Sunday, March 20, 2005
Dubai World Cup Track Notes
March 19, 2005
Dubai World Cup (Gr.I), sponsored by Emirates Airline
It was a busy morning at Nad Al Sheba Racecourse with only a week to go until the tenth running of the US$6,000,000 Dubai World Cup (Gr.I), sponsored by Emirates Airline, on March 26th.
Early on Saturday morning the Masayuki Kawashima-trained Adjudi Mitsuo, Japan's contender for the Dubai World Cup went out to stretch his legs long before the sun came up and is due to work on Tuesday morning.
Among the Americans on the track was Roses in May, who has filled trainer Dale Romans with confidence of being able to leave Dubai with the world's richest horse racing prize, the US$6,000,000 Dubai World Cup (Gr.I).
Romans arrived in Dubai on Friday night to oversee the final World Cup preparations of Roses in May, and was enthusiastic after watching his charge gallop a strong 2,400 metres over the Nad al Sheba racecourse dirt surface on Saturday morning.
"He looked real good," Romans said. "I think he is the horse to beat."
Ridden by Romans' assistant, Liz Gray, Roses in May picked up his pace down the stretch, his nearly black frame glowing in the early morning sun. The five-year-old son of Devil His Due finished a game second to American Horse of the Year Ghostzapper in the Breeders' Cup Classic on October 30 and began 2005 with a runner-up effort behind Saint Liam in the Donn Handicap (Gr.I) at Gulfstream Park on February 5.
Richard Mandella, who trained Pleasantly Perfect to win last year's Dubai World Cup and who will saddle Congrats for this year's race, observed Roses in May's gallop on Saturday and said he should be the race favourite. Romans also praised Mandella's runner, Congrats.
"He's bringing a nice horse," Romans said. "That's probably my biggest concern-Congrats."
Romans plans to send Roses in May out for a breeze on Monday night so the horse can become familiar with racing conditions under the lights before the Dubai World Cup. Owned by Ken and Sarah Ramsey, Roses in May has won seven of 12 career starts, including the 2004 Whitney Handicap (Gr.I), and has earned US$1,890,187.
Gerard Butler's Dubai World Cup challenger Jack Sullivan, winner of his last two starts during the 2005 Dubai International Racing Carnival, prepared for his big day with a blowout over 1,400 metres on the Nad Al Sheba training track.
Dubai Golden Shaheen (Gr.I), sponsored by Gulf News
Pico Central was out on the track going through his paces as the sun rose over the racecourse. Although a quarter crack in his right front foot has kept the multiple Grade One winner on the sidelines for all of 2005 to date, trainer Paulo Lobo is still expecting a superlative performance from his Brazilian-bred star in the US$2,000,000 Dubai Golden Shaheen (Gr.I), sponsored by Gulf News.
"I am very happy," Lobo said on Saturday morning after sending Pico Central out for his final major work before the 1,200-metre sprint down the straight. "You never know in racing, but I think he's going to do great."
Pico Central stopped the clock in 1:01.60 for his 1,000 metre breeze, covering the final half-mile in :48.80. Lobo said he has been using a bar shoe to give the son of Kentucky Derby (Gr.I) winner Spend a Buck extra support for his problem foot.
Although Lobo had hoped to start Pico Central in a prep race at Santa Anita Park in California prior to shipping to Dubai, he said he is not concerned about the four-month gap between the horse's last race, a third-place finish in the Cigar Mile Handicap (Gr.I) in November at Aqueduct, and the Dubai Golden Shaheen (Gr.I). Pico Central "likes to run fresh" and has raced well in the past off layoffs, he noted.
Additionally, Pico Central relishes a softer track surface than is typical in California, and Lobo said he thinks the dirt track at Nad al Sheba racecourse is fairly similar to the surface at Belmont Park.
"He is doing fantastic; he's been perfect," said Lobo, who plans to let Pico Central gallop out a bit one morning in the middle of next week before the race.
An extremely versatile runner who can sprint or be effective over a mile, Pico Central stands above the rest of the prospective Dubai Golden Shaheen field. Owned by Gary Tanaka, Pico Central won the 2004 Carter (Gr.I) and Metropolitan (Gr.I) Handicaps and the Vosburgh Stakes (Gr.I) and banked US$1,139,000 for the season.
Lobo opted for the Dubai Golden Shaheen to expand the horse's exploits to a third continent and because he could earn more if he wins the race than he did with all seven of his starts in the United States in 2004.
Bear Fan, the Wesley Ward-trained contender had a steady jog on the dirt track, as did fellow American contenders My Cousin Matt, trained by Jeff Mullins, and the George Weaver-trained Saratoga County.
Dubai Sheema Classic (Gr.I), sponsored by Dubai Waterfronts
Sir Michael Stoute-trained Maraahel, who runs in the US$2,000,000 Dubai Sheema Classic (Gr.I), sponsored by Dubai Waterfront, over 2,400 metres on the turf, was out on the turf track on Saturday morning and looked a picture of health.
Kenneth McPeek's Prince Arch, winner of the Gulfstream Park Breeders' Cup Handicap (Gr.I) on March 6th, was out stretching his legs.
Dubai Duty Free (Gr.I), sponsored by Dubai Duty Free
Alkaadhem, trained by Marcus Tregoning, did a piece of work in preparation for his run in the US$2,000,000 Dubai Duty Free (Gr.I), sponsored by Dubai Duty Free over 1,777 metres on the turf.
Alkaadhem, partnered by Richard Hills, covered the final 600 metres of the work in 36.7s coming up the centre of the turf track.
Whilly, trained by Doug O'Neill, did a piece of work from the 1,000 metre post and was clocked over 800 metres at 50.5s, covering the final 600 metres in 37.8s.
Godolphin Mile (Gr.II), sponsored by Jebel Ali International Hotels
Julio Canani's Tsigane, who will be running in the US$1,000,000 Godolphin Mile (Gr.II), sponsored by Jebel Ali International Hotels, was one of the first of the American's out and had a steady canter around the track.
UAE Derby (Gr.II), sponsored by Saeed & Mohammed Al Naboodah Group
Durban Thunder, trained by Kenneth McPeek, had an easy canter round the track as he prepared for his run in the US$2,000,000 UAE Derby (Gr.II), sponsored by Saeed & Mohammed Al Naboodah Group.
Dean Maroun's Ned Kelly did a good piece of work as the sun rose and stopped the clock 22.95s for the final 400 metres of the work.
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