Francois Doumen’s veteran Kasbah Bliss is in Dubai being readied for a run on World Cup night at the end of next month.
The 10-year-old has been a superb servant to his connections both on the Flat and over jumps during his career and was a beaten odds-on favourite when Big Buck’s won his first World Hurdle in 2009.
That proved to be his final run over obstacles, but he has done fantastically well on the level since and was last seen grabbing an emotional Group One victory in the Prix du Cadran at Longchamp last October.
“The lucky guy is in Dubai at the moment getting ready for his races there. He’s only 10 years old!” Doumen said.
“He eventually won his Group One at Longchamp and he’s a wonderful horse.
“He is aiming for the Gold Cup, which is a long-distance race on World Cup night, but he is also entered in the Sheema Classic and he could just as well run in that.
“In the Hong Kong Vase, over a mile and a half (2400m), he was only beaten a head and a neck two years ago and that is the same distance as the Sheema Classic, so we know he is capable of that too.
“He is running in a prep race a month before the big night.”
PA AAP TURF
