Dubai World Cup contender Mystic Guide | Sarah Andrew

Expected fields have been released for Meydan’s $26.5-million Dubai World Cup card on Mar. 27, with 14 Group 1 winners set to line up on the night.

The featured $12-million G1 Dubai World Cup is as ever an international affair. Godolphin brings three runners trained in three different countries, headed by homebred Mystic Guide (Ghostzapper), winner last time of the GIII Razorback H. at Oaklawn Park on Feb. 27 for trainer Mike Stidham. Saeed bin Suroor sends out Gifts Of Gold (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), who won the Red Sea Turf H. on Saudi Cup day, while Andre Fabre fields Magny Cours (Medaglia d’Oro), the winner of his last three who tries dirt for the first time. They will be opposed by American challengers Jesus’ Team (Tapiture), runner-up in the GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational on Jan. 23; Pegasus fourth and Saudi Cup fifth Sleepy Eyes Todd (Paddy O’Prado); and last-out GIII Louisiana S. winner Title Ready (More Than Ready). Japan sends Chuwa Wizard (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}), winner of the G1 Champions Cup in December. Bahraini handler Fawzi Nass fields Salute The Solider (Ger) (Sepoy {Aus}), winner of G1 Al Maktoum Challenge R3 and G2 Al Maktoum Challenge R2, while Great Scot (GB) (Requinto {Ire}), a longshot third in the Saudi Cup, is the Saudi hope.

The G1 Dubai Sheema Classic will see Group 1 winners from four countries square off. Japan’s triple Group 1-winning mare Chrono Genesis (Jpn) (Bago {Fr}) will meet Aidan O’Brien’s Mogul (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) as well as American champion Channel Maker (English Channel) and G1 Prix du Jockey Club and Saudi Cup scorer Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}). The G1 Dubai Turf features last-out G1 Jebel Hatta victor Lord Glitters (Fr) (Whipper) and last year’s G1 Prince of Wales’s S. winner Lord North (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), while Cheveley Park Stud’s triple Group 3 winner Regal Reality (GB) (Intello {Ger}) makes his seasonal debut.

The G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen features American challenger Yaupon (Uncle Mo). The Steve Asmussen-trained 4-year-old looks to bounce back from an eighth-place finish in the GI Breeders’ Cup Sprint in November, prior to which he had gone unbeaten in four starts. He is joined by the Doug O’Neill-trained Wildman Jack (Goldencents), who won the G3 Nad Al Sheba Turf Sprint at Meydan last season and most recently took the GII Palos Verdes S. on Jan. 23. Japan holds a strong hand in the Golden Shaheen with G3 Capella S. winner Justin (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}) and Riyadh Dirt Sprint one-two Copano Kicking (Spring At Last) and Matera Sky (Speightstown). Japan also brings a powerful team for the G2 UAE Derby headed by Saudi Derby scorer Pink Kamehameha (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}). He will face the likes of Listed Al Bastakiya S. winner Panadol (Flatter); Listed UAE 1000 Guineas winner Soft Whisper (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}); and UAE 2000 Guineas winner Mouheeb (Flatter).

The G1 Al Quoz Sprint will see G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest and stc 1351 Turf Sprint scorer Space Blues (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) face off against fellow Godolphin colourbearer Final Song (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), who won the G3 Nad Al Sheba Turf Sprint on Super Saturday, and G2 Meydan Sprint winner Equilateral (GB) (Equiano {Fr}), while American-trained 3-year-old Cowan (Kantharos) attempts to break a streak of five straight second-place finishes, including in the Saudi Derby last time.

The G2 Dubai Gold Cup will see G1 Prix Royal-Oak scorer Subjectivist (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}) face off against the likes of Red Sea Turf H. second and fourth Spanish Mission (Noble Mission {GB}) and Red Verdon (Lemon Drop Kid), while Midnight Sands (Speightstown) looks to build on a win in the G3 Burj Nahaar in the G2 Godolphin Mile. He faces the likes of G3 Firebreak S. winner Secret Ambition (GB) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}). (fonte : TDN)

(UK) Tattersalls Online 23rd March Catalogue Published

 

We Are Ninety | racingfotos.com

Tattersalls has released a catalogue of 35 lots for its Online 23rd March Sale. The sale includes the final installment of the dispersal of the late Peter Magnier’s Brittas House Stud, headed by the 8-year-old listed-winning mare We Are Ninety (Ire) (Thewayyouare) (lot 4), offered with a Calyx (GB) filly at foot and in foal to Sottsass (Fr). We Are Ninety is out of a full-sister to Group 1-winning daughters of Sadler’s Wells Listen (Ire) and Sequoyah (Ire), the latter of which is the dam of champion Henrythenavigator (Kingmambo). We Are Ninety’s yearling half-sister by Ten Sovereigns (Ire) is catalogued (lot 3), as are the Galileo (Ire) mares Innocent Air (GB) (lot 1) and Zee Zee Gee (GB) (lot 6), in foal respectively to Zoffany (Ire) and No Nay Never. Zee Zee Gee’s yearling filly by No Nay Never is also set for sale.

Entries with good form on the flat include 3-year-olds Falsaron (Ire) (No Nay Never) (lot 19), who was placed behind the G3 Tyros S. winner Military Style (War Front) last year; and Percy Willis (GB) (Sir Percy {GB}) (lot 26), who is placed in both his starts this year. The 4-year-old Tilsitt (Fr) (Charm Spirit {Ire}) (lot 30) won a Southwell handicap on Feb. 25.

Headlining the National Hunt portion of the sale is Dark Raven (Ire) (Malinas {Ger}) (lot 35), currently the top-rated 4-year-old bumper horse in Ireland.

“To be offering the final instalment of the Brittas House Stud dispersal at our Tattersalls Online 23rd March Sale demonstrates the confidence that vendors already have in the Tattersalls Online platform,” said Tattersalls Chairman Edmond Mahony. “The sale has quality and diversity, both flat and National Hunt, and full details of all lots including photos, videos and veterinary information are now available on www.tattersallsonline.com.” (fonte : TDN)

 

Christina Blacker on How to Get the Word Out on Horse Racing     With active hands-on experience in two arenas in racing–television and presentation as well as horsemanship–Christina Blacker is one of a handful of people in the industry with that variety of perspective. Tuesday morning, the TVG reporter, analyst and host joined the TDN Writers’ Room presented by Keeneland for an expansive discussion on growing the sport. Calling in via Zoom as the Green Group Guest of the Week, Blacker also talked about the triumph of her husband Dan’s recent first Grade I winner as a trainer and her I Am Horse Racing initiative.     Reflecting on the top-level success of the Blacker barn’s Hit the Road (More Than Ready) in the GI Frank E. Kilroe Mile S., Blacker said, “The challenging thing about training is that you can put in all the time, the blood, sweat and tears, but until you have a horse that really has some ability, I don’t feel like a lot of trainers get the chance to show what they can do. I’ve always believed that Dan would be playing at this level, and that he had the horsemanship skills and the background and was putting in the effort and hard work to deserve this kind of success. But until a horse of this ability came along, he hasn’t had the opportunity to show people how he can train and manage a good horse. I think one of the things I’m most proud of with the way Dan has campaigned [Hit the Road] is he pulled back and was patient when he needed to. Now I think you’re really seeing that patience pay off. Hopefully his trajectory will continue to improve.”     Elsewhere on the show, in the West Point Thoroughbreds news segment, hosts Joe Bianca, Bill Finley and Kelsey Riley criticized the lawsuit filed by some horsemen’s groups to stop HISA and debated what its implications may be.   Click here to watch the podcast on YouTube.   Click here for the audio-only version.