Monday, March 21, 2005

DUBAI WORLD CUP NEWS

Mullins seemed pleased with both horses, although he particularly noted Choctaw Nation, who breezed 1,200 metres in 1:13.80 on the main track at Nad al Sheba racecourse under exercise rider Antonio Romero Ocampo.

"Choctaw Nation actually looks a little better than he did [in California]," Mullins said. "I was surprised."

Since Choctaw Nation is a strong stretch runner, Mullins is looking forward to seeing the five-year-old Louis Quatorze gelding have the opportunity to roll down the long Nad al Sheba stretch.

"He's got three-eighths of a mile to get going here," he said, adding that a key to success will be if jockey Victor Espinoza can steer Choctaw Nation into position for a clear run at the wire.

Owned by Robert Bone, Choctaw Nation ran down 2004 Dubai World Cup winner Pleasantly Perfect in the San Diego Handicap (Gr.II) at Del Mar last August before finishing fourth to that rival in the Pacific Classic Stakes (Gr.I) at the same track. He was then sidelined for about six
months before rallying to finish a close fourth in the San Carlos Handicap (Gr.II) at Santa Anita Park on February 26, his only prep for the Dubai World Cup.

In two seasons of racing, Choctaw Nation, who was claimed out of hisfirst race for US$40,000, has won five of seven starts and earned US$310,800.

Dubai World Cup (Gr.I) race favourite Roses in May, trained by Dale Romans, had a jog around the track on Monday morning and is due to come out under the lights on Monday evening between 7.00pm and 8.00pm local time.

Dubai Sheema Classic (Gr.I). sponsored by Dubai Waterfront

Collier Hill, trained by Alan Swinbank, breezed on the Nad Al Sheba turf in preparation for the US$2,000,000 Dubai Sheema Classic (Gr.I), sponsored by Dubai Waterfront, on Monday morning. The seven-year-old son of Dr Devious stopped the clock at 37.43 for the final 600 metres with the dogs out at 16 metres.

Dubai Golden Shaheen (Gr.I), sponsored by Gulf News



Two days after his final serious work prior to Saturday's US$2,000,000 Dubai Golden Shaheen (Gr.I), multiple Grade/Group 1 winner Pico Central seems to be in ideal condition, with no ill effects showing in his problematic right front foot.

"Everything is perfect," trainer Paulo Lobo said on Monday morning after Pico Central jogged twice around the training track at Nad al Sheba racecourse. On March 19th, Pico Central breezed five furlongs over the main track in 1:01.60, covering his last half-mile in :48.60.

"I think the hoof is good," said Lobo, who reported that Pico Central has always had tender feet. The six-year-old son of Spend a Buck has been battling a quarter crack in his right front foot, and Lobo said his regular farrier, Robert Treasure, will fly into Dubai from California on Thursday to examine the condition and do whatever maintenance work is necessary prior to the Dubai Golden Shaheen.

"I don't want to change anything," Lobo said. "He has been eating everything every day, and he is drinking a lot of water, which is a very good sign."

Lobo also reported that blood tests from a sample taken two days ago came back with all signs normal.

Although the Dubai Golden Shaheen is run over a straight track, Lobo sent Pico Central around the turn at Nad al Sheba Racecourse for his breeze. However, he noted that Pico Central won a Group One race in his native Brazil over a nearly straight track that featured only a slight dogleg turn.

"He won wire to wire," Lobo said of that race, adding that he would prefer that the horse rate just off the Dubai Golden Shaheen pace if possible. Ultimately, however, jockey Alex Solis will make the decision on early positioning, he said.

Pico Central's accomplishments, including victories in last year's Metropolitan (Gr.I) and Carter (Gr.I) Handicaps and Vosburgh Stakes (Gr.I), make him a clear standout in the Dubai Golden Shaheen field, which also is expected to feature multiple Grade Two winner Bear Fan, Breeders' Cup Sprint (Gr.I) third-place finisher My Cousin Matt, and General George Handicap (Gr.II) winner Saratoga County from the United States.

Argentine-bred Medal of Honor, a two-time Group One-winning sprinter in his native country, could provide some competition, although he could finish no better than seventh in his first race at Nad al Sheba, the Mahab al Shimaal (Gr.III), on Super Saturday - March 5. Saudi Arabian Prince Sultan Mohammed Saud al Kabeer races Medal of Honor, who is trained by American Jerry Barton.

Jeff Mullins dispatched veteran sprinter My Cousin Matt for a dash out of the chute and down the stretch in preparation for the 1,200 metre US$2,000,000 Dubai Golden Shaheen (Gr.I), which is run down that straight chute. He said that Ocampo clocked the six-year-old Matty G gelding in :46.40 for a half-mile.

Although My Cousin Matt has not won since an allowance triumph last May at Belmont Park, he proved he still has the ability to keep up with the best when he finished third, just two lengths behind eventual American champion sprinter Speightstown, in the Breeders' Cup Sprint (Gr.I) at Lone Star Park on October 30.

"That horse's only problem is the starting gate," Mullins said, noting that while My Cousin Matt "was perfect" at Lone Star, he threw his head at the start of his last race, the Sunshine Millions Sprint on January 29 at Santa Anita, and reared before the Vernon O. Underwood Stakes
(Gr.III) at Hollywood Park on December 5, losing all chance in both races.

Local sprinting favourite Conroy, trained by Aditiyan Selvaratnam, breezed down the Nad Al Sheba straight in preparation for his fourth run in succession in the US$2,000,000 Dubai Golden Shaheen (Gr.I). Conroy was timed over the final 600 metres at 36.9s.

Dubai Duty Free (Gr.I), sponsored by Dubai Duty Free

Since Leandro Mora, assistant trainer to Doug O'Neill, has travelled to Dubai before, he has experience in measuring how much the travel from the United States to the Middle East can take out of horses.

So far, Mora has liked what he has seen from Grade Two winner Whilly, who will face the most demanding competition of his life on Saturday in the US$2,000,000 Dubai Duty Free (Gr.I), sponsored by Dubai Duty Free, including French and Hong Kong Group One winner Alexander Goldrun, Australian Group One winner Elvstroem, South African Group One winners Key of Destiny and Wolf Whistle, French Group One winner Prince Kirk, and last year's Dubai Duty Free winner Right Approach.

"He's doing very, very good," said Mora, who is overseeing Triple B Farms' Whilly prior to the race. Last year, Mora accompanied US$6,000,000 Dubai World Cup (Gr.I) runner Fleetstreet Dancer and US$1,000,000 Godolphin Mile (Gr.II) competitor Excessivepleasure to Dubai for O'Neill.

For the first three days after travelling, most horses are not themselves, Mora said. Many do not totally recover until a week later, when their handlers can see what they might have for the race.

After Whilly breezed five furlongs in 1:02 on March 19th at Nad al Sheba racecourse, Mora said, "We saw a monster. He's a tough horse."

He described Whilly as 100% ready for the race. The four-year-old son of Sri Pekan is coming off a career-best effort, winning the 2,000 metre San Marcos Stakes (Gr.II) in a wire-to-wire performance under Felipe Martinez, who also will be aboard for the Dubai Duty Free.

O'Neill has remained in California, where, as of Sunday, he was just five wins short of tying the all-time record of 47 for the winter-spring season at Santa Anita Park.

UAE Derby (Gr.II), sponsored by Saeed & Mohammed Al Naboodah Group



Kalibanos, who will represent Brazilian trainer Fabricio Borges, in the US$2,000,000 UAE Derby (Gr.II), sponsored by Saeed & Mohammed Al Naboodah Group, breezed on the Nad Al Sheba dirt on Monday morning.

Partnered by big race jockey Tiago Pereira, the Brazilian Group Two winner was clocked at 52.4s for the 800 metres covering the final 600 metres in 37.9s.

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