who will line up at the start of the Dubai World Cup on Saturday. On Tuesday morning he pulled out together with his compatriots Dunaden and French Fifteen. Richard Lambert, travelling head lad, said, “He did exactly this morning what he did yesterday. He went for warm up canter and then went a bit quicker. He is in good form and seems to like the surface. He will continue like this until the end of the week.”
Planteur – The 6-year-old son of Danehill Dancer emerged from quarantine to complete one lap of the main track at a gentle canter under trainer Marco Botti’s wife Lucie. “We are very happy with him,” she said. “We think he is in better form than last year [when Planteur finished third behind Monterosso].”
Red Cadeaux – Connections of the Hong Kong Vase and 2011 Emirates Melbourne Cup runner-up report the 7-year-old to be improving on a daily basis.Trainer Ed Dunlop’s travelling head lad Robin Trevor-Jones said, “All is good and he cantered over a mile and a quarter this morning. He is getting better day by day. We had planned to work him on the Turf track midweek but we may stick to the all-weather. He is due to work on Wednesday or Thursday and we will decide which day when his trainer arrives tonight.”
Group 1 US$5 m Dubai Sheema Classic, presented by Longines
Gentildonna – She put in slow laps on turf this morning. Trainer Sei Ishizaka said, “She had better temperament than yesterday. She was not shying and looked to adjust the surroundings here. She did only an easy canter today, but she is in a good form.”
St Nicholas Abbey – The Aidan O’Brien-trained 6-year-old, a neck runner-up to Cirrus Des Aigles in last year’s $5 million Sheema Classic sponsored by Longines, is due to arrive in Dubai early morning March 27 and will not be eligible to train on the main track until March 29. The horse has not run since finishing third behind fellow Sheema Classic contender Little Mike in the November 3 Breeders’ Cup Turf at Santa Anita, California.
Dunaden – The Mikel Delzangles-trained Dunaden went onto the main track this morning together where he showed once more that he just loves travelling. Dunaden always looks a picture, no matter if it is in Melbourne or Hong Kong.
Aymerec Caldas who looks after him confirmed, “Dunaden went well this morning. He has already put his travelling behind him. He did a warm up canter and then galloped over 1400 meters. He works like he usually does. I think he looks even better than he did in Hong Kong.”
Shareta – Alain de Royer Dupre has sent four horses to Dubai for World Cup night and they all came together onto the main track this morning. Shareta will compete in the Dubai Sheema Classic, Sarkiyla in the Godolphin Mile, Verma in the Dubai Gold Cup and Giofra in the Dubai Duty Free.
They cantered in single file and Serge Renee, travelling head lad for Alain de Royer Dupre, could not single out one of them when he said, “They actually all look really well. They trotted and then went for a little canter over 700 meters. They then walked some more and cantered again. They are actually a lot calmer here than at home. I think they like the change of scenery and relish the sunshine.”
Trailblazer –Trailblazer, who placed fourth in the 2012 Breeders’ Cup Turf, did a piece of work on the all-weather track with Faridat owned by the same owner, Mr. Koji Maeda. Trainer Yasutoshi Ikee who has just arrived Dubai this morning, mentioned that he missed seeing the horse’s work, however as he looked at his form after the trackwork, he thought the horse was in good shape and has firm muscles.
“As for the turf condition at Meydan, it is cushioned well, which needs more power to handle. But the all-weather track has not suited him, so I have decided to change him to run on turf again,” said the trainer. “ The fields will be strong enough to compete with, but I think the preparation race was a big effect for Saturday.
“The travel to America last year was a good experience for him and our stable staff. There were also some things that we had to think again. The most important thing is to bring the lead-horse with him. I am very thankful to the owner and trainer of Faridat this time.”
Girolamo – Germany’s former champion jockey turned trainer Peter Schiergen took over in the saddle on his lightly raced Girolamo and completed a serious workout in company with an experienced stablemate.
Slotted in about two lengths behind his companion from the outset of the gallop over the 1400-metre circuit, Girolamo drew alongside on the final turn and was pushed out to maintain a length advantage to the line.
Royal Diamond - Irish galloper Royal Diamond was taken to the turf training track adjacent to Meydan where he worked steadily.
Very Nice Name – The Alban de Mieulle-trained 4-year-old, a revelation since migrating from France to Qatar in October, is due to arrive in Dubai from Doha on March 27. He will be eligible to train on the main track March 28. The colt, who races for Umm Qarn Racing, won the February 28 HH the Emir Trophy Thoroughbreds International under French pilot Olivier Peslier to post his third straight win in Qatar.
Group 1 US$5m Dubai Duty Free, sponsored by Dubai Duty Free
Little Mike – Multiple American Grade 1 winner Little Mike jogged once around the peaceful Meydan training track under assistant trainer Tammy Fox, who showed her happiness with the 6-year-old gelding by smiling and waving to photographers.
Standing on a hill overlooking the track, trainer Dale Romans watched Little Mike’s leisurely exercise with confident optimism, revealing that he plans to ask jockey Gary Stevens to send the horse directly to the lead from post four.
“I’m expecting him to go wire to wire,” Romans declared. “He can run fast early and keep going. If (the other horses in the race) want to chase him early, fine, but they won’t finish if they do.”
Ocean Park – New Zealand champion Ocean Park continues to impress with his easy gallops on the Tapeeta and he will pick up the pace with a “breeze up” tomorrow (Wednesday) which will be his only serious work before Saturday.
Giofra – see Shareta note in Dubai Sheema Classic
I’m a Dreamer, Trade Storm – I’m A Dreamer and Trade Storm, regular workmates at David Simcock’s stable in Newmarket, teamed up for the first time in Dubai for exercise on the Meydan all-weather track. Trade Storm, who completed two routine canters, has been progressive in three runs at the Dubai World Cup Carnival, winning the last two, but I’m A Dreamer was making her debut after completing regulation quarantine. Jennie Simcock, the trainer’s wife, said, “I’m A Dreamer went round quietly once and will probably do the same tomorrow, before she stretches out on Thursday.” Simcock reported that I’m A Dreamer worked seven furlongs (1400m) with two lead horses on the Polytrack surface at Kempton last week, ridden by big-race jockey Hayley Turner.
French Fifteen – French Fifteen followed Dunaden and Meandre onto the track, but his work rider kept him to the back and let him do his canter on his own. Trained by Nicholas Clement, French Fifteen, who finished a close second to Camelot in the Newmarket 2000 Guineas last year, seems in good form and his rider Mario Battung confirmed, “He travelled over really well and was relaxed during his canter this morning.”
Wigmore Hall – Race regular Wigmore Hall emerged from quarantine to complete a hack canter round the all-weather track. Trainer Michael Bell said, “He’s travelled well and I’m very happy with him. We have deliberately brought him out late because he usually runs well straight off the plane.” Former British champion jockey Ryan Moore will ride Wigmore Hall – making his third appearance in the Dubai Duty Free – for the first time on Saturday, having been in the saddle in a workout at Lingfield last Wednesday. Bell said, “He worked nine furlongs (1800m) on the Polytrack at Lingfield and quickened up well near the finish. He needed the trip to the races to lighten him up, and hopefully it will have put the edge on him. Ryan said he was very happy with him.”
Group 1 US$2m Dubai Golden Shaheen, sponsored by Gulf News (third leg of Global Sprint Challenge)
Krypton Factor – Dubai Golden Shaheen defending champion, Krypton Factor exercised at his trainer’s Desert Stables in Al Quoz.
Gordon Lord Byron –The Irish runner from the yard of Tom Hogan arrived in Dubai on Monday morning and will be cleared to appear on the track tomorrow. Hogan commented, “He has travelled over well and I’ve been happy with his preparation.”
Trinniberg – A day after a 600-metre workout, American champion sprinter Trinniberg was eager to do more, aggressively pulling at rider Ray Ganpath as he jogged about eight times around the small track near his Dubai World Cup quarantine center barn. “I am 100% happy with him,” said trainer Shivananda Parbhoo. “He is feeling good, and after seeing his workout, I know that not only does he like the (Meydan all-weather) track, he loves it.”
Private Zone – The Golden Shaheen starter returned to main track on Tuesday after remaining in the Quarantine area on Monday morning. The 4-year-old gelding galloped one lap over the Tapeta surface under exercise rider Antonio Romero. “With the walk all the way from the barn to the track plus the gallop, it’s like he went two miles,” the exercise rider commented, only half-joking. “He doesn’t need to do that much and he seems to be handling the track pretty good. He’s doing great and he’s very happy here.” Romero indicated that Leandro Mora, assistant to trainer Doug O’Neill, will arrive in Dubai either late Tuesday evening or early Wednesday morning to supervise the remaining training of the son of Macho Uno in advance of Saturday’s Dubai Golden Shaheen.
Frederick Engels – “Bodyweight he was 1,090 lbs. when he left Hong Kong and he’s lost 20 lbs. but I expect him to put it back on because he has done well since he arrived in respect to eating up,” said trainer John Moore. “We put a bit of condition on him before he left so he should be somewhere around 1080lbs come race day. He’ll probably do a bit of work Thursday morning when Weichong Marwing gets in.”
Taisei Legend – Taisei Legend worked for 1 1/2 laps on the all-weather track. According to the trainer Yoshito Yahagi, Taisei Legend was in a tense and little nervous yesterday, but he seems to get familiarized with the new atmosphere in Dubai. He has lost some weight which was a good factor as he has gained in the previous start. Everything has been controlled.
Balmont Mast – The Irish runner has been in Dubai since the beginning of the Dubai World Cup Carnival and having run on four occasions, had gentle exercise today. “He has been here all Carnival and did half-speed on the main track this morning,” said his trainer Edward Lynam. “He is in good form but it looks a tough assignment on Saturday.
Reply – The Aidan O’Brien-trained colt is due to arrive in Dubai early morning March 27 and will not be eligible to train on the main track until March 29. The 4-year-old, who has never previously raced on a synthetic surface, failed to win in four starts last year but finished third in the Middle Park Stakes (Gr 1) over the 1200-metre Golden Shaheen distance on his final juvenile start in 2011.
Group 1 US$1m Al Quoz Sprint, sponsored by Emirates NBD
Mr Big – “He just had a leg-stretch on the Tapeta this morning and he’ll be on the turf tomorrow,” said trainer Michael Freedman. “Settled in well so the first hurdle we have jumped and he’s drawn high and that’s what people are saying we need here so happy with that too. He will work on the turf tomorrow and jockey Zac Purton will be on him on Thursday.”
Eagle Regiment – “I’ve just arrived from Hong Kong but all the reports are good from my assistant,” said trainer Manfred Man. We’ll be on the main track tomorrow or Thursday.”
Dux Scholar – Al Quoz Sprint contender Dux Scholar jogged two miles Tuesday morning at Desert 2 Stables. Trainer Seth Benzel said that he planned to jog the son of Oasis Dream up to Saturday’s race. “He will be tuned up and ready to go”, said Benzel. “We worked him last Saturday three-eighths (600m) in 35.1 and he went well.”
Joy and Fun – “Nice turf work this morning and I’m delighted with him,” trainer Derek Cruz. “He loves Dubai and it’s great to back in this race again. He’s a year older but he’ll still run well and won’t be far away.”
Spirit Quartz –Robert Cowell’s 5-year-old twice finished runner-up to last year’s Group 1 US$1m Al Quoz Sprint, sponsored by Emirates NBD, winner Ortensia in the UK last summer. He was an encouraging fifth on his Dubai debut earlier this month and will again be ridden by Jamie Spencer on Saturday. Cowell said, “Spirit Quartz worked yesterday morning over half a mile and I’m told he felt really and took some pulling up.”
Monsieur Joe –Monsieur Joe, also trained by Robert Cowell, was not out on the main track Tuesday but had been out on Monday morning. Cowell said, “He breezed over half a mile and all’s good. William Buick rides him again in the race after they teamed up to finish eighth on Super Saturday.”
Varsity – Mr. and Mrs. Bertram Firestone’s Varsity repeated his regimen of an easy gallop over about 2000 metres, just as he had done the previous day. “I’m really happy with the way he is moving and with him mentally, too,” said Christophe Lorieul, the assistant to trainer Christophe Clement who is overseeing the 6-year-old gelding’s preparations. “We just want to keep him nice and happy.”
Sole Power - Last year’s runner-up cantered on the Tapeta track under work-rider Julie Vovchok. “He did light exercise this morning and we might quicken him up for the final two furlongs (400m) tomorrow,” said trainer Edward Lynam. “He has been second here on his last three runs and hopefully he will get the bounce of the ball on Saturday.”
Medicean Man – English sprinter Medicean Man is coping well with his long campaign in Dubai and trainer Jeremy Gask was pleased with the way he worked at Meydan this morning. The 7-year-old, who won at his first start in Dubai in January, was not out to make time as he cantered on the Tapeta all-weather surface. Two subsequent starts in Dubai during February and March yielded a third and an unplaced run and Gask said he felt the horse had done enough to warrant his place in Saturday’s 1000 metres dash on the straight turf track.
Russian Soul, Invincible Ash – Russian Soul, the ultra-consistent gelding, took gentle exercise on the main track, as he had 24 hours previously, ahead of an intended gallop March 27. Irish trainer Mick Halford is expected to be on hand to supervise the 5-year-old, who has finished runner-up three times and third once in four starts at the recent Dubai World Cup Carnival. Invincible Ash, like her stablemate Russian Soul completed one lap of the main train at a gentle canter ahead of a more meaningful spin March 27 when trainer Mick Halford is expected to be on hand. The 8-year-old contests the Al Quoz Sprint for the third time, having finished fifth in 2011 and seventh last year.
Group 2 US$2m UAE Derby, sponsored by The Saeed & Mohammed Al Naboodah
He’s Had Enough – Once again He’s Had Enough jogged on the training track Tuesday morning under exercise rider Antonio Romero rather than making the long walk to the main Tapeata surface at Meydan. “Leandro (Mora, assistant to trainer Doug O’Neill) said to keep the horse back here the last couple of days,” Romero said. “He’s doing well and he seems to be happy here (after the long trip).” Romero indicated that He’s Had Enough would again gallop on the training track on Wednesday and that Mora, who will supervise the remaining of the horse’s training up to Saturday’s UAE Derby, will arrive in Dubai either later Tuesday or on Wednesday morning.
Keiai Leone – Keiai Leone worked on the all-weather track at Meydan Tuesday morning. Exercise rider Shoichi Nishiura commented, “He is superfit. He has been really settled even with the big change around him. He is like a lead horse. He is eating and drinking very well. Actually he has had some steady canters before leaving Japan, so he does not need a lot of strong works.”
Lines of Battle – The Aidan O’Brien-trained 3-year-old is due to arrive in Dubai early morning March 27 and will not be eligible to train on the main track until March 29. The colt has not run since finishing seventh behind stablemate George Vancouver in the November 3 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Santa Anita, California.
Law Enforcement – The progressive 3-year-old saw the main track for the first time under Richard Hannon’s stable rider, Pat Dobbs, when he followed Wigmore Hall around one circuit at a gentle canter. “He feels great,” Dobbs said.
Hannon’s assistant, Steve Knight, was upbeat about the son of Lawman. “Everything seems fine,” Knight said. “He was a bit quiet after he travelled, which is why we let him have a little canter round, and that seems to have done the trick.
Law Enforcement is expected to shake out the cobwebs when exercising on the main track March 28 under big-race jockey Richard Hughes.
Dice Flavor – As has been doing since clearing quarantine earlier this week, the North American-based UAE Derby contender galloped on the main track under the watchful eyes of trainer Paddy Gallagher’s wife Sabine. “He’s happy,” she said as the horse galloped by over the Meydan Tapeta surface. “We’ll keep galloping him up here at the main track to give him as much opportunity to adapt to his surroundings. “It’s hard to say (where the horsed fits in Saturday’s 1900-metre race,” she said. “He won up north (Northern California’s Golden Gate Fields for the El Camino Real Derby run over a similar Tapeta surface to what he’ll encounter here) but I’m not really sure of the level of horse he beat there.” Trainer Paddy Gallagher is expected in from California on Wednesday.
Group 3 US$1m Dubai Gold Cup, sponsored by Al Tayer Motors
Saddler’s Rock – “Nice bit of work this morning on the turf. We’re very happy with him. He’ll run well on Saturday,” said Jim O’Neill, assistant to trainer John Oxx.
Verema – see Shareta note in Dubai Sheema Classic
Seismos – The German contender Seismos, trained by Andreas Wöhler, also had a good first night in Dubai, but unlike his travel companion Zazou, he only trotted on Tuesday morning.
Lisa Krüllman who looks after him confirmed, “He is in good form and all we did this morning was a little bit of trotting on the training track of the quarantine yard.”
Jutland – In preparation for the Dubai Gold Cup, Jutland cantered 2000 metres Tuesday morning at Al Quoz Training Center. Trainer Doug Watson is diplomatic about the gelding’s chances on Saturday.
“He’s fit and well. The question is can he stay the two miles. That is an unknown. We thought he deserves a chance,” said Watson.
Imperial Monarch – The Aidan O’Brien-trained 4-year-old is due to arrive in Dubai early morning March 28 and will not be eligible to train on the main track until March 29. The colt was last seen when finishing seventh in Gr 1 Canadian International at Woodbine October 14. Prior to that he won the Gr 1 Grand Prix de Paris at Longchamp, France, in July.
Group 2 US$1m Godolphin Mile, sponsored by Etisalat
Penitent –Trainer David O’Meara took to the saddle to give Penitent his first taste of the Tapeta track Tuesday morning after clearing quarantine. The gelding son of Kyllachy landed on Dubai on Sunday morning and was last seen in competitive action in Paris last October when finishing second to Gordon Lord Byron in the Group One Prix de la Foret.
O’Meara said, “This is his first day on the track. He has just done a canter and he felt good. The plan is to breeze him tomorrow or Thursday. He was a good second on Arc weekend and his owners, Middleham Park Racing, thought he deserved a crack at this race on the back of that run. He feels good on the surface – he is really a soft-ground horse but he felt good on the Tapeta this morning.”
Sarkiyla – see Shareta note in Dubai Sheema Classic
Barbecue Eddie – Barbecue Eddie breezed 800 metres Tuesday morning at Al Quoz Training Center in preparation for the Godolphin Mile on Saturday.
“He went in 47 and change, and galloped out five-eighths in just over a minute,” said trainer Doug Watson. “He’s in really good form and looks great.”
Red Jazz – Red Jazz, who will be making his third appearance in the Godolphin Mile, completed a gentle canter over a circuit and a half of the turf training track. Ryan Moore, who rode him for the first time when unplaced over the big-race course and distance on Super Saturday, takes over in the saddle from now-retired Michael Hills, for whom he finished third to Skysurfers in 2011 and occupied the same position behind African Story a year ago.
Zazou – German contender Zazou, who will now be ridden by Russian jockey Khamzat Ulubaev instead of Andrasch Starke, was in good shape on Tuesday morning after having spent his first night in Dubai.
Still in quarantine, his lad Radik Hennig said, “Zazou spent a first good night in Dubai and went onto the quarantine training track this morning. He jogged and looks good.”
Group 1 US$250,000 Dubai Kahayla Classic, sponsored by Emaar
Areem, Naseem, Rahka, Musharab & Rasikh – Responsible for five of the 16 runners in the Dubai Kahayla Classic, Majed Al Jahouri has enjoyed a remarkable season for his main employer Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, competing a Group 1 clean sweep at Abu Dhabi, as well as winning Al Maktoum Challenge I with Areem. The trainer said: “Areem has had a very good season with big wins at Abu Dhabi and Meydan. If he stays 2000 metres he could be hard to catch and Ahmed Ajtebi gets on well with him. “Last time at Abu Dhabi Rakha caught Areem close home over 1400 metres but this will be the longest trip he has tried to date but he too is proven on the Meydan surface. “Musharab stays further as he showed winning HH The President’s Cup over 2200 metres but is not proven on Tapeta, while Rasikh has a bit to prove. “Naseem has not won at Meydan but seems to handle Tapeta ok and it is just a privilege to be going into another big race with so many nice horses. I cannot thanks Sheikh Mansour enough for this opportunity.”
Al Mamun Monlau – Al Mamun Monlau, a contender for Saturday’s Kahayla Classic, cantered Tuesday morning at Meydan. Elizabeth Garel, life partner of trainer Jean-Francois Bernard, supervised from the rail as the robust chestnut followed Group 1 winners Dunaden and Shareta around the Meydan Tapeta. “He was a little bit nervous yesterday. Today we came out earlier and he is better,” said Garel.
TM Junior Johnson – “This will be his first start for us and his first outing away from dirt but he is a nice, young horse, with very few miles on the clock,” said trainer Ernst Oertel. “He has been working well and Tadhg O’Shea rides him but there is little between our pair. Whatever he achieves on Saturday, he is hopefully a really nice horse for the future.”
Seraphin Du Paon – “He has won and been second in this before so conditions are certainly not an issue,” Oertel said. “We have put the blinkers on him which we think will help and Adrie de Vries is an excellent jockey on these Purebred Arabians. I have known him a very long time and luckily he was available. “The horse worked very well the other day and we have a lot to look forward to – but I do think Nieshan is the one everyone has to beat.”
Nieshan – “He won the prep race on Super Saturday (Al Maktoum Challenge III) very well and for a third time,” said Gerald Avranche. “His work has been good, conditions are ideal and he will run well – but this is a stronger race than three weeks ago of course.”
Albar Lotois – “It is a nice spare ride and Eric Lemartinel does so well with these Purebred Arabians,” said jockey Ted Durcan. “He is better over slightly further but will certainly be staying on in the straight.”
AF Sanadek – “This horse was in flying form in the early part of the season and then went to Qatar and was an excellent second there,” said jockey Wayne Smith. “This is his toughest task to date and he has to prove he handles the surface but it is a nice spare ride.”
Sahib Du Clos – “The horse had a great season last time but struggled to regain his form this time before bouncing back at Abu Dhabi last time,” said Richard Mullen. “Hopefully that means he is coming back to his best, because he will need to be in a hot race.”
AF Alghabra – “She is a lovely mare and been a great servant to her connections,” said Brett Doyle. “She should run her normal, honest race.”
Versac PY – “He has been a real star for us over the last two seasons and this has always been his main target after he was fourth in this 12 months ago, having won HH The President’s Cup,” said trainer Erwan Charpy. “We decided not to run him in that race again this year so he arrives here a lot fresher than last year. It is a good race but he will run well.”
TM Fred Texas – “He won this last year when I was second on Seraphin Du Paon, a horse I won this race on in 2011, so conditions are certainly not an issue,” said jockey Olivier Peslier. “He has been beaten twice in Doha this year but those runs should have put him spot on for this.”
