Pavel Showing He Loves To Travel

He’s a long way from home but the lightly-raced Pavel has handled the 13, 381 km journey from Santa Anita, California to Meydan Racecourse in Dubai with great maturity.

Trainer Doug O’Neill has previous form travelling horses, having captured the 2007 edition of the Group 2 Godolphin Mile with Spring At Last.  

A 17-year partnership with top assistant Leandro Mora makes the task that much easier when trying to both assess if the horse has the temperament to travel, and ensuring it is in good hands upon arrival.

“The horse will tell you if he is a good traveller and Pavel is a good traveller,” Mora said. “If you try it and they don’t like it then you have to try and avoid races. This guy tried it and he loved it.”

With just seven starts to his name, Pavel has already competed at five different tracks with a trip over the Meydan dirt track in Saturday night’s  US $10 million Dubai World Cup Sponsored by Emirates Airline, marking an impressive sixth pin on the map.

From a winning debut at Santa Anita, Pavel travelled across North America to New York to be a credible fourth in the Grade 2 Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga. Pavel then returned home to California and trained at Del Mar before shipping back east to Philadelphia to win the Grade 3 Smarty Jones.

Pavel made Parx a temporary home, breezing twice at the Philadelphia track, before hopping on the van to Belmont Park to run third, defeated less than two lengths, in the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup.

It’s no wonder the talented fellow may have been a little over the top for his Del Mar homecoming in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic when beating just one runner home. But Mora points at the significant purse earnings, more than $300,000 from July 1 to October 7, as the sign of a well-balanced horse.

“When he ran at Del Mar, that was his fourth move. He was never in his own house,” Mora said. “When they travel like that and get to the stable and act like they’ve been there their whole life, that’s when you know they can travel.”

Pavel’s maturity made the decision to come to Dubai a simple one, a journey made easier with the help of officials at Meydan.

“To bring him over here is not easy.  The horse plane takes almost 24 hours non-stop,” Mora said. “But, the crew here (at Meydan) are so willing to adapt to what you do back home. They send you a list to ask what you want.  We get the shavings we want. I always want Canadian oats and Washington hay. They have it, we apply for it and when we get here there’s no changes for the horse.”

With food and lodging sorted, ensuring the young horse was in familiar hands was the next box to tick.  Also making the journey with Mora and Pavel are exercise rider Amir Cedeno and groom Andres Martinez. The bond between Martinez and Pavel is key to ensuring a smooth transition from California to Dubai.

“We bring over the people the horse is comfortable with. A nice racehorse is used to the person who looks after him,” Mora noted. “Andres is there every day rubbing his legs and cleaning him up. They get used to that so we try to bring the same team. Once they know the caretaker is there, it’s more comfortable for them.”

Regular checkups from the vet and keen observation from the entire team, led by Mora, is paramount as the horse copes with jet lag.

“They get used to it faster than we do,” Mora said. “Once they land here, we do check their temperatures to make sure they don’t have any fever. If they get too dry, we can give them fluids to get back to normal.”

Buoyant most mornings on the track this past week, Mora smiles wide when asked when he knew that Pavel had travelled well.

“When he starts savaging you,” Mora laughed. “When he starts to bite and kick, okay, you’re happy!”

Mora and O’Neill maintain regular contact throughout the experience.  On Tuesday morning, Mora was trackside filming Pavel’s easy canter over the Meydan dirt track which was immediately sent to O’Neill for review. 

“It lets Doug know how the horse is doing. Technology like that is great for us. We talk twice a day. Once in the morning and then in the afternoon. It’s tough with the time zone,” Mora said.

On Saturday, Pavel will face off against some of the best in the world including fellow US-based shippers West Coast and Forever Unbridled.  And at this stage of his young career, Pavel has already proven he can get the distance. Now, it’s just a matter of class.

“I’m very happy with what he’s done. The rest is up to him now and the luck of racing,” Mora said.

 -Keith McCalmont, DWC Notes Team

Well-Traveled Furia Cruzada Ready for World Cup Stage

In terms of international interest, one locally-trained contender for Saturday’s Dubai World Cup Sponsored by Emirates Airline is as good a representative as any.

Furia Cruzada was bred in Chile, made her name in Argentina and was based in Britain and France between several periods in Dubai for her current handler, French-born Erwan Charpy. The 6-year-old mare is owned by the Uzbekistan interests of Avaz Ismoilov and will be ridden in the main event by the Italian Antonio Fresu.

“Her groom is Indian as well, so it’s a bit of a United Nations,” Charpy said. “It’s brilliant for us to have a runner and I’ve had texts from the breeders in Chile because it’s fantastic for everyone to be part of it all. 

“The owner is coming for the race and they are very excited about it. He has a lot of Akhal-Teke horses in Uzbekistan and he has owned some good horses in France like Bathyrhon, who is a stallion now.”

It is fair to say that Furia Cruzada keeps the vastly experienced Charpy, who has largely been labelled as a top trainer of the Purebred Arabian horses, on his toes. A Grade 1 winner both at Hipodromo Chile and Palermo in Argentina, the daughter of Newfoundland has largely been kept away from the Meydan track in training as she is liable to get overexcited by the distractions. 

She has fared well in competitive action at the Dubai World Cup Carnival, finishing in the first four in all three starts in Group-race company.

“She’s improved a lot this year, she’s a bit older and very consistent,” Charpy said. “She tries very hard and we know her a lot better now.”

The best effort of the three runs was when beaten a short-head by Promising Run in the Balanchine Sponsored by Azizi Developments.

“When we went to the Balanchine people were saying ‘what are you doing going on turf, she’s a dirt filly’ so it was nice to show that as residents here, we have a little clue (about what we’re doing),” Charpy said with a smile.

“Then she ran well behind Satish Seemar’s horse (North America) in the Al Maktoum Challenge R3.

“Everything went wrong in this race last year – the track was not to her liking and she collided with Arrogate coming out of the gate. I don’t say I’m going into it feeling sure we’re going to win but she’ll be competitive. Realistically, if we get a place we’ll be happy.”

After her appearance in the 2017 Dubai World Cup, Furia Cruzada was transferred to the French-based Japanese trainer Satoshi Kobayashi, taking in key events at Royal Ascot and Deauville.

This time around, she could remain in Charpy’s care. “I think we’ll talk about it after the race,” he said. “I thought they might want to retire and breed her but they seem happy to keep racing her as long as she enjoys it.”

 -Tom Peacock, DWC Notes Team

Survivors Sano And Gunnevera Seek Cup Glory

If proof was needed that anything is possible in life, then Dubai World Cup Sponsored by Emirates Airline contender Gunnevera and trainer Antonio Sano provide validation in ways worthy of an epic movie.

Orphaned as a foal, Gunnevera has grown into a strapping blaze-red colt who has banked nearly US $3 million while under the care of Sano, who survived a brutal kidnapping in his native Venezuela before moving on to training success in the United States that has defied even his own imagination.

“I tried everything after my kidnapping,” Sano declared in the English language he still struggles with as he stood by the Meydan Racecourse rail on Tuesday morning. “This horse is very important to me. He’s given me opportunities to train the best horses of my life. And he’s my best friend – he loves me. I don’t have words to explain what Gunnevera means to me.”

Sano already was the top trainer in the history of Venezuelan racing, having saddled 3,338 winners and earned the nickname ‘Czar Valencia Hipismo’ (king of Valencian horse racing) when his world nearly came to a violent end in 2009.

Seven armed men drove to his home and dragged him into their sport utility vehicle and Sano was hauled off and held shackled to a wall in a small, empty room for most of 36 days in captivity. Only after his wife, university engineering professor Maria Christina Sano, scraped together a ransom payment was he released.

The experience led Sano to flee Venezuela with his family for a safer life, and he wound up at Calder Race Course outside Miami, Florida, after a brief stay in Italy. He had to leave behind over 150 racehorses in his care in Venezuela and start over with virtually nothing in a foreign land.

Five years later, Gunnevera was born on the last day of February at Jim and Pam Robinson’s Brandywine Farm in Paris, Kentucky. His dam, the Unbridled mare Unbridled Rage, survived a haemorrhage after foaling but ten days later suddenly died of a heart attack, leaving her foal vulnerable. But after the Robinsons arranged for a nurse mare to tend to the colt, he thrived.

More than a year after that difficult beginning, the leggy chestnut caught the eye of Sano at the Keeneland September yearling sale, and the trainer put up a modest $16,000 to acquire him.

Since that time, they have soared to the highest heights of American racing, winning 5 of 15 starts in addition to the huge prize-money, and contending in the most prestigious events including the Kentucky Derby, Travers Stakes and Breeders’ Cup Classic. The success has led to more good horses entering Sano’s barn.

Their latest contest was the $16 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes at Gulfstream Park in January, when Gunnevera finished a good third behind 2017 Gun Runner whilst earning $1.3 million for his efforts.

Although Gunnevera has not yet won a Grade or Group 1 race, Sano believes the Dubai World Cup could be his breakthrough event, partly because of an unusual procedure to help him compete more comfortably.

“He is a totally different horse now than when he ran in the Pegasus,” Sano said, relating that a veterinarian was able to adjust the colt’s undescended testicle-without surgery-so that Gunnevera can run more fluidly and without aggravation from the condition. “He has never worked like he is working now.” 

Racing in the Dubai World Cup, win or lose, with the horse that helped revive his professional life in the aftermath of the kidnapping nightmare will be the pinnacle of Sano’s tenure in horse racing.

“I’m so proud to be here in Dubai with my horse,” Sano said. “I hope he has a good pace to run behind and that he can come charging home in the stretch.”

 -Michele MacDonald, DWC Notes Team

 Hori’s Hong Kong Stars Take on Dubai

Noriyuki Hori’s name has become synonymous with the word winner over in Hong Kong with five Group 1 titles in the past three years.

While three of those came from the mighty Maurice in 2015 and 2016, he also won the Hong Kong Vase with Longines Dubai Sheema Classic starter Satono Crown in 2016 and the Queen Elizabeth II Cup with Dubai Turf Sponsored by DP World starter Neorealism in 2017. 

In lieu of what could be another winning spring in the Far East, the top conditioner has chosen to send two of his best horses to the 2018 Dubai World Cup Carnival.

“Both of these horses prefer the distances of their Dubai races over that of the 2000m event in Hong Kong,” Nori said. “Neorealism is best at 1800m, while 2000m is a little long for him. Satono Crown reversely prefers 2400m to a 2000m race, which would be too short for him.

This will be Satono Crown’s first start of 2018, coming in fresh after a much needed break. After winning in Hong Kong, he needed to prove himself on his home turf and he did just that in landing the Takarazuka Kinen (G1) last June. 

Autumn proved more difficult, but it wasn’t for a lack of effort, racing six times over the course of the year, with his best result being in the Tenno Sho Aki (G1) when failing by the narrowest of necks to fan favorite Kitasan Black. With his good friend Joao Moreira, who guided him to victory in the 2016 Hong Kong Vase, in the irons again Saturday they could make it a magical evening for Japan.

Brazilian Moreira will also be aboard Neorealism, having also steered him to third in the Hong Kong Cup last December when the son of Neo Universe failed to settle during much of the race.

This will be Hori’s fourth go at a Dubai title, having made his first appearance with Dark Shadow in 2012 and going close with Golden Barows in the 2015 UAE Derby.

He went into the 2016 Longines Dubai Sheema Classic with the second favorite Duramente and with all likelihood it could have been the year for him to finally go home with the gold, but the racing gods had other ideas.

The usually temperamental Duramente not only head-butted his trainer but most importantly he lost a shoe during the post parade. After a failed attempt to get a new shoe on in time for the race, he had to run with only three shoes, but still managed to finish a game second to Postponed, losing out by only two lengths.

There are a lot of what-ifs surrounding that race and the success that might have been if things had gone as planned.

“I learned a lot from my past experiences in Dubai, all of which I will be using this weekend,” Hori said. 

“I am always looking for a challenge and I’ve seen just how competitive Dubai can be.”

If all goes well this weekend, this young and talented trainer will be adding Dubai to his growing list of international successes.

-Kate Hunter, DWC Notes Team

Dubai World Cup Notes and canters of the contenders

Awardee – Dubai World Cup sponsored by Emirates Airline contender Awardee cantered once around the main track on Tuesday and is scheduled to work on Wednesday.

Forever Unbridled – Charles Fipke’s champion Forever Unbridled had her stiffest bit of work since arriving in Dubai, galloping 2600m under exercise rider Pedro Velez, who has worked for trainer Dallas Stewart for 17 years.

“She’s doing fantastic,” Stewart said. “She had an awesome morning.”

The 6-year-old Unbridled’s Song mare, who is seeking to become the first female winner of the Dubai World Cup, will be reunited with jockey Mike Smith, who won the event last year with Arrogate. Smith was aboard Forever Unbridled when she finished 11^th in the 2015 Kentucky Oaks (G1).

“She was a tired horse in the Oaks. It wasn’t a jockey thing,” Stewart said. “Mike likes her, he’s been watching her and has been wanting to ride her. There’s no need to give him any instructions Saturday. He’ll have his head in the game. His style will fit her well and he knows this track.”

Furia Cruzada – Erwan Charpy kept his contender away from the crowds and closer to his stable to maintain a quieter environment for a 6-year-old mare who can be flighty on occasion.

“She cantered for about 2000m out the back today,” Charpy said. “She’s in good shape and seems very happy. With her, it’s always a day-by-day thing, so I’m not sure what we’ll do on Wednesday. The owners are coming for the post position draw and everyone seems very excited.”

Gunnevera – With trainer Antonio Sano and owner Solomon Del-Valle standing at the Meydan rail, Gunnevera rolled through a gallop of about 2400m on Tuesday morning just after 7:00 a.m. as exercise rider Victor O’Farell held the 4-year-old to a steady pace.

“He looks very good,” Sano said. “He maybe lost a little weight after the long flight over here, but he is in very good condition.”

There are no plans for Gunnevera to do any speed work while in Dubai. Sano noted that the chestnut son of Dialed In drilled three times in March at Gulfstream Park West prior to shipping to the United Arab Emirates, including a 1400m workout in a brisk 1:24 on March 10.

Although Gunnevera is not an easy horse to be around in the barn, with Sano noting that he is known for biting his caretakers, the trainer described him as the “best horse of my life,” and if there is a solid pace in the Dubai World Cup, Sano said he expects Gunnevera to be charging forward at the end.

“He’s got a big chance to win,” added Del-Valle.

North America – Trainer Satish Seemar’s best-ever hope for glory in the Dubai World Cup Sponsored by Emirates Airline (G1), North America, was back to routine work at his private Zabeel Stables on Tuesday, after his final hit-out over 800m under big-race jockey Richard Mullen 24 hours earlier.

Seemar reported, “Like our other four runners on Saturday, North America just walked around the training area and all’s fine. Let’s hope we get lucky with the draw tomorrow.”

North America disappointed when the ground turned sloppy for the Godolphin Mile a year ago, but he has made great strides this year, topping off a three-race campaign by winning the Al Maktoum Challenge Round 3 over Saturday’s distance of 2000m by more than five lengths in a course record time on Super Saturday, March 10.

Pavel – Californian raider Pavel continued to impress on Tuesday morning with an effortless gallop over the Meydan dirt track under exercise rider Amir Cedeno.

Trained by Doug O’Neill for owner Reddam Racing LLC, the 4-year-old Pavel is considered a longshot with a big chance.

“It was just a regular canter, a normal gallop,” assistant trainer Leandro Mora said. “Today is just about maintenance going into the race.”

What impressed Mora, however, was how easily the Creative Cause grey completed the task.

“He was holding it really well,” Mora said. “A lot of horses, towards the end of their work, will start to make noise. When he passed by me (on the gallop out), you can hardly hear him puffing. He’s a good-feeling horse right now.”

Pavel proved his class last September with a breakaway score in the Grade 3 Smarty Jones at Parx when six lengths the best. A subsequent third in the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park cemented his credentials. 

The slight colt has shown the ability to travel his talents and Mora is hopeful that Pavel will again show up with a big effort.

“I know he’s not a big-sized horse, but he’s got a big heart. He’s ready,” Mora said.

Talismanic – The Andre Fabre trained quartet of Talismanic, Cloth of Stars, Rosa Imperial and Trais Fluors did not leave the international stables on Tuesday morning, as they had all worked on Monday morning on the dirt track.

 ”This morning, all four horses remained in the international stables,” Fabres representative Amelie Foulon said. ” We took them out at 7:00 a.m. to walk them in hand for half an hour. They are well. Tomorrow we will return to the dirt track.” 

Thunder Snow – Saeed bin Suroor, who has won the race seven times, is relying this year on Thunder Snow, winner of both the UAE 2000 Guineas and UAE Derby last year. Equally effective on turf, he is clearly a very smart performer.

“He looks very well indeed and we are very happy with him,” Bin Suroor said. “Physically, he is as good as we have had him and he has come through all three rounds of the Al Maktoum Challenge, winning the middle one and finishing second in the other two. The third round, on Super Saturday, was run at a very fast pace, which could well happen again on Saturday.

“It is not going to be a big field, but we will still be hoping for a good draw, so Christophe Soumillon can ride the race he wants to in a very good renewal,” he continued. “He has two Group 1 wins on turf in Europe and it would be great for the whole team if we could take one on dirt. He showed in the UAE Guineas and Derby last year, as well as three races this year, he handles it well.”

West Coast/Mubtaahij – Bob Baffert thrives on competition at the highest levels of the sport and on the world stage and that’s what has brought the him halfway around the globe to run Mubtaahij and West Coast.

“I bring good horses,” Baffert said. “It’s a privilege to be here. The two brothers (His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum and His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum) had a vision to have this in the Middle East, so you bring your good horses here. We need this in our game.

“It’s good for our sport and for the breeding in America,” he continued. “It’s very important to bring your good horses here. That’s what makes the history of the Dubai World Cup. You’ve got the (American) Classics, the Breeders’ Cup and Dubai World Cup. Those are the three we dream of winning. It’s an honour and a privilege to come here and to run a horse here.”

Baffert kept both of his charges in the stable area on Tuesday morning as they adhered to a light schedule limited to walking following their impressive breezes on the dirt track at Meydan the previous day.

“They’re happy. They look great. It was a nice cool morning, so they feel great,” Baffert said. “The whole key is that they’re eating and drinking water to keep hydrated. They’ve been eating and drinking really well.”

Baffert said he feels significantly less stressed this year than last, when he came to Dubai with Arrogate. The Juddmonte Farms colour-bearer won the race with a stunning and powerful come-from-behind victory after completely missing the break. 

“Everything this year is so smooth. The vibe is good. I felt so much pressure last year,” he said. “Competing on the world stage is really exciting. But they have to break well and they have to fight for it and earn it. You have to know your horse really well. Arrogate got light last year, but these horses are holding their weight. I don’t want to jinx myself, but I feel confident.”

The pair will walk again tomorrow and Thursday and they will both be brought to stand in the gate before Saturday’s race.

$6 million Longines Dubai Sheema Classic (G1)   Cloth of Stars – The Andre Fabre-trained quartet of Talismanic, Cloth of Stars, Rosa Imperial and…

$6 million Longines Dubai Sheema Classic (G1)

Cloth of Stars – The Andre Fabre-trained quartet of Talismanic, Cloth of Stars, Rosa Imperial and Trais Fluors did not leave the international stables on Tuesday morning, as they had all worked on Monday morning on the dirt track at the Meydan Racecourse.

“This morning, all four horses remained in the international stables,” Fabre’s representative A.m.elie Foulon said. “We took them out at 7:00 a.m. to walk them in hand for half an hour. They are all well. Tomorrow we will return to the dirt track.”

Hawkbill – The Dubai City of Gold (G2) winner routinely cantered and will have a final blow out on the grass on Wednesday morning at Godolphin’s private Marmoom training facility.

The 5-year-old was a European Group 1 winner in his younger days and has turned into a reliable international campaigner with his recent Meydan success and the likes of his second in the Northern Dancer Turf Stakes (G1) last September.

“He did nothing strenuous this morning and tomorrow will be his final serious piece before the weekend,” Appleby said. “I couldn’t be happier with him and he’s in good condition.”

Idaho – “His best run for us came in his last start when he finished fifth in the Japan Cup,” trainer Aidan O’Brien said. “It took a while to get his travelling routine right and that came at the same time he went well in Japan Cup, which is always such a strong race. He is entitled to run well as he is bit more experienced.”

Idaho is a full-brother to Highland Reel, a multiple Group 1-winning global superstar who won ‘Best Horse’ at 2017’s inaugural His Highness Sheikh Moha.m.med bin Rashid Al Maktoum Horseracing Excellence Awards.

Khalidi – Formerly trained by John Gosden, Khalidi is now in the care of Clive Cox and has had just one run for his current connections when seventh in the Winter Derby (G3) at Lingfield last month.

The 4-year-old was highly tried last year, finishing 14th in the Investec Derby (G1) before placings behind Permian at Royal Ascot and Crystal Ocean at Glorious Goodwood. He has looked excellent in his skin since arriving into Dubai and cantered around the training track at 7:50 a.m.

“He’s an outsider, but he’s quite talented,” Cox said. “We’ve been trying to find decent ground for him but since the second half of the summer back home it has just been wet, wet, wet. He’s loving it here. He’s really thrived since he arrived. I took him to the main track yesterday and he’ll go back there tomorrow.”

Mozu Katchan – The Group 1 winner had an easy canter for a lap on the dirt course under the work rider of Ippo Sameshima stable.

“She has travelled well. The long travel has not bothered her,” assistant trainer Takayuki Nagi said. “She has adapted to the new surroundings, she eats up well, she stretches her legs so nice and her concentration has been getting better.

“As you know, fillies sometimes are so nervous with everything in the spring time of the season, but she has really settled in here and when she walked in the paddock and the saddling area, she has been relaxed. I am very happy with what she has been doing so far.”

Poet’s Word – Tuesday morning provided Poet’s Word with his second experience of the Meydan turf course before he took his first look at the post-race unsaddling area.

Partnered by regular work rider Chas Robertson, last year’s dual Champion Stakes runner-up completed a routine 1200m canter under the watchful eye of Sarah Denniff, trainer Sir Michael Stoute’s travelling head groom. He then completed one lap of the paddock before being ushered off the premises to meet the 7:35a.m. deadline set for turf management staff to move in.

Poet’s Word’s work was a repeat of Monday’s debut breeze and he will do the sa.m.e on Wednesday, having completed his serious preparation at Newmarket last week under big-race jockey Frankie Dettori.

The 5-year-old, a typical Stoute-trained, late-maturing type, stepped up to Group company last year, winning at Goodwood in August on his only previous run at Saturday’s 2400m trip, and running second in the Irish Champion Stakes and the Ascot equivalent on his last three starts in Britain. He completed his year in December with a below-par sixth behind Time Warp in the Hong Kong Cup.

Rey de Oro – Last year’s Japanese Derby (G1) winner contender Rey de Oro arrived in Dubai in good condition and has acclimatised to his surroundings, cantering one lap effortlessly around the turf course this morning.

“He was a bit nervous when he first arrived, but he is a smart horse and figured out what was going on fairly quickly,” assistant trainer Daisuke Tsumagari said. “He has been eating well. Christophe Lemaire will ride him tomorrow for his final breeze.”

Santono Crown – Noriyuki Hori sent his two stablemates, Neorealism who runs in the Dubai Turf sponsored by DP World (G1) and Satono Crown, out together. They galloped on the turf course under their respective exercise riders, both of whom clocked the 800m in 55-56 seconds. 

“All has gone as planned. Their gallops and times were what I had wanted,” Hori said. “At 3:00 a.m. the turf had been classified as good, but working on that turf here feels quite similar to a yielding course in Japan. So, the training affects the horses differently than it would on the sa.m.e ground classification in Japan. Every morning I check the track conditions before deciding which course I will train them on that day.”

$6 million Dubai Turf sponsored by DP World (G1)

Benbatl – Seen by many as Saeed bin Suroor’s best opportunity on the card, Benbatl will need a better draw than when second on Super Saturday in the Group 1 Jebel Hatta.

“He is a horse we have always really liked and he won on his debut at Doncaster in April and improved all year,” Bin Suroor said. “He was actually a very good fifth in the Derby at Epsom before winning at Royal Ascot. He has thrived in Dubai, winning his first two races in style.

“He was then badly drawn in the Group 1 Jebel Hatta on Super Saturday, when Oisin Murphy could not get any cover on him so had to race wide throughout but was only denied close home. Hopefully the draw, on Wednesday, will be kinder.”

Crocosmia – Stayed in the quarantine area and used the trotting ring for about an hour under exercise rider Hiroya Kitazoe.

“We breezed her a bit yesterday, so are taking it easy this morning. We are very happy with the way she has travelled. Tomorrow she’ll post her final breeze on the dirt track.” assistant Hiroshi Ando said.

Deirdre – Japan’s 4-year-old filly Deirdre worked for one and a half laps over the dirt track under his assistant rider Yuta Komiyama.

“She is getting familiarised with the track, but she is still shying away from various things and the press as she goes around the dirt course on the first lap,” Komiya.m.a said.

“On the second lap, when the other horses passed her, she was trying to follow the horse and getting woken up in a good way.  Tomorrow she will gallop with Vivlos, who is her work mate since arriving in Dubai.”

Monarchs Glen – As on previous day, he had a spin around the training track under Tony Proctor just before 8a.m..

Neorealism – Noriyuki Hori sent his two stablemates, Neorealism and Satono Crown, out together. They galloped on the turf course under their respective exercise riders, both of whom clocked the 800m in 55-56 seconds. 

“All has gone as planned, their gallops and times were what I have had wanted,” Hori said.

“At 3a.m. the turf had been classified as good, but working on that turf here feels quite similar to a yielding course in Japan. So the training affects the horses differently than it would on the sa.m.e ground classification in Japan. Every morning I check the track conditions before deciding which course I will train them on that day.”

Lancaster Bomber/War Decree – “Lancaster Bomber ran very well in many high class races last season without winning,” trainer Aidan O’Brien said.

“He was second in three Group 1 races and it was very good form. So with that in mind we would be hopeful of another big run. He loves the fast ground we hope he will get at Meydan also. War Bomber is a horse we still like a lot. He won very well at Dundalk before things didn’t really go his way in the Breeders’ Cup and in Hong Kong but we are glad he will take his chance in Dubai. He is in good form.”

Real Steel – The Dubai Turf winner of 2016 was out on the dirt track, cantering one lap, practicing a bit at the gate and schooling in the paddock. Trainer Yoshito Yahagi was at the track this morning to oversee his charge.

“He is doing really well, improving day by day. We practiced saddling him over in the paddock today, since it is so different from how we do it in Japan, we want him to be as relaxed as possible during the race.” Yahagi said.

Vivlos – Went two laps around the dirt track, hacking one and cantering the other.

“She has relaxed into her surroundings quite well and is her normal happy self,” assistant trainer and exercise rider Shinji Yasuda said. “She is in great shape I think. She has been eating well this year too which shows how well she is doing. We’ll breeze her on the turf tomorrow.”

DUBAI WORLD CUP 2018: NEWS OF THE DAY     $1 million Al Quoz Sprint Sponsored by Azizi Development G1

Blue Point – A prolific winning juvenile, the 4-year-old was third in the Commonwealth Cup (G1) over 1200m at Royal Ascot last summer and broke the track record there with a win in October.

The son of Shamardal has had only one run at Meydan and encouragingly took second behind Ertijaalin the Meydan Sprint (G2).

“He did a routine canter here at Marmoom this morning and will work on the grass tomorrow,” his trainer Charlie Appleby said. “He has come on for his last run and is in good form.”

Conquest Tsunami –  Carrying jockey Victor Espinoza, who is best known in Dubai as the rider of 2016 Dubai World Cup winner California Chrome, Conquest Tsunami breezed about 600m before dawn on Tuesday morning on the dirt track in his last serious workout.

Trainer Peter Miller oversaw the move down the stretch while standing near the parade ring.

“‘Tsunami’ might be my best chance in that race,” said Miller, who also will send out Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1) winner Stormy Liberal and Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint runner-up Richard’s Boy in the Al Quoz Sprint. “He’s sharp as a razor.”

While Miller said he was hoping that the drill would be a bit more leisurely, he was satisfied by each of the works turned in by his runners during the morning.

“They each went three-eighths (about 600m) to gallop out a half (-mile, about 800m), nothing fancy, just kind of stretched their legs and got a little blow. Basically, that will be the end of their training, for the most part.”

Miller said his quartet could just jog in the quarantine barn area for the rest of the week.

Ertijaal – Led a procession of Ali Rashid Al Rayhi’s Dubai World Cup-day runners in a steady 2400m canter on the dirt track on Tuesday morning.

“He’s doing very well,” Jilani Siddiqui, assistant to Al Rayhi, said. “We are very pleased with him. He will do some work on the training track turf on Thursday morning over about 800m, nice and steady and just breezing over the last 200m.”

Hit The Bid – “Just a routine canter on the turf course this morning,” trainer Darren Bunyan said. “He will breeze on it tomorrow. His preparation has gone perfectly.”

Holding Gold – Commitments with his widespread North American operation will keep trainer Mark Casse from saddling Holding Gold, so he has entrusted the horse’s care to his able assistant, Randi Melton.

On Tuesday morning while astride a pony, she accompanied Holding Gold to the main track for a routine 1600m gallop rather than his customary 2400m exercise.

Melton explained that the long walk from the stable area to the track and back again coupled with the shorter distance of the gallop is enough to keep the horse affectionately called ‘Goldie’ fresh and on his toes.

“He seems to be going better and better each day,” Melton said. “We have not galloped on the turf course, and I’m not sure if we’re going to. He really likes the main track surface, so it does not seem like he would need to. “ 

Holding Gold, who is owned and was bred by Mrs. Charlotte Weber’s Live Oak Plantation in Florida, will make his first start since a seventh-place finish and troubled trip in the 2017 Breeders’ cup Turf Sprint (G1).

Live Oak is one of North America’s leading racing and breeding operations and Mrs. Weber’s famed red polka dots on white silks have graced the winner’s circle at foremost tracks across the continent for nearly 50 years. She is the granddaughter of John T. Dorrance, the inventor of the formula for condensed soup and the founder the Campbell Soup Company.

Illustrious Lad – Trainer Peter Gelagotis and his assistant brother Manny are relishing their first trip to Dubai from their country base at Moe, two hours out of Melbourne, and Illustrious Lad, their 6-year-old contender, appears to be following suit.

Illustrious Lad, a cheaply-bought yearling who came within a whisker of breaking into Group 2-winning company when going down to Super Cash in the Schillaci Stakes over 1100m at Caulfield four starts ago, had his final serious work-out over the turf course under big-race jockey Anthony Darmanin.

“He breezed 1000m in even time and finished on the bridle, clocking 11 seconds for the final 220m,” Peter Gelagotis said. “He had his last proper gallop before leaving Australia at Cranbourne almost a fortnight ago, clocking the best time of the morning, and that told me he was back to form after he ran poorly at Caulfield last month. He drew a wide gate that day and didn’t like being crowded, so we put a line through it.

“I can’t fault him since he arrived in Dubai. He’s travelled well and his action is good. His best form puts him about a length behind our top-line sprinters, and he loves a straight track, where he can get clean air and plenty of galloping room. “

Music Magnate – Bjorn Baker, who trains Music Magnate for Bjorn Baker Racing and Cobbity Lodge Stud and Stables, is a master of social media and credits the communication method as a key to the successful acceleration of his operation. Within five minutes of boarding a flight with his wife en route from Australia to Dubai he posted a photo on Facebook with the following message:

“As we sit here on board our Emirates Dubai-bound aircraft, Andrea and I would just like to thank you all for the hundreds of well wishes sent our way. It means a lot. This trip-of-a-lifetime, courtesy of Dubai World Cup Carnival, already feels like winning for us and for Music Magnate’s owners. Anything else is the cream on top! Here we go.”

Richard’s Boy – Streaking through the darkness of the 5am training period, the gray Richard’s Boyturned in his final speed work by going about 600m in approximately :36 under jockey Kent Desormeaux.

The fact that Richard’s Boy, along with stablemate Conquest Tsunami, is here in Dubai and ready to run is something of a miracle, as trainer Peter Miller recalled that both were temporarily lost during the chaos and devastation of the fire that killed 43 horses at the San Luis Rey Downs training centre in California in December.

“We found Richard’s Boy on a backyard farm about ten miles (16km) away. We couldn’t find Conquest Tsunami for a few days,” said Miller, who suffered the loss of five horses under his care due to the blaze. “It was a nightmare.”

However, both horses have recovered well from the ordeal, and Miller said Richard’s Boy is particularly well-suited to international racing in the sense that he handles the stress of shipping and racing well.

“He’s a remarkable horse. I’ve never had a horse with as much energy as that horse. He travels and runs and travels and runs. He never seems to get tired, so he’s a pretty neat horse,” Miller said.

A 6-year-old gelding by Idiot Proof, Richard’s Boy finished fifth in last year’s Al Quoz Sprint after getting a bad start.

“We were supposed to have assistant starters with our horses. Somehow or another that didn’t happen. Hopefully, this year we can get assistant starters with my four horses and we can get a clean break,” Miller said.

Richard’s Boy recorded a career-best performance by finishing second to stablemate Stormy Liberal in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1) last November.

Stormy Liberal – Winner of the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1), Stormy Liberal flashed down the dirt track under Victor Espinoza, finishing an about 600m blowout a bit quicker than trainer Peter Miller had hoped for but looking like he was enjoying the experience.

“He was moving a little faster than I probably would have liked, but my horses are in good shape,” Miller said.

Miller has some question marks in his mind about Stormy Liberal since the 6-year-old Stormy Atlantic gelding did not travel well to Hong Kong last December and finished a disappointing 11^th in the Longines Hong Kong Sprint (G1). The trainer is hoping for a different experience in Dubai.

“He didn’t ship well over there (to Hong Kong), didn’t eat, didn’t have his energy. We’re hoping we see the real Stormy Liberal in Dubai, and if we do, I think he can be right there at the finish of the Al Quoz Sprint,” Miller said.

With four horses at Meydan to run at the meeting, Miller is looking forward to Saturday.

“It’s great. It’s a lot of work and it’s a lot of anxiety, with managing the help and figuring out who’s going to do everything,” noted the trainer, who also has to continue to oversee his stable based in California. “But it will be all worth it if we win.”

Washington DC – “I think he has come forward from last season,” trainer Aidan O’Brien said. “If you go through his form there are some very smart runs there, running second in a couple of Group 1 races. His training has been very good at home. I think he could run well. He has the ability and we are happy with him.”

$2 million Dubai Golden Shaheen sponsored by Gulf News (G1)

Jordan Sport – Again stayed at trainer Fawzi Nass’s barn at Al Quoz having had a visit to Meydan on Monday.

“He had a steady, slow 1000m canter at my place in Al Quoz and we’ll do the same each morning until the race day. He doesn’t to do a lot more and we look forward to Saturday,” Nass said.

Matera Sky – Japan’s hope in the 1200m sprint was out on the dirt track cantering a lap and a half before schooling in the paddock with other Japanese trainees.

“We trained him a little hard when we first arrived, so we have been taking it easy up through today,” groom and exercise rider Masaki Takano said. “Jockey Yutaka Take will ride him tomorrow for his final breeze over the dirt track.”

Mind Your Biscuits – Accompanied by his groom on the shank, the leggy chestnut picked up his gallop before breaking into an easy 400m breeze around the dirt track and galloped out strongly past the line for another 200m and leaving both trainer and rider grinning ear to ear.

Trainer and co-owner Chad Summers was on hand to watch and was pleased with the ease in which he powered down the track.

“Look at him, ears up,” Summers said. “He’s a different horse and if that’s good or bad remains to be seen. Last year I think he got overshadowed by Arrogate, but what he did from the 14 hole was phenomenal. This year’s race is tougher but I couldn’t be happier.”

Mind Your Biscuits will take advantage of schooling on Tuesday evening, riding in the horsebox from his barn to the receiving barn, walking through the tunnel and taking a few laps around the saddling area and the parade ring before heading home. 

Muarrab – The Ali Rashid Al Rayhi trainee did not visit the track on Tuesday morning, instead remaining inside Grandstand Stables to complete some trot work.  “He’s well,” assistant trainer, Gilani Siddiqui said.  “He was on the track yesterday (Monday) and will be back out tomorrow.”

Reynaldothewizard – Regular work rider Paul Chandelier was back on board his old favourite Reynaldothewizard on Tuesday morning, as the 12-year-old wound down from his final sharp work-out. Big-race rider Richard Mullen took to the saddle when Reynaldothewizard breezed like a youngster over 600m on Monday.

Trainer Satish Seemar, who has guided Reynaldothewizard through nine, carefully managed seasons since he arrived in Dubai as a mid-season 3-year-old, said: “Like the rest of Saturday’s team, he did no more than a steady walk. He’s fine.”

Looking ahead to the gelding’s inevitable retirement, Seemar said: “He’s still running because he wants to do it. He’ll tell me when he’s ready to retire.”

Roy H – As jockey Kent Desormeaux shouted out “whoa, whoa, whoa,” American champion sprinter Roy H bounded powerfully around the turn on the dirt track after breezing eagerly through about 600m in approximately :37 in his final piece of serious work.

“That’s him—he’s full of vim and vigor. He kind of dragged Kent around there,” trainer Peter Miller said. “He’s coming into the race well and he handled the surface well. I think we brought the right horse to Dubai.”

“The horse is very aggressive and gets in the bridle,” Desormeaux said. “It’s my job to slow him down, and it’s my job to slow him down in (the early part of) the race. I spend more time trying to slow him down than pushing him forward. He’s an amazing horse.”

The jockey has ridden Roy H, a 6-year-old gelded son of More Than Ready, to three consecutive victories, including the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1).

X Y Jet – Trainer Jorge Navarro changed his game plan with Dubai Golden Shaheen contender X Y Jeton Tuesday morning, sending the grey speedster to the dirt track in the 5am time slot rather than the 7am shift he had been utilising.

“I wanted to get him under the lights, like he will be for the race, “ Navarro said.  “And I wanted to get that out of the way. “

X Y Jet, who can be difficult to ride, handled the assignment perfectly and did not test exercise rider Anthony Cruz, who steered him through about 2400m under the track spotlights.

“He’s ready, “Navarro said after watching X Y Jet stroll back after the work with his ears up and his expression bright.  “I can’t wait for the race.”

$2 million UAE Derby sponsored by The Saeed & Mohammed Al Naboodah Group (G2)

Gold Town – The son of Street Cry has been a brilliant winner of the UAE 2000 Guineas trial and the UAE 2000 Guineas (G3) itself on his two Meydan starts and will be bidding to go one place better than his sire, who was second in this race before winning the Dubai World Cup Sponsored by Emirates Airline, when he starts on Saturday.

“I am happy with how he has come through his last two races and he will have a final blowout tomorrow morning,” trainer Charlie Appleby said. “He couldn’t have done more than he has in his two races so far an hopefully he can put in another good performance at the weekend. He’s an improving horse.” 

Mendelssohn, Threeandfourpence and Seahenge – “The three of them finished 1-2-3 at Dundalk earlier in the month with Mendelssohn winning from Threeandfourpence and Seahenge.,” trainer Aidan O’Brien said.

“Mendelssohn continues to improve and we think he can run a big race. He is by Scat Daddy and is quite a strong traveller so we will learn more about him at Meydan, in terms of maybe the Kentucky Derby. Threeandfourpence went forward in his last run at Dundalk and that might be what we do with him again. He is in good order and Seahenge, going up in distance will suit him, and we’re hoping he can get out of the stalls a bit sharper than last time.”

Rayya – Doug Watson will saddle Rayya for the final time on Saturday. The filly is set to join the Bob Baffert barn following Saturday’s test with an eye towards the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks, at Churchill Downs.

Keen to send the talented chestnut off on a high note, Watson admits he’ll continue to keep close watch.

“I’m excited to see her go on to a career in America and it will be fun to watch her over the summer,” Watson said.

Rayya, who took the Group 3 UAE Oaks sponsored by Al Naboodah Construction Group last time out, enjoyed an easy Tuesday morning.

“She just hand walked this morning.  She’ll be back to the track to gallop Wednesday, Thursday and Friday and walk Saturday,” Watson said. “She came out of the work yesterday really nicely, ate up, and we’re really happy with her.”

As the filly looks to take on the boys for the first time, Watson notes that her inside draw could be a huge advantage.

“I think it’s pretty important. We’re really hopeful with that one draw. I hope she runs a big race.” Watson said. “I don’t know how much speed the other horses have. It could work as a disadvantage if she breaks slow and gets stuck down in there with all the kickback.  She usually breaks pretty well and has enough early speed to hold a position with whoever is going from the outside.”

Ruggero – Cantered for one and a half lap on the dirt track and schooled at the saddling area and the paddock under the work rider Daisuke Mizuide.

“He has good mood and looks happy. “assistant trainer Hisao Shiina said.   

Taiki Ferveur – Taiki Ferveur was out on the dirt track galloping a lap and a half before schooling in the paddock with a group of other Japanese trainees.

 “He worked really well this morning, “ trainer Mitsunori Makiura said. “He seems unfazed by the trip and looks just as I’d expect him to before a race in Japan. He is eating well We’ll post his final work out tomorrow on the dirt, but we couldn’t be happier with his progress. “

Yulong Warrior –  Shrugging off the disappointment of a less than favourable draw, trainer Satish Seemar on Tuesday reported “all’s fine” for recent runaway winner Yulong Warrior.

Seemar watched Yulong Warrior work “nice and sharp” over 800m for Richard Mullen on his final piece of serious work on Monday morning, but within a few hours he learned that the former Irish-trained son of the 2002 Dubai World Cup winner Street Cry had been allocated stall seven, with only two outside him.

“It’s not the perfect draw, because his experience is limited and I would have preferred a lower number, but we will live with it, ” Seemar said.

That apart, Yulong Warrior continues to please connections, including Chinese businessman Zhang Yie Shang, for whom he ran three times placed in Ireland last year before being sold to Seemar for £360,000. A weekend deal means he will revert to his original colours on Saturday.

$1 million Godolphin Mile sponsored by Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum City – Disctrict One (G2)

Akito Crescent – The 6-year-old Japanese contender had a gallop on the dirt track for 1200m under his jockey Yutaka Take.

“He usually is not an easy horse, but he looks very settled in here, “Take said.  “He is really fit and in good order. As this will be his final gallop before Saturday’s big event, I was told to work him for 1200m and drive him for the last 200m by the trainer. He picked it up nicely the last 200m. I think it was a good work today. This is my second time to ride him. Last time he was kind of a bad boy and was not easy to ride, but he has shown a big improvement today. He was waiting for my directions.”

When asked about the condition, Take said: “With the good weather lately, the dirt track looks good. He has some potent speed and should handle the surface. The front runners will have more advantages but hopefully tactically he can sit handily or close to the pace. The race will be the first one on the card, so I will be the one to make a good start for the rest of the Team Japan. “

Economic Model – When the plane carrying the American contingent of horses competing in Saturday’s races heads back overseas, the manifest will be missing Economic Model, who will remain in Dubai to carry the colours of his new connections. Meanwhile, Chad Brown remains the trainer of record and from his base in South Florida and is overseeing preparations for the biggest test of Economic Model’s career.

“Everything is fine and he’s doing very well ever since we got here. I don’t see any change in him at all,” assistant trainer Guezel Cruz said. “It’s amazing how well he’s handled all of the travel and what we are asking from him. He’s digging into the feed tub every day. “

Economic Model was purchased privately by His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum following the horse’s victory in the Hal’s Hope Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream Park in Florida in his last start.

“I think he’s sitting on a big race,” Cruz said. “Everybody expects that and I hope he runs well.”

On Tuesday morning Economic model was hand-walked by Cruz in the stable area as the horse had worked 800m on the dirt track the day before.

Kimbear, Muntazah, Second Summer and Shamaal Nibras – It was a case of good news, bad news for trainer Doug Watson on Tuesday as he assessed the chances of his top contenders.

While Second Summer, Muntazah and Shamaal Nibras all drew favourable post positions, top chance Kimbear was stranded in gate 12 in the 14-horse field.

“Kimbear is doing super, but it’s a horrible draw,” Watson said. “He has enough early pace to get position, but I don’t know how the track will set up on the night.”

Despite the difficult draw, Watson is reticent to simply send the Kentucky-bred son of Temple City.

“We won’t push him to get the lead. There’s plenty of other pace in there that’s for sure,” Watson said. “We’ll probably just try to get him settled into a nice position and get a clean trip around there.”

Watson will entrust Pat Dobbs, who engineered a winning trip last time out in the Group 3 Burj Nahaar at Meydan, with finding a winning path.

“He’s doing well, but there’s a bit of luck involved now. He’ll need a good break to get position and then hope for the best,” Watson said.

Second Summer will need a revitalised performance to find the board on Saturday. A neck winner over a muddy track last year in this event, Second Summer has finished no better than fourth in four starts since.

“It’s been a lost season with him as he’s had a couple of niggling problems which has kept him from his best,” Watson said. “He’s very healthy and happy now. He’s bouncing off the track and we like that part of him, he just hasn’t finished off a race yet this year.”

The 6-year-old Summer Bird gelding may reap the benefits of his more forwardly placed stablemates as rider Sam Hitchcock takes over from Dobbs.

“The pace will be strong in front of him and he’ll be coming from off the pace,” Watson said. “Hopefully, Sam can find his way around there and, if he’s finishing, find the gaps to get the best possible placing

“It’s been a little speed favouring this year but there have been some horses that have come from off the pace. If it rained over Friday and Saturday it would probably improve our odds a little bit, but that’s not going to happen. I think he really liked that sloppy track last year.”

Rosa Imperial – The Andre Fabre runner did not leave the international stables, along with three stable companions, as they had all worked on Monday morning on the dirt track.

“This morning, all four horses remained in the international stables,” rider Amelie Foulon’ said, “We took them out at 7a.m. to walk them in hand for half an hour. They are all well. Tomorrow we will return to the dirt track.”

$1 million Dubai Gold Cup sponsored by Al Tayer Motors (G2)

Big Orange – Suffered a bout of setfast after cantering on training track yesterday morning. Walked around quarantine barn this morning, but did not go on to the track.

Dai Harrald – Worked over 1200m on the turf course around 7.15a.m. before being paddock schooled.

“He travelled over great and looks well,” Chris Durham, travelling head lad to trainer William Haggas, said. “He’s eating and drinking well and has really thrived off the heat here. It’s all systems go for Saturday.

 “We did six furlongs (1200m) yesterday, did one lap on grass today and he’ll go over the six tomorrow, when he might have a blow in the last two furlongs (400m). We paddock schooled him today to get him used to his surroundings.”

Frontiersman – Frontiersman, second to stablemate Hawkbill in the Dubai City Of Gold Sponsored by Emirates Skycargo (G2) on his last start, will be trying the trip for only the second time, having finished third over the 3200m at Wolverhampton in January.

A winner at Newmarket in September, the 5-year-old was also second to Hawkbill in the Princess Of Wales’s Stakes (G2) in July and ran second to Highland Reel in the Group 1 Coronation Stakes on Derby weekend at Epsom.

“He has some good form to his name,” trainer Charlie Appleby said. “His last run was solid and I have been happy with him since. He just did routine work this morning and I will ask him to do a little more on the grass tomorrow to get him spot on for Saturday.”

Janszoon – Completed a steady canter over 2400m of the turf track on Tuesday morning.

“We are really very happy with him,” Gilani Siddiqui assistant to trainer, Ali Rashid Al Rayhi, said. “He’s going very well and we will do some faster work with him on Thursday morning on the turf training track. “

Rare Rhythm – The 6-year-old beat the talented Vazirabad in the Nad Al Sheba Trophy (G2) on his only Meydan outing and also won on both of his two racecourse appearances in the England last summer.

They were both handicap wins but he successfully graduated into Group company last time and will be trying his hand at the top level this weekend over the 3200m.

“He had light exercise here at Marmoom this morning and will have a final blowout tomorrow morning on the grass,” trainer Charlie Appleby said. “He hasn’t stood a lot of racing through his career but we have been happy with him since his last run, when he did beat a good horse.”

Sheikhzayedroad – Took to the dirt track under work rider Katy Reed.

“We went on the main track for a routine canter round today and tomorrow we are galloping on the grass on the main track,” Reed said.

The senior competitor continues to turn heads including that of his familiar training partner who feels Sheikhzayedroad can improve on his good third last out in the Group 3 Nad Al Sheba Trophy.

“’Sheikhy’ seems in really good form and is now starting to come in his coat,” Reed said. “He has done well from his prep run here about a month ago.”

Torcedor –“He cantered a couple of laps of the dirt track,” jockey Colm O’Donoghue said. “He feels great; very happy in himself. I’m delighted with him.”

Vazirabad – Arrived on the dirt track at 7a.m. with his leader, the filly Canndera. Ridden by Eric Alloix, the grey gelding jogged very slowly once round the track, before cantering over 1600m.

Led by Canndera for the first 800m he then joined her in the final straight and Antoine Cretin, travelling head lad, said: “Vazirabad does not show much in the morning. He is always the same. So far, everything is OK.”

$1 million Dubai Kahayla Classic sponsored by Mubadala (G1)

Al Zahir and Barnamaj – The Purebred Arabian pair, trained by Ali Rashid Al Rayhi, joined their thoroughbred stablemates in a 2400m steady canter on the turf track on Tuesday morning. 

“The two Arabians are going very well,” Al Rayhi’s assistant, Gilani Siddiqui, said. “They are both looking very strong and are exactly where we want them to be going into the Dubai Kahayla Classic.”

Dubai World Cup Press Conference Today, March 28, to feature Bob Baffert, Leandro Mora, Dean Ivory and Bjorn Baker.

Dubai World Cup Press Conference – WEDNESDAY March 27

9:30 a.m.

Interview Room, Meydan Grandstand

At the end of daily Track Work, Monday through Friday, there will be press conferences at 9:30 a.m. with various trainers, jockeys, owners and associated connections to Dubai World Cup Day runners.

BOB BAFFERT

Trainer Bob Baffert does not need a lot of introduction. He has won the Dubai World Cup three times, including last year with Arrogate. He trained the first Triple Crown winner since 1978 in American Pharoah and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2009. A four-time Eclipse Award winner, he has won 12 Triple Crown events and placed in 11 others. He has a 22.4% career strike rate and has trained a whopping 15 horses to earn more than US $3 million. Baffert’s newest star on the rise is champion 3-year-old of 2017, West Coast, who is the favourite for the Dubai World Cup.

LEANDRO MORA

An accomplished horseman and the lead assistant for one of the most successful big-race operations in the United States, Leandro Mora has been the go-to guy for trainer Doug O’Neill. This year, he comes to the Dubai World Cup with highly regarded and lightly raced Pavel, a Grade 3 winner who has faced the best dirt horses in the world in a brief career. Pavel has continued to impress onlookers since arriving in Dubai.

DEAN IVORY

Trainer Dean Ivory has become one of the most talented trainers of sprinters in Europe and proof of such comes in the form of Librisa Breeze, the top-rated horse going into Saturday’s Al Quoz Sprint, who is owned by Brighton FC chairman Tony Bloom. A lover of soft ground, Librisa Breeze will have to prove he can win on the expected fast ground of Meydan, but has given his trainer confidence that he can do so. Winner of the British Champions Day Sprint last October, Librisa Breeze defeated Caravaggio and Harry Angel, two of the top-rated sprinters in the world in 2017, in the process.

BJORN BAKER

The son of top New Zealand trainer Murray Baker, Warwick Farm-based Bjorn Baker is one of the rising stars of thoroughbred conditioning in the world. A former assistant to Christophe Clement in America and John Oxx in Ireland, he has put his formidable preparation to use, winning multiple stakes at a variety of trips since starting his own yard. His top horse is also his first Group 1 winner, Music Magnate, who is one of the favourites in the Al Quoz Sprint.