Turf-to-dirt can be a recipe for success says Saudi Cup entrant
Dubai-based trainer Bhupat Seemar is hoping the experience of failures in past attempts to win races in Saudi Arabia will take a positive turn as he saddles Walk Of Stars to take on Romantic Warrior in the Saudi Cup on Saturday.
Though his previous efforts have gone unrewarded, learning that fast dirt horses “tend to spin their wheels” on the Saudi dirt surface has seen him bring a more versatile performer to Riyadh this time for a crack at the US$20 million (AU$35.5 million) feature.
To be ridden by seven-time Group 1 winner Tadgh O’Shea aboard, Walk Of Stars drew barrier five for the 1800-metre Group 1, two spots outside of the Hong Kong superstar, with the ability to push forward to create the early speed.
Winner of the Group 1 Al Maktoum Challenge (1900m) at Meydan four weeks ago, the former UK galloper is ready to perform well but only if he keeps his eyes on the job at hand.
“Walk Of Stars has done really well,” Seemar said.
“He won his last two impressively including winning a Grade 1 last start and he deserves his place here.
Walk Of Stars’ last outing win posted a career peak Racing and Sports rating of 122 and although that is short of Romantic Warrior’s high of 130, Seemar is looking to his charge’s adaptability to see him being in the finish.
“He was a very high class horse when he was running in the UK on the turf – he ran in the Epsom Derby – and then we got him and after three races on the dirt, he was thrown in the deep end with the best horses in the country.
“He performed really well and this year he has performed really well and has learned how to race on the dirt.
“He’s a horse who has got tactical speed and he has the stamina to go with it. He is a very adaptable.”
The trick, however, could be the six-year-old gelding’s tendency for his attention to wander.
“He is turning out to be a proper dirt horse and the only worry is that he looks at everything and he needs to adapt to the place,” Seemar added.
“I hope that over the next couple of days he will get used to it as today when he went on the track for the first time and he was like a two-year-old looking around at everything.
“I’m hoping he’s going to get used to it.”
Seemar also has Trafalgar Square engaged in the Group 2 Red Sea Handicap (3000m) on the same card in what will be the four-year-old’s first start for the stable
The former French galloper’s last run delivered a second placing in the Group 2 Prix Chaudenay (3000m) at Longchamp in October.
“We wanted to give him a run in Dubai but things didn’t work out,
“His blood wasn’t perfect but he’s good now.”
