Group 1 US$10 million Dubai World Cup, sponsored by Emirates Airline
Eishin Flash – Did a fast workout on the all-weather track. Trainer Hideaki Fujiwara had the jockey Yuichi Fukunaga, sit on this horse this morning.
Trainer Fujiwara commented, “Eishin Flash galloped very well, which was as scheduled. I imagine that the race will become tough especially in the closing stage, so it was a good preparation for the race. He is very relaxed even in the different surroundings, and this is his talent, and he is the horse who can handle it.What I do is to do my best and keep his best condition until the race.”
Game On Dude – Multiple graded stakes winner Game On Dude jogged 1,600m at Meydan on Wednesday morning, in preparation for Saturday.
Trainer Tim Yakteen, who is overseeing the Bob Baffert-trained horses, was pleased with how both Game On Dude and Dubai Golden Shaheen contender, The Factor, were doing.
“They came out of their works great,” said Yakteen. “They are both doing really well. They haven’t backed out of their feed tubs at all and we are really happy with them.”
Jockey Chantal Sutherland, who is seeking to become the first female jockey to win the Dubai World Cup, arrived at the track later that morning and greeted a throng of reporters.
Sutherland, also a fashion model and actress, took time to strike a pose in the starting gate for photographers, donning white True Religion jeans and a hot pink flak jacket.
The two-time Sovereign Award winner then hopped on a horse trained by Ali Rashid Al Raihe and cantered around the Meydan main track to get a feel of the all-weather surface.
Later, Sutherland left Meydan with Bernie Schiappa, co-owner of Game On Dude, to visit Bob Baffert.
Planteur – The winner of the Group 1 Prix Ganay last year for Ellie Lellouche, the five-year-old will have his first start for Marco Botti on Dubai World Cup night and will clear quarantine tomorrow morning.
Royal Delta – With trainer Bill Mott and owner Benjamin Leon looking on, American champion filly Royal Delta picked up her pace down the Meydan stretch on March 28, galloping at a faster clip than she had been training earlier this week while covering approximately 600m as a sharpener before the race on Saturday.
“She was very kind going around,” said Leana Willaford, Mott’s assistant who rides Royal Delta in her morning exercise, after completing a circuit of the track. “We just let her stretch her legs and open up her lungs a little down the stretch. As usual, her ears were pricked the whole way around and she came home to the barn as happy as can be.”
While the Meydan reported Royal Delta’s time for the 600m (about three furlongs) at :38.50, Willaford said the exercise was not intended to be a workout for speed.
“We felt it was better to do a little less than to do too much this close to the race,” she said.
Leon and Mott visited Royal Delta in the quarantine barn area later in the morning. The four-year-old daughter of Empire Maker, who was purchased by Leon for US$8.5-million at auction last fall, has won five of nine career starts with only one unplaced effort, which came in her second career start.
Smart Falcon – The Japanese contender stayed at the quarantine stable area this morning.
Trainer Ken Kozaki commented, “We have been targeting the Dubai World Cup since last year and planned his race schedule for the race, so we are very honored to be invited to the race.
“Smart Falcon is a more talented horse than we think, and what I have to do is to keep his condition.He has beaten Transcend last year, but Transcend is a very good and strong horse, and Eishin Flash is a Japanese Derby winner, and in addition to that, all other members in the field must be very good horses. So I always think my horse is a challenger.”
So You Think – The six-strong Ballydoyle contingent emerged from quarantine for their first collective glimpse of Meydan racecourse. Led out by Dubai World Cup contender So You Think, the sextet walked around the outer of the main track for one circuit before turning at the winning post to canter for one circuit the right way round.
So You Think led Daddy Long Legs, Await The Dawn, St Nicholas Abbey, Wrote and Treasure Beach. At the conclusion of exercise there was much collective interplay among the riders and their horses, all of which looked spritely.
“They had a good look around and we are very happy,” said Ballydoyle’s travelling head lad, Pat Keating. “I’ll talk to Aidan (O’Brien) tonight, and he’ll decide what they’ll do tomorrow and Friday.”
Trancend – Last year’s Dubai World Cup runner-up worked with a half-gallop on the all-weather track. Trainer Takayuki Yasuda, who took the Group 1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen with a champion sprinter or miler Curren Chan on the previous weekend, arrived in Dubai this morning and watched his horse’s morning work.
Yasuda commented, “We gave him a fast breeze on Sunday, so he did only a half-gallop today.In his previous start (Group 1 February Stakes), the pace was too high for him, which made him uncharacteristically fell behind and raced poor seventh. He is in a good condition, as the same time of last year when he finished second in the Dubai World Cup, but I hope he will not be tied to the lost. I would like to have the outsider than middle in the draw, for not to be sandwiched inside.The owner will join and take the draw. The 1,800m or 2,000m is his best distance, and the all-weather, which needs some power, should suit him.”
Zazou – The Waldemar Hickst-trained Zazou came onto the all-weather today for a slow canter. He was ridden by regular work rider Radich Hennig who said: “We went out onto the all-weather for a slow canter. Everything is good. The horse is in great form. He has eaten. He drinks a lot and has only lost five kilos.”
Group 1 US$5 million Dubai Sheema Classic, presented by Longines
Beaten Up – William Haggas’s light-raced four-year-old arrived in Dubai on Tuesday night and is expected on track for the first time on Thursday.
Cirrus des Aigles – This morning, French trainer Corine Barande-Barbe was at the track to see Cirrus des Aigles on the all-weather. Ridden by regular work rider Zoe Gargoulaud, he went for a canter and his trainer said: “I have just arrived during the night and saw my horse this morning. He seems to be very well and very happy. His eyes are bright and he has a good action. My lad tells me he is better than he was in Hong Kong. Maybe he likes the weather here.”
Jakkalberry – The Marco Botti-handled six-year-old had some light exercise on the main all-weather track.
St Nicholas Abbey/Treasure Beach – The six-strong Ballydoyle contingent emerged from quarantine for their first collective glimpse of Meydan racecourse. Led out by Dubai World Cup contender So You Think, the sextet walked around the outer of the main track for one circuit before turning at the winning post to canter for one circuit the right way round.
So You Think led Daddy Long Legs, Await The Dawn, St Nicholas Abbey, Wrote and Treasure Beach. At the conclusion of exercise there was much collective interplay among the riders and their horses, all of which looked spritely.
“They had a good look around and we are very happy,” said Ballydoyle’s travelling head lad, Pat Keating. “I’ll talk to Aidan (O’Brien) tonight, and he’ll decide what they’ll do tomorrow and Friday.”
Group 1 US$5 million Dubai Duty Free, sponsored by Dubai Duty Free
Ambitious Dragon – Hong Kong champion Ambitious Dragon was again one of the first on the Meydan track on Wednesday morning under Beverley Millard and lobbed around the all-weather surface in his own time as he has done since Monday.Content with the five time Group 1 winner’s preparation, Millard said: “He is in very good order. He looks great and feels great. He looks around here a little bit compared to his routine back home but he is on the correct lead leg going the left-handed way; we did some prep work going the other way back home.”
Await the Dawn – The six-strong Ballydoyle contingent emerged from quarantine for their first collective glimpse of Meydan racecourse. Led out by Dubai World Cup contender So You Think, the sextet walked around the outer of the main track for one circuit before turning at the winning post to canter for one circuit the right way round.
So You Think led Daddy Long Legs, Await The Dawn, St Nicholas Abbey, Wrote and Treasure Beach. At the conclusion of exercise there was much collective interplay among the riders and their horses, all of which looked spritely.
“They had a good look around and we are very happy,” said Ballydoyle’s travelling head lad, Pat Keating. “I’ll talk to Aidan (O’Brien) tonight, and he’ll decide what they’ll do tomorrow and Friday.”
California Memory – Winner of the Group 1 Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Cup in December, is on course to run a bold race, trainer Tony Cruz predicted. The grey gelding cantered on the turf track under his work rider with former champion trainer/jockey delighted with his build-up.
“I have had a few runners in this race before and I would say this would be my best chance,” Cruz said in reference to unsuccessful previous bids with Beauty Flash, Floral Pegasus and Bullish Luck.
“The ground here is probably a little easier than what he is used to at home, but that won’t worry him. He pulled a little sore last time after the (Hong Kong) Gold Cup so we have gone back to normal shoes with him and he’s responding well to those. He will have another canter on the turf tomorrow probably.”
Meydan clockers caught the last 600m of his move in 38 seconds flat.
Cityscape – Roger Charlton’s six-year-old flew in from Stanstead, England, on Monday and is expected on the track Thursday morning.
Dark Shadow – Exercise rider Masanori Watanabe commented, “He responded very well and concentrated on the work.I think it was an ideal preparation. He is in a good form. He will hand walk around the stable tomorrow and do a routine work on the all-weather on Friday.”
Dubawi Gold – Continues to tick over after completing his fast work on Monday. The four-year-old was led onto the main track before completing one circuit at his leisure.
“He just had an easy canter,” said his rider, Ray McCarthy. “He has done all his work and is ready to roll on Saturday. We can’t ask any more from him. He has done well since he arrived and all we can do now is hope for the best.”
Presvis – Last year’s Dubai Duty Free winner was out on the turf track Wednesday morning and trainer Luca Cumani said: “He has taken time to hit form this year but seems in good form and worked well this morning and I am happy with him.”
Meydan clockers caught the defending champion in 42.8 seconds for 600m after splits of 12.5 seconds and 25.4 seconds
Rajsaman – the five-year-old horse takes his chance in the Group 1 Dubai Duty Free and will be having his third run of the Dubai World Cup Carnival. Trainer Ali Rashid Al Raihe said: “He was a new horse in the yard and this has been the aim all along. Hopefully he has improved with each start and can run a big race in a race we won in 2010!”
Wigmore Hall – Winner of the 2010 Group 1 Jebel Hatta and third in this race last year, the five-year-old exercised under the watchful eye of trainer Michael Bell Wednesday morning.
Bell said: “He looks a lot fitter now and it was well documented that he was a lot heavier when he came out here this year. He is on really good terms with himself – he is squealing and is happy and seems in good shape on the track. They crawled in his prep run and he got shuffled back at a crucial stage. He needs a decent pace and luck in running but there doesn’t look as though there is a natural front-runner in the race, which is a bit of a nuisance, but hopefully with all of that money on offer something will go on.
“He was unlucky in the Dubai Duty Free last year and I am sure he will run well. It does look a tough race but I do think the owner will be getting a cheque, but whether it is the winner’s prize I am not sure.”
Wigmore Hall was 1,000m timed by Meydan officials 1:09 flat after splits of 11.7 seconds and 39.5 seconds.
Xtension – John Moore was on hand for the first time this week to witness Xtension canter on the all-weather track under jockey Jeff Lloyd and the reigning Hong Kong champion trainer gave a bullish update on last year’s Hong Kong Champions Mile winner.
“My team has done a great job in getting him here in such good shape and we’re looking forward to the race on Saturday night. We feel he will run up to his best, but whether that will be good enough having been second on three occasions to Ambitious Dragon alone, we shall see. But he will run his race, I am confident of that,” Moore said.
Group 1 US$2 million Dubai Golden Shaheen, sponsored by Gulf News
Giant Ryan – After getting a little bit of a blowout on Tuesday, Giant Ryan had an easy goof it on Wednesday morning.
Appearing on the Meydan main course at about 6:15 a.m., the son of Freud galloped twice around the all-weather course with exercise rider James Heavey aboard.The duo took the first lap very easy and second one just a tad quicker.
“I want to take a little steam out of him this morning,” explained trainer Biznath Parboo.
After the gallop, the six-year-old horse was taken to the starting gate where he stood in barrier number 3, the same stall from which he’ll break in Saturday’s Group 1 US$2 million Dubai Golden Shaheen, sponsored by Gulf News. United States-based jockey Willie Martinez will have the mount.
Happy Dubai – The Ali Rashid Al Raihe-trained Happy Dubai faces 11 rivals, over the 1,200m all-weather course and distance he won a handicap three starts ago. His last run was a close second in Doha and the trainer said: “He was another real star at the 2011 Dubai World Cup Carnival and has run some good races again this season. He was very impressive when he won and has come back from Qatar in excellent form. Obviously it is a very good race but he has a nice low draw which should help.”
Hitchens – Did not appear on the main track this morning.
Inxile – Did not appear on the main track this morning.
Iver Bridge Lad – After exercising under his trainer John Ryan on Tuesday, the five-year-old did not appear on the main track on Wednesday.
Rocket Man – Singapore superstar Rocket Man hacked on the all-weather after a quicker gallop on Tuesday with “all the work done,” according to trainer Patrick Shaw ahead of his third date in the Dubai Golden Shaheen.
“We will just keep him ticking over until Saturday but there is no change with his progress or well-being,” Shaw said.
Sepoy – Had a quiet morning after his sparkling gallop yesterday. Trainer Peter Snowden is very satisfied with his condition and also with stablemate Helmet (UAE Derby) who did steady work over 1,200m.
The Factor – A handsome grey colt by War Front, The Factor, will be representing Fog City Stables and George Bolton on Saturday.
After walking in the quarantine area on Tuesday, The Factor returned to the main track on Wednesday morning and jogged 1,600m, under exercise rider George Alvarez. The dual Grade 1 winner flashed his usual style, extending his trot as he passed by the congregating international press.
“Bob says he’s the best mover he’s ever seen, in terms of his action,” said co-owner George Bolton.“We paid $250,000 for him and, at the time, that was a lot of money for a horse by a young sire like War Front.But he worked in 10-flat at the Barrett’s two-year-old sale,” Bolton continued.“His whole advantage is the fact that he hardly touches the ground.”
Group 1 Al Quoz Sprint, sponsored by Emirates NBD
A Shin Virgo – Trainer Ken Kozaki commented, “Se showed a strong canter today.I think she could get the feel of the track. She is usually tense and sometimes nervous, but I was very surprised that she was not shying walking along the outside rail where lots of media were there. She likes the stretch course, and the hot weather must suit her.”
Addictive Dream – The winner of two races at the Dubai World Cup Carnival was not on the main track this morning.
Better Be The One – Remained in the quarantine area as scheduled, though James Peters, assistant trainer to Michael Freedman, said jockey Kieren Fallon would be on board for a light workout on Thursday.
Eagle Regiment – A recent Group 1 winner down 1,000m chute at Sha Tin, made his first appearance on the turf track under assistant trainer Raymond Tsui and breezed well down the Meydan straight with trainer Manfred Man looking on.
“The horse seems very good. He lost about 30 pounds on the flight but he has since put back on 10 pounds and he is now at the same bodyweight of his last win, the Group 1 race in Hong Kong in January,” Man observed.
“We tried him around the bend last time and he just doesn’t handle it. It looks like he’s just a horse for the straight 1,000m. He pulled up lame after that last run and missed about a week’s work but he’s fine now and he is coping well on his first trip outside Hong Kong. It’s my first time to race outside Hong Kong too and he is probably doing better than me!”
Invincible Ash –Cantered without incident on the all-weather track under work rider Damien Melia.
Joy And Fun – The 2010 Al Quoz Sprint winner Joy And Fun remained in the quarantine area with Derek Cruz saying that he will bring his hardy perennial back to the main all-weather track on Thursday morning.
“Is he in the same sort of form now than he was when he won the race years ago? Yes, definitely. He would rate a good each-way bet, put it that way,” Cruz remarked.
Margot Did – Jockey Hayley Turner was aboard last year’s Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes winner and she exercised on the main track having finished eighth in her trial here on Super Saturday.
Trainer Michael Bell said: “I was delighted with her this morning and she looked completely on her ‘A’ game. She needed the run in her trial race
and was only beaten just over four lengths. I am sure she has improved but it is a question whether she has improved enough to win the race. She is in very good form and I am very bullish of a really good run. I am happy with stall 16 as she doesn’t like being crowded so she can get out and do her own thing from there.”
Monsieur Joe/Prohibit – Neither Monsieur Joe, Robert Cowell’s five-year-old, nor Prohibit, the Royal Ascot winner of last summer, made it out to the main track this morning.
Nocturnal Affair – Remained in the stabling area with a final exercise scheduled for Thursday at Meydan.
Ortensia – the six-year-old mare has flown under the radar a bit since her arrival in Dubai but trainer Paul Messara has kept her ticking over nicely.
Regally Ready – Breezed 800m on the Meydan turf course Wednesday morning in preparation for Saturday.
Assistant trainer to Steve Asmussen, Devron Leingang, looked on as exercise rider Jimmy Heavey put the son of More Than Ready through his paces.
“It was a good work,” said Leingang. “He was nice and relaxed. They had the markers way out near the outside rail.(Co-assistant trainer) Scott Blasi and I had him in 25 and change for the last quarter,” Leingang continued.“He was right in there, right where we want him to be.”
Regally Ready will walk for 30 minutes in the quarantine area on Thursday morning, as the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint winner looks to redeem himself from his most recent start at Meydan.
Despite the gelding’s excellent condition, Leingang was wary of commenting on Regally Ready’s chances on Saturday.
“I don’t even want to say because his last race was so puzzling,” he said. You have expectations going in, but I guess it just wasn’t our day.”
Secret Asset – Trainer Jane Chapple-Hyam was at the quarantine barn on Wednesday morning, and confirmed that all was well with her sprint hope Secret Asset.
“He’s travelled well and is eating well, and I am happy enough with him. He had a racecourse gallop at Wolverhampton and worked at Newmarket last Friday before coming here. He’s a lot fitter than his trainer – I’ve got a touch of laryngitis!” she reported.
Sole Power – Finished 12th in this race last year and heads back into to the race after a short-head second in a conditions race here on Super Saturday.
Trainer Edward Lynam was on hand to supervise light exercise on the main track this morning and said: “He is in good form and did a solid piece of work yesterday which went well. He seems very well and his weight is good.
“He ran in the race last year off a seven-month break and was possibly a bit fresh but he definitely didn’t run his race. As a three-year-old you could have accused him of being talented but inconsistent but he has been very good on his last three runs. Hopefully we will settle him in mid-division and save plenty for the finish. We were delighted with him last time out and hope for more of the same.”
Irish hope Sole Power cantered on the all-weather under regular work partner David Mason.
Group 2 US$2 million UAE Derby, sponsored by The Saeed & Mohammed Al Naboodah Group
Balada Sale – The Pascal Bary-trained filly Balada Sale went on the all-weather and did the same work as yesterday. Her regular work rider Christophe Bretez confirmed: “She did a three-quarter slow canter, followed by another three-quarter canter – just as she did yesterday.”
Burano – Brian Meehan’s recent Meydan winner enjoyed a gentle spin around the main track under his regular work rider.
Daddy Long Legs/Wrote – The six-strong Ballydoyle contingent emerged from quarantine for their first collective glimpse of Meydan racecourse. Led out by Dubai World Cup contender So You Think, the sextet walked around the outer of the main track for one circuit before turning at the winning post to canter for one circuit the right way round.
So You Think led Daddy Long Legs, Await The Dawn, St Nicholas Abbey, Wrote and Treasure Beach. At the conclusion of exercise there was much collective interplay among the riders and their horses, all of which looked spritely.
“They had a good look around and we are very happy,” said Ballydoyle’s travelling head lad, Pat Keating. “I’ll talk to Aidan (O’Brien) tonight, and he’ll decide what they’ll do tomorrow and Friday.”
Entifaadha – Worked under jockey Richard Hills on Tuesday but did not appear on the main track on Wednesday and instead went to the training track.
Genten – the three-year-old colt did a steady canter over 1,000m on the all-weather.Trainer Yoshito Yahagi commented, “He changed the lead smoothly, his condition is very good. I think there is no hitch about Genten except for that he is still green as a three-year-old. The owner was also happy with his condition and he seems to enjoy here. I am very pleased to give the owner such an opportunity and it is my job. Craig Williams is scheduled to be up on Friday.”
Helmet – the three-year-old chestnut colt did steady work over 1,200m. Trainer Peter Snowden is satisfied with his condition heading into Saturday’s race.
Lucky Chappy – The good news for trainer Graham Motion’s staff is that their UAE Derby contender Lucky Chappy seems to be flourishing in the desert sun.
If there is a downside to his peaking condition, it is that the Team Valor International runner has turned into something of a bucking bronco for assistant trainer Alice Clapham to ride in his morning work.
Arriving at the Meydan track on March 28 with Dubai World Cup entrant Royal Delta, Lucky Chappy dropped in behind the Ballydoyle string of six horses who were getting their first look of the sprawling complex after clearing quarantine while Royal Delta went off on her own.
Since the Ballydoyle string took one lap at a jog and another at a slow canter, Clapham had to steer Lucky Chappy around them for clear room to gallop. Without a workmate to follow, the Irish-bred High Chaparral colt started to express his high spirits, and as he galloped out of the stretch and around the turn, he bucked several times.
“That’s basically him. That’s why we like him to have company in the mornings,” Clapham said. “He’s feeling really good and that’s half his problem.”
Clapham said she tries to stay quiet in the saddle and use finesse to keep Lucky Chappy focused on his work. If a rider tries to be forceful with him, he will become more unsettled and fight back, she said.
Lucky Chappy galloped about 2,000m (approximately 1 ¼ miles) as Motion watched from the grandstand side of the track. Other than the challenge of keeping Lucky Chappy on the ground, Clapham said nothing could be better with the colt.
“He seems to be thriving out here,” she said.
Red Duke – Another of the British runners to have arrived on Monday and John Quinn’s three-year-old Hard Spun colt could make his first track appearance on Thursday.
Yang Tse Kiang – Trained by Richard Chotard, went on the All-weather under regular work rider Julian Guyot who said: “Today he cantered over 1,300m on the all-weather. He is well and I’m happy with him.”
Group 3 US$1 million Dubai Gold Cup, sponsored by Al Tayer Motors
Barbican – The sole runner from the Alan Bailey yard touched down on Monday and could make a first track appearance on Thursday.
Joshua Tree – Marco Botti’s runner had a gentle spin around the main track this morning.
Kasbah Bliss – Trained by François Doumen, the ten-year-old gelding came onto the track for a canter and his regular work rider confirmed: “He seems fine and relaxed.”
Makani Bisty – Trainer Yoshito Yahagi said, “After the Monday trackwork, actually Makani Bisty had a small accident and hurt him a bit in a right front hoof due to the firm track condition on all-weather.He has been back in the condition up to now so that we could give him a ride today, but I decided to hand walk around the stable this morning.
“I expected there would be some small accidents when we travelled abroad, and this is a kind of within assumption. That is because my two horses had strong works before they left for Dubai.I think the track surface on all-weather may be a bit firm for him, and the track condition on turf is likely better. So I have decided to work him on turf [for the time left].
Group 2 US$1 million Godolphin Mile, sponsored by Etisalat
Derbaas/First City/Haatheq – Champion UAE Trainer Ali Rashid Al Raihe is happily back at the helm at his Grandstand Stables, having been taken ill at Meydan a fortnight ago – on a night he saddled five out of six winners.
His team is in such good form that he was actually able to set an unprecedented sequence of seven consecutive Thoroughbred winners with a winner apiece at Abu Dhabi and Jebel Ali where he also managed a 1-2-3 in their final race of the season.
He has finished the campaign with a personal best of 47 winners and with a flourish which has to raise confidence ahead of his Dubai World Cup night runners of which three take their chance in the Godolphin Mile.
The trainer said: “I would like to thank everybody for their best wishes when I was in hospital but am feeling much better now. We have enjoyed a great season and finished the campaign in really good for so are looking forward to Saturday.
“All three of our Godolphin Mile runners are in good form and Richard (Hills) has picked to ride Derbaas over Haatheq who has the worse of the draw.
“Derbaas was a real star last season and has been running well again this time round in good races. He should run his usual solid race, while Haatheq made an excellent return in February and will be having only his third run of the season.
“First City, as a filly, gets weight. She won nicely on her first start for us and is having a first race on all-weather. She works nicely enough on it and has a good draw. Hopefully all three can be competitive.”
Red Jazz – Charlie Hills will have his first Dubai World Cup night runner with Red Jazz and the five-year-old arrived in Dubai on Monday ahead of his first track visit on Thursday morning.
Shamalgan – The Xavier Nakkachdji-trained Shamalgan, only one of three Europeans in the Godolphin Mile, did a canter on the all-weather and his trainer said: “He did a canter this morning following his work at the beginning of the week. He is in good form, he is fit. So far so good.”
Western Aristocrat – Jeremy Noseda’s representative was another to have arrived in Dubai on Monday and he is expected on the track on Thursday morning.
