Dubai World Cup Victory to Japan gives hope to Country

Well what a night at the Dubai World Cup. The final race of the UAE season proved to be no disappointment as the runners raced in the World's richest race for $10,000,000. The Japanese horse Victoire Pisa led home a Japanese 1-2 and who could begrudge the Japanese something to cheer after all the horrors in their country which has left parts of their country destroyed and uncontrolled dangers such as radiation are still circulating.

It was touching when Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum embraced warmly the owners the feelings of joy for the owners were all too much and the warmth was a real gesture of feeling towards the victory that has come out of a grim reality. The race itself was a slow muddling race early on with plenty of incident. Mirco Demuro, the 23 year old from Italy, sat at the tail of affairs watching the incidents and at the end of the back straight made a daring and risky move to go round the whole field and be challenging for the lead coming in to the straight. He just kept finding a little more as the challengers queued up to have a go at him and although Transcend got to within half a length he could be called the winner a long way out.

I was working on the radio and the reaction of the Japanese radio next door summed it all up. As the horses entered the last 400m little cries of hope increased in volume and excitement. There was a yell as the horses crossed the line, they put
their hands in the air embraced and after a quick dignified celebration they went back to their work as if nothing had happened.

Other giant performances were seen throughout the night and perhaps the highlight was the Ryan Moore ride on Presvis in the Dubai Duty Free. Turning in to the straight this far from straightforward horse, trained in Newmarket UK by Luca Cumani, was in plumb last but Moore found the gaps and managed to weave his way through the field masterfully to win a touch cosily.

Another enigmatic horse is Rewilding and he won the Sheema Classic very easily. He produced a devastating turn of pace to come with a conquering run in the home straight to score quite comfortably under an ecstatic Frankie Dettori who was completing a double. This was a great vindication for the Godolphin team with Mahmood Al Zarooni enjoying a Godolphin winner after his team mate and rival Saeed Bin Suroor had notched a double. Earlier Skysurfers had won the Godolphin Mile under a vintage Dettori ride seeing off a determined Richard Hills of Mufarrh. It was an exhilirating finish with both jockey going head to head with Bin Suroor's charge managing to overhaul Ali Rashid Al Raihe's charge and maintain a small advantage up to the line.

Bin Suroor also doubled up in the finish of the night when Khawlah won the UAE Derby. The first filly to win the race is now set for a classic season in England aiming for the Musidora at York before the Oaks. It was the tightest finish of the night and the nose she beat Aidan O'Brien's Master of Hounds was so close it took the judge a minute to split them. It was a great return to the UAE for the Ballydoyle team and they were unlucky not win a race and their Cape Blanco was fourth in the Dubai World Cup. It was lovely to see Sheikh Mohammed welcome Aiden O'Brien so warmly.

Perhaps the performance of the night was that of the Singapore horse of the year Rocket Man in the Golden Shaheen. It is very rare that a sprinter looks to have a race totally under control but the way Pat Shaw's charge won made it look effortless. In the other sprint JJ the Jet Plane left it late to emerge from the sandstorm to hit the front with less than 50 metres to go to beat the three others battling for victory who filled the frame.

A great night for racing was enjoyed by everyone in the field of dreams that is Meydan. Fortunately the sandstorm that threatened the evening early on cleared for the Group 1 races and the crowd left delighted with what they had seen.

British Challenge looks strong at Meydan

On Saturday it is the worlds richest race in the Dubai World Cup and we are very privileged to have a stellar UK challenge. The Dubai World Cup is on the worlds biggest racecourse at Meydan where the stand is a staggering 1.6km long. It should be a great night with lots of group 1 races and fields of the highest quality.

People in the UK are interested in the weather and the forecast is for an unseasonably warm  37 degrees which will be alien to many horses from the British yards but we have lots of chances. Although I can confirm I am not by the pool now…..

In the $10 million Dubai World Cup the home charge is led by Henry Cecil and his Prince Khaled Abdulla owned Twice Over. The dual champion stakes winner is now 2-1 favourite over Aidan O’Briens’ Cape Blanco. Interestingly Twice Over has taken a different route from last year. Last year he flew out for the World Cup only arriving five days prior to the race and finished tenth. This year he has been out here since mid February and has had a run already to acclimatise and he won that run in the Maktoum Challenge Round 1. He was very impressive that night overcoming an outside draw to see off his talented rivals that night.

One horse he beat in his trial was Gitano Hernando who finished third. The five year old trained by Marco Botti was 6^th in the race last year and is having his last run for the Newmarket Trainer. He has just been bought by the Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov in a deal thought to be worth $4m. He will join South African trainer Herman Brown after the race so will be hoping to have his last run

Another World cup contender who has changed hands is Cape Blanco the second favourite who was recently part purchased for an undisclosed fee by Jim Hay the Dubai based British businessman.  Cape Blanco flew out on Tuesday. He is to be ridden by Jamie Spencer who rides all Jim Hay’s horses when available.

There are challenges from other countries with the Japanese supermare Buena Vista ridden by English jockey Ryan Moore and Godolphin are to be represented by three horses including Poets Voice who won the Group 1  QE2 Stakes at Ascot and is ridden by Frankie Dettori. Mike de Kock from South Africa who is a big force here has Musir and Golden Sword in the race.

In the $5million Sheema Classic Brian Meehan runs Dangerous Midge, Barry Hills has Redwood and Franke Dettori is riding Rewilding.

Other British interest is in the $500,000 Dubai Duty Free over 1900m or 1m1f includes Luca Cumani’s Presvis, Michael Bell’s Wigmore Hall and Tazeez for John Gosden.

JJ the Jet Plane seen at Royal Ascot last year should win the Group 2 Al Quoz Sprint back on his favoured grass surface after an unsuccessful trial on the Tapeta AW surface.  Red Clubs will go close for Barry Hills in the Godolphin Mile and Premio Loco should give Chris Wall a thrill as well in this mile contest.

There are bound to be plenty of celebrities around the course. We have already seen Lee Westwood, Harry Redknapp, Carlton Palmer and Jermaine Jackson amongst the celebrities at the Carnival and Joey Barton has owned a winner. It should be a cracking night and lets hope Twice Over wins it for the brits.

Rupert Bell will be live at the track tomorrow night commentating on the big race for Talk Sport so do not miss it.

Godolphin Masterplan Ensures Victory

With two rounds of the Dubai International Racing Carnival to go Saeed Bin Suroor closed the gap on Mike de Kock to be Leading Trainer to two last Thursday with a glorious treble. The highlight was undoubtedly the victory of Khawlah in the UAE Oaks sponsored by Al Tayer motors. This was a perfectly prepared filly making her UAE debut under a Godolphin masterclass in tactics undertaken by Ted Durcan and Frankie Dettori. Durcan on the pacemaker Abtasammah made the race a searching pace and set it up for Dettori on the three year old daughter of Cape Cross who the trainer felt: “would definitely get the trip comfortably”.

Had we seen the 2011 Epsom Oaks winner? Well I think so and interestingly bin Surour certainly had this in mind as he said: “you will next see her in the Musidora at York”. Traditionally a stepping stone for Epsom we will see her test her Oaks credentials in the UK there.  Exciting times and a great feather in the cap for Meydan and the Dubai International Racing Carnival to become such a part of the world racing season its races can be used as springboards for big races round the world as well as hosting the big races. The Carnivals position in the world racing Calendar is now vital.

"Mike de Kock is running one of his Dubai World Cup hopefuls tonight and  Musir will take on Twice Over in the Group 2 Al Maktoum Challenge where amongst others he will face the dual Champions Stakes winner from the United Kingdom in Twice Over for Henry Cecil, and the exciting new recruit to the UAE in Richard's Kid, trained by Satish Seemar, amongst others in a very competitive field. Mendip who won the first Round will also be a hrd nut to crack with bin Surour saying: "he is a much improved performer now he has learned to settle."

International Stables is now bristling with even more talent than was previously there as many of the stars for Dubai World Cup night are starting to arrive. A morning on the gallops is now like a who’s who of world racing and definitely worth a trip and setting the alarm clock for.

A special mention from last weeks Carnival and congratulations must go to crack apprentice jockey Harry Bentley. He has had a terrific first season in the UAE and deserved this win. He rode Navajo Chief for Alan Jarvis and showed great style, strength and determination to get the horse home despite being headed more than once in the straight. This is a young jockey going places and he should get some great rides when he returns home to the UK for the summer there.

Super Thursday is definitely the jewel in the crown of the carnival and I cannot wait to see this years’ edition tonight. After the racing there is a concert and it will be interesting to see the talents of Tinchy Stryder, Sander van Doorn and Eddie Halliwell perform a one-hour set each. Tinchy Stryder is best known for his hit “Number 1” and he is known to be a real crowd pleaser. It is a bit of a departure from previous artists such as Sting who performed last year and these performers will help showcase racing to a new younger audience. So if you are coming to the concert can I please encourage you to come and enjoy the racing first. It is top class and will be very exciting and if you have any questions do not hesitate to ask.

Racing enthusiasts who have purchased tickets to watch the Super Thursday races will be able to upgrade their tickets for access to the concert area for an additional AED 100.

It was great to see some more stars at the Carnival last week with football leading the way. Tottenham Hotspur Manager Harry Redknapp. Redknapp had arrived early to enjoy a few days before his team enjoyed a mid season break out here. With no fixture for ten days he felt: “Dubai is the perfect place for my players to train and recuperate”. His team followed him out, including the injured players, and returned to get ready to face Wolves on Saturday followed by the second leg of their Champions League tie against Inter Milan. Carlton Palmer was also present.

Football and racing are often closely tied. Michael Owen, the Manchester United & England goalscorer, has a racing stables and racehorses in the care of Tom Dascombe. This week when speaking of his travel dreams he said: “I’ve been lucky enough to attend the Dubai World Cup race - I would love to go again.” Lets hope they find a horse for the 2012 Dubai International Racing Carnival and he could attend the meeting as an owner.

It never ceases to amaze me the level of interest in racing round Dubai. I had a taxi driver named Morad the other day who knew the formbook inside out and does not miss a meeting if he can avoid it. He told me “Curlin was the best horse I had ever seen”. As for this years’ Dubai World Cup he is undecided until after tonights racing but veering towards a tick for Bold Silvano on his Pick 7 entry.

2011 Dubai World Cup Stars put Credentials on the line on Super Thursday

We will learn a lot more about who will win the Dubai World Cup this “Super Thursday”. There has been little doubt the best horse at the Carnival we have seen so far is Bold Silvano, however this week he will meet some genuine competition in the Group 2 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 3 in Twice Over and possibly Richard’s Kid.

Obviously if Cape Blanco takes part in the race he is likely to be a big threat too. His Irish Champion Stakes victory was to be seen to be believed. Mike de Kock holds a big hand with Bold Silvano and Musir and other possibilities including Golden Sword.

The big hopes from the UK include Twice Over, who is trained by Henry Cecil. Cecil has adopted a different approach this year for the 2010 World Cup tenth and has sent him out early for a prep race on Super Thursday. All very exciting stuff. Ed Dunlop is yet to announce which race the globetrotting filly Snow Fairy goes for but it will be a surprise if she is not in the field. Michael Bell is to be represented by Wigmore Hall who will run on Super Thursday too. Gitano Hernando will be representing the Marco Botti yard and he will need to come on for the run in the Maktoum Challenge Round 2 to be a serious threat this year.

Ali Rashid Al Raihe the Champion UAE trainer and with seven Carnival Wins already will be represented by Al Shemali who won the 2010 Dubai Duty Free but he will need a career best to figure. Satish Seemar has the interesting Richard’s Kid ready for a UAE debut run on Super Thursday and it will be a watching brief to see where he is but this highly rated colt could easily play a part in the World Cup finish.

The Japanese will have a strong hand with the multiple Group 1 winning mare Buena Vista and Victoire Pisa both having done nothing wrong in their prep races.

That leaves the Americans and Godolphin. Godolphin look to have Poets Voice, Mendip and Mastery as their likely entries and their representatives are bound to make an impact on the race. The boys in blue are always on the premises in this race.

The Americans are likely to have at least Gio Ponti, Giant Oak and Morning Line it looks to be a vintage field.
We will learn a lot on Super Thursday but at the moment I will be siding with Henry Cecil and Twice Over.

He has lot of class and the trainer has a huge desire to add the World Cup to his list of his world major wins.