ZZ13.01.1ST.EPSF

RACING POST
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
DUBAI
CARNIVAL
2009
LET BATTLE
COMMENCE
The carnival superpowers are raring to go and we’ve got brilliant
exclusive tours of their star-packed stables starting on page 6
2
Tuesday, January 13, 2009 racingpost.com
DUBAI CARNIVAL 2009
CONTENTS
All routes
lead to Dubai . . . . . 4-5
jjBig-race calendar . . . . . . . . .4
jjWorld map featuring
country-by-country record . . .4-5
Carnival
contenders . . . . . . .6-15
jjMike de Kock stable tour . .6-8
jjHerman Brown stable tour ..8-9
jjSouth America . . . . . . . . .8-9
jjGodolphin stable tour . .10-11
jjFirst-season UAE trainers . .10
jjDoug Watson stable tour . . .11
jjErwan Charpy stable tour . .11
jjAustralia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
jjGreat Britain:
what the trainers say . . . . .12-13
jjIreland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
jjRest of Asia . . . . . . . . . . . .14
jjRest of UAE . . . . . . . . . .14-15
jjRest of Europe . . . . . . . . . .15
Exciting
to bring a
wonderful
I
chapter
to a close
Dubai Racing Club chief
Frank Gabriel on a special
year for an event now firmly
established at the heart of the
international racing calendar
T IS with pleasure that I
welcome you to the sixth Dubai
International Racing Carnival.
This year’s event is a special one,
with all involved in the sport in
Dubai looking both back and forward,
rekindling memories of events at Nad
Al Sheba while anticipating an
exciting future with the opening for
next year of the new Meydan
racecourse complex.
It was an ambitious undertaking to
introduce the carnival to the world in
2004, but when the Australian-bred
and South African-trained Prince Of
War became the first international
winner on the opening night, the
carnival had arrived and, suddenly,
international racing had opened itself
up to owners who never before would
have imagined campaigning their
horses internationally.
That win was, perhaps, a sign of
things to come: the horse was
prepared by Mike de Kock, the man
who heads into the 2009 carnival as
the most successful trainer with 53
wins, closely followed by Saeed Bin
Suroor.
The growth of the carnival has been
well documented but it is important
to reveal some numbers that merely
stress both its need, and popularity,
on the international racing calendar.
Since the opening in 2004 we have
welcomed a total of 659 horses from
25 countries, 16 of those countries
supplying the winners of 193 races
– just over half of the races that have
been run.
Add to that the fact that horses
trained outside of the UAE have won
about $103,500,000 in prize-money
and one sees how beneficial it has
been to the international racing
community.
It was also designed as an extension
to the already established World Cup
meeting and it is interesting to note
The great World Cups
poster . . . . . . . . . 16-17
Dubai’s racing
history . . . . . . . . .18-21
jjHoward Wright traces the
sport’s development . . . . . .18-21
jjTimeline . . . . . . . . . . . .18-21
Which horses will be joining the
John Gosden
Xavier Nakkachdji
Eoin Griffin
Racer Forever
Easy Target, Lessing
Finicius
Richard Hannon
Jean de Roualle
Ger Lyons
Paco Boy, Scintillo
Bright Halo
Dohasa, Fiery Lad, Leandros, Summit Surge
Andrew Balding
Alan Jarvis
Alain de Royer-Dupre
Joanna Morgan
Banknote
Wise Dennis
Alnadana
Miss Gorcia
Ralph Beckett
Eve Johnson Houghton
Luis Urbano
Charles O’Brien
Muhannak, Without A Prayer
Beaver Patrol, Judd Street
Bertranicus, Kachgai, Tricien
Lord Admiral
Clive Brittain
Mark Johnstons
Karl Burke
Drill Sregeant, Hearthstead Maison,
Love Galore
Germany
John Oxx
Kandidate
jjAn update on progress at the
carnival’s home from 2010
Big Robert, Confuchias, Keeptheboatafloat
William Knight
Gerard Butler
Illustrious Blue
Baharah
George Margarson
Finding
winners . . . . . . . 26-29
Mick Channon
Young Mick
jjPlayers’ guide . . . . . . . .26-27
jjTopdraw . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27
jjNation-by-nation guide ..28-29
jjTopspeed . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29
Bon Spiel, Presvis, Purple Moon, Swop,
Waldvogel
Focus on
Nad Al Sheba . . . 22-23
jjThanks for the memories ..22-23
jjAll the essential track facts ..23
Meydan:
one year out . . . . . . . 24
Three carnival
characters . . . . . . 30-31
jjHoward Wright talks to:
Jockey Fernando Jara . . . . . . .30
Owner Mahli Al Basti . . . . . .30
Owners Jim and Fitri Hay . . . .31
EUROPE
Britain
Eva’s Request, Halicarnassus
Luca Cumani
Tom Dascombe
Clifton Dancer
David Elsworth
Classic Punch, Nota Bene
Brian Meehan
Cat Junior, Charlie Farnsbarns, City Leader,
Exclamation, Galpin Junior, Major Eazy,
Ra Junior
Stan Moore
Fullback
Hughie Morrison
Intrepid Jack, Supaseus
Our thanks to the Dubai Racing Club
for their assistance in producing this
supplement
STAR TURN
Duellant, Quijano
Andreas Wohler
Peace Royale, Santiago Atitlan
Greece
Christos Theodorakis
Bucintoro, Contest
Ireland
Jim Bolger
Akua’Ba, Ard Na Greine, Via Galelei
Eoin Doyle
Mojito Royale
Red Eye Express
Charlie Swan
Varsity
Dermot Weld
Duc De Savoie
Italy
Luigi Riccardi
Black Mambazo, Dream Impact, Freemusic,
Remarque
Spain
Roman Martin
Flying Blue, Polan
David Nicholls
Abraham Lincoln, Buachaill Dona,
Hindu Kush, Jack Junior, Munsef,
Northern Fling, Royal Power,
Strike Up The Band, Valery Borzov, Versaki
South Africa
Jeremy Noseda
Herman Brown
Arabian Gleam
AFRICA
Czech Republic
Balcarce Nov, Basaltico, Bound By Honour,
Bucked Off, Charlies Island, Desert Links,
Glow Star, Golden Riviera, Grand Vista,
Happy Spirit, Hard Top, Jay Peg, Jet,
Jet D’Eau, Kings Gambit, Lions Blood,
Lipocco, Mourilyan, My Central, Narc,
Oracle West, Perfect Season,
Racecar Rhapsody, Redding Colliery,
Rock Ascot, Strategic News,
Traffic Guard
Lenka Horakova
Mike de Kock
Jamis Osborne
Docofthebay
David Simcock
Editor Nicholas Godfrey
Design Paul Crabtree
Senior reporter Howard Wright
Dubai correspondent Jason Ford
Picture research
John Kettle, Victor Jones
Graphics Jenny Robertshaw,
David Penzer
Bloodstock advertising
Joanne Willcocks
(020 7293 2610)
Peter Schiergen
Benllech, Bushman, Noble Citizen
Sir Michael Stoute (pictured left)
Spanish Moon
Apollo Star, Echoes Rock, Salden Light
France
Pascal Bary (pictured right)
Estrela Boa, Estrela Do Oriente, Gloria De
Campeao, Objeto De Arte, Regionaliste,
Sarissa
Carole Dufreche
Vertigineaux
John Hammond
Far From Old
Archipenko, Art Of War, Asiatic Boy,
Bankable, Bennie Blue, Biarritz,
Blues And Rock, Brave Tin Soldier,
Diana’s Choice, Drift Ice, Eagle Mountain,
Engrupido, Front House, Frosty Secret,
Hamlool, Honour Devil,
Hunting Tower, Imbongi, Inca
Noble, India Tiberina,
Indiscutible, JJ The Jet
Plane, Kildonan, King Of
Rome, Kingdom Of
Horse Asiatic Boy Target World Cup Trainer Mike de Kock (SAf) jjDubai favourite back for more after chasing home Curlin in 2008; always hard
to beat at carnival (five from seven), expect to see him in Maktoum Challenge en route to big night
3
Racing Post Tuesday, January 13, 2009
RACING POST
YOUR INDISPENSABLE
that last year four winners on the
World Cup programme – Honour
Devil, Jay Peg, Sun Classique and
Curlin – all had their prep runs during
the carnival.
What the carnival has done is to
help open up the sport to the world.
The Maktoum family have been firm
believers in international racing and
their staging of the carnival is
testament to that. It has attracted the
imagination of owners and trainers
from around the world and has
allowed wider exposure for some star
horses.
South America is the perfect
example. Aside from the few we have
seen sent to the USA, the carnival has
given more racegoers the chance to
see the exploits of horses such as
Asiatic Boy, Honour Devil and Cocoa
Beach.
And then there is South Africa. The
carnival has provided a global
audience for South African horses to
prove themselves on the world stage
– emphasised at the 2008 World Cup
meeting through Jay Peg and Sun
Classique – and this has had an
international flow-on effect with these
horses continuing their campaigns in
other countries.
Unfortunately, however, with the
successes come the setbacks, and to
stage international events such as
this, a number of processes need to
be put in place to ensure all health
procedures from every country are
adhered to. With this in mind,
difficult decisions, at times, need to
be made and none more so than this
year, when we have had to suspend
horses from Brazil due to an outbreak
of glanders.
Owners and trainers from Brazil
have been among our greatest
supporters since the carnival’s
inception and it is unfortunate that
they won’t be here in 2009. However,
we know the authorities there are
working hard to rid the area of the
problem and we hope to have them
back for 2010. Their support of our
racing over the past five years cannot
be understated.
W
HILE the Brazilians
will be missing, we
welcome the return of
horses from Australia
as well as an
increased number from Japan.
Japanese owners and trainers have
continually been great supporters of
the Dubai World Cup meeting and
that has now extended into the
carnival, with a solid group of horses
for 2009, including their champion
filly Vodka. The plan is for her to run
in the Jebel Hatta on Super Thursday
before a crack at the Dubai Duty Free.
The success of the carnival would
never have been possible without the
support of international owners,
trainers and jockeys and this year we
welcome a number of new names. We
thank them all very much for their
support and wish them all luck.
We also thank our sponsors.
Horseracing around the world is
dependent upon the generous support
of sponsors and we are fortunate to
have forged long and lasting
associations with some of the most
recognised brands in the world.
With so many horses arriving from
so many different parts of the world,
it isn’t surprising that each country’s
racing media have followed their
performances and given the carnival
magnificent coverage.
None more so than the Racing Post,
one of the foremost publications in
world racing, who again produce this
magnificent supplement. Everything
one needs to know about the carnival
is enclosed in the following pages.
Keep it with you and make use of the
clues it provides.
I hope you enjoy the 2009 carnival
as much as we enjoy taking
international racing to a new level.
CARNIVAL TRAINERS
2004-08
wins 2nd 3rd runss-r %
1 Mike de Kock (SAf)
53 31 32 242 21.9
2 Saeed Bin Suroor (UAE)
49 43 35 298 16.4
3 Doug Watson (UAE)
26 34 31 367 7.1
4 Mazin Al Kurdi (UAE)
19 17 22 198 9.6
party this year?
Naples, Limehouse, Macarthur, Mr Brock,
Naples, Quicksand, Rocks Off,
Royal Vintage, Russian Sage, Silver Mist,
Stubbs Art, Sun Classique, Trinity College,
Warsaw, Zulu Chief
13 12
6 Herman Brown (SAf)
9 120 10.8
7 Dhruba Selvaratnam (UAE)12 16 16 155 7.7
8 Erwan Charpy (UAE)
12 17 15 233 5.2
9 Jeremy Noseda (GB)
10
10 Satish Seemar (UAE)
10 24 18 340 2.9
3
CARNIVAL JOCKEYS
5 43 23.2
2004-08
wins 2nd 3rd rides s-r %
1 Frankie Dettori
42
35 34 234 18.0
2 Weichong Marwing
34
20 18 133 25.6
3 Ted Durcan
32
35 39 307 10.4
4 Mick Kinane
24
20 22 214 11.2
5 Ryan Moore
21
23 23 254
6 Kerrin McEvoy
21
19 21 105 20.0
7 Kevin Shea
21
11 13 211 10.0
8 Johnny Murtagh
17
22 24 165 10.3
9 Richard Hills
16
17 16 196
8.2
10 Willie Supple
15
12 11 201
7.5
8.3
CARNIVAL COUNTRIES
wins
UAE
South Africa
2004-08
runs strike-rate %
171 2,229
7.7
71
398
Great Britain
58
655
8.9
USA
12
91
13.2
17.8
Antonio Cintra Pereira
Swift Current
Alcomo, Embalo,
Super Class
Michohiro Ogasa
Earth Living
Brazil
11
138
8.0
Eduardo Martins
Katsuhiko Sumii
Kuwait
8
195
4.1
Incentive Guy, Pop Rock, Tosen Captain,
Vodka
Ireland
7
99
7.1
Naohiro Yoshida
Germany
5
43
11.6
Kikuno Salire, Suni
France
5
64
7.8
Kuwait
Australia
4
12
33.3
Sean Tarry
Absent Pleasure, Happy Runner, Jargelle,
L’Amico Steve, Purple Sage, Select Reason
Mythical Flight
Fawzi Nass
Aleutian, Boston Lodge, Halkin, Jonquil
AUSTRALASIA
As at Sunday, January 11
Japan
Kazuo Fujisawa
Saudi Arabia
4
59
6.8
Conceal, Estimraar, Etihaad, Grand
Emporium, Grand Hombre, Ketter, Razkalla,
Shanty Star, Star Crowned, Yard-Arm
Macau
4
62
6.5
Turkey
3
23
13.0
Japan
3
28
10.7
Wonder Speed
Saudi Arabia
India
2
19
10.5
Shigeyuki Kojima
Jerry Barton
Singapore
2
27
7.4
Black Emblem, Provinage
Sakae Kunieda
Big City Man, Deem, Don Renato, Don Velez,
Esta Bailando, Naval Officer, So Shiny
Hong Kong
1
11
9.1
Matsurida Gogh, Silent Pride
Neil Bruss
Norway
1
18
5.6
Bader Al-Abed
Hideyuki Mori
Nights Cross
Agnes Jedi, Suteka Shinsukekun,
Championship Point, Curzon Prince,
Field Event, Paris Perfect, Top Lock
Australia
Danny O’Brien
Barbaricus, Valedictum
Mick Price
Alamosa, Light Fantastic
ASIA
Bahrain
Casino Drive, Satono Kokudo
Hideaki Fujiwara
Tascata Sorte
Tomohiko Hatsuki
Rashed Bouresly
THE CARNIVAL
5 Ismail Mohammed (UAE) 18 14 20 152 11.8
Source: Dubai Racing Club
Overseas
acceptors
COMPANION THROUGHOUT
Source: Ben Hutton
All statistics thoroughbred races only
Every meeting at the
carnival is live on Sky, At
The Races and Racing UK
– and we’ll have extensive
coverage in the Racing Post
as the stars of the racing
world collide
MAN ON THE SPOT
Latest news, views and
reports from Jason Ford
in Dubai
EXPERT ADVICE
Spotlight comments on
every single horse by
Richard Young
Plus full cards, colours
and form for every
meeting at the carnival
The action starts on
Thursday – you can’t
afford to miss it
Visit
for up-to-the-minute
news plus a full service
of form and past
carnival results
4
Tuesday, January 13, 2009 racingpost.com
DUBAI CARNIVAL 2009
BIG-RACE CALENDAR
Race
Status
Prize-money
Eligibility
Distance Track
Last year’s winner Nationality
Trainer
Jockey
Group 3
$200,000
*4yo+
1m
dirt
Happy Boy
Brz
Pedro Nickel Filho
Jose da Silva
Group 3
$200,000
*4yo+
6f
dirt
Asiatic Boy
SA
Mike de Kock
Johnny Murtagh
Group 3
$200,000
*4yo+
1m1f
turf
Lord Admiral
Ire
Charles O’Brien
Mick Kinane
Al Maktoum Challenge Round II
Group 3
$200,000
*4yo+
1m1f
dirt
Lucky Find
SA
Mike de Kock
Kevin Shea
Cape Verdi
Group 3
$200,000
*4yo+
1m
turf
Sun Classique
SA
Mike de Kock
Kevin Shea
Listed
$250,000
3yo
1m
dirt
Cocoa Beach
UAE
Saeed Bin Suroor
Ted Durcan
Group 3
$250,000
3yo
1m
dirt
Honour Devil
SA
Mike de Kock
Johnny Murtagh
Group 2
$250,000
*4yo+
1m
turf
Archipenko
SA
Mike de Kock
Kevin Shea
Group 3
$200,000
*4yo+
1m1f
turf
Sun Classique
SA
Mike de Kock
Kevin Shea
UAE Oaks
Listed
$250,000
3yo
1m1f
dirt
Cocoa Beach
UAE
Saeed Bin Suroor
Ted Durcan
DRC Gold Cup
new race
$175,000
4yo+
2m
turf
Zabeel Mile (two divisions in 2008)
Group 3
$200,000
3yo+
1m
turf
Wise Dennis
Third Set
GB
UAE
Alan Jarvis
Saeed Bin Suroor
Ted Durcan
Frankie Dettori
Al Quoz Sprint (two divisions in 2008)
Group 3
$200,000
3yo+
6f
turf
Mutamarres
Instant Recall
UAE
UAE
Doug Watson
Musabah Al Muhairi
Richard Hills
Wayne Smith
UAE
1 Thursday, January 15
Al Maktoum Challenge Round I
2 Thursday, January 22
Al Shindagha Sprint
3 Thursday, January 29
Al Rashidiya
4 Thursday, February 5
5 Friday, February 6
UAE 1,000 Guineas
4
6 Thursday, February 12
UAE 2,000 Guineas
7 Thursday, February 19
Al Fahidi Fort
8 Friday, February 20
Balanchine
9 Thursday, February 26
10 Super Thursday, March 5
Al Maktoum Challenge Round III
Group 2
$300,000
*4yo+
1m2f
dirt
Jalil
Saeed Bin Suroor
Frankie Dettori
Jebel Hatta
Group 2
$250,000
*4yo+
1m1f
turf
Lord Admiral
Ire
Charles O’Brien
Mick Kinane
Dubai City Of Gold
Group 2
$250,000
4yo+
1m4f
turf
Gower Song
GB
David Elsworth
Richard Hills
Mahab Al Shimaal
Group 3
$200,000
3yo+
6f
dirt
Diabolical
Saeed Bin Suroor
Kerrin McEvoy
Al Bastakiya
Listed
$250,000
3yo
1m1f
dirt
Royal Vintage
Mike de Kock
Kevin Shea
Burj Nahaar
Group 3
$200,000
*4yo+
1m
dirt
Elusive Warning
Saeed Bin Suroor
Kerrin McEvoy
Meydan Classic
new race
$150,000
3yo
71⁄2f
turf
UAE
SA
UAE
11 Saturday, March 28
Dubai World Cup
Group 1
$6m
*4yo+
1m2f
dirt
Curlin
Dubai Sheema Classic
Group 1
$5m
4yo+
Dubai Duty Free
Group 1
$5m
*4yo+
1m4f
turf
Sun Classique
SA
Mike de Kock
Kevin Shea
1m1f
turf
Jay Peg
SA
Herman Brown
Anton Marcus
Dubai Golden Shaheen
Group 1
$2m
3yo+
UAE Derby
Group 2
$2m
3yo
6f
dirt
Benny The Bull
1m1f
dirt
Honour Devil
Godolphin Mile
Group 2
$1m
*4yo+
1m
dirt
Diamond Stripes
USA
Steve Asmussen
1
UAE
171 wins
2,229 runs
2
South
Africa
71 wins
398 runs
3
Britain
58 wins
655 runs
4
USA
12 wins
91 runs
5
Brazil
11 win
138 runs
Robby Albarado
USA
Rick Dutrow
Edgar Prado
SA
Mike de Kock
Johnny Murtagh
USA
Rick Dutrow
Edgar Prado
*3yos bred in southern hemisphere also eligible
STAR TURN
Horse Weekend Hustler Target Duty Free Trainer Ross McDonald (Aus) jjWon amazing six Group 1s as 3yo at up to 1m; added two
more in early part of current domestic season before failing to stay in Caulfield Cup; set to reappear in Lightning Stakes at end of January
5
Racing Post Tuesday, January 13, 2009
ALL ROUTES LEAD TO DUBAI
COUNTRY-BY-COUNTRY
CARNIVAL RECORD
18
24
23
7
3
8
19
9
25
27
13
20
14
6
15
17
12
16
26
5
11
1
10
21
2
22
6
Kuwait
8 wins
195 runs
11
Saudi Arabia
4 wins
59 runs
16
Singapore
2 wins
27 runs
21
Argentina
0 wins
2 runs
7
Ireland
7 wins
99 runs
12
Macau
4 wins
62 runs
17
Hong Kong
1 win
11 runs
22
New
Zealand
0 wins
2 runs
8
Germany
5 wins
43 runs
13
Turkey
3 wins
23 runs
18
Norway
1 win
18 runs
23
Denmark
0 wins
10 runs
9
France
5 wins
64 runs
14
Japan
3 wins
28 runs
19
Czech
Republic
0 wins
1 run
24
Sweden
0 wins
15 runs
26
Bahrain
0 wins
23 runs
Australia
4 wins
12 runs
15
India
2 wins
19 runs
20
Greece
0 wins
1 run
25
Italy
0 wins
22 runs
27
Spain
No previous
runners
10
STAR TURN
Horse Good Ba Ba Target Duty Free Trainer Andreas Schutz (HK) jjHong Kong horse of the year who repeated previous year’s
victory with spectacular track record-breaking performance in HK Mile in December; connections eyeing step up in trip
6
Tuesday, January 13, 2009 racingpost.com
DUBAI CARNIVAL 2009
‘I have always thought
he could be one of the
best I have trained’
STABLE TOUR MIKE DE KOCK
SOUTH AFRICA
Carnival record 53 wins from 242 runners (21.9%)
HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB
A
WORLD CUP night double
last year, courtesy of the
now-injured Sun Classique
(Sheema Classic) and
Honour Devil (UAE Derby)
secured Mike de Kock’s position as the
leading trainer at the carnival, ahead
of Godolphin’s Saeed Bin Suroor.
The South African won’t be taking
his foot off the gas this time either, as
he has assembled his strongest-ever
team, with about 40 contenders and
no shortage of quality.
However, it is possible the real
stable stars will be campaigned
sparingly, according to the trainer.
“It is a real international operation
now,” he explains. “A lot of these
horses will be given easier campaigns
with the UK, Hong Kong, America and
all the big races on the agenda. Now
we have a base in the UK it is great to
campaign horses from there.”
Kevin Shea is back as first jockey,
with Johnny Murtagh due out later in
the carnival and South African
youngster Keagan Latham, after a
good summer in Ireland, sure to come
in for his share.
Interview by Jason Ford
Archipenko
5h Kingmambo - Bound
013112We always knew he was a Group 1
horse and with luck he could have
won both the Dubai Duty Free and the
Arlington Million to add to his big win
in Hong Kong. Probably one run and
the Duty Free would be the plan.
Bankable
Asiatic Boy
5h Not For Sale - S. S. Asiatic
145-132
Obviously a favourite, as a UAE Triple
Crown winner and second in a World
Cup! The World Cup is his target,
probably via the second and third
rounds of the Maktoum Challenge. He
did not settle in at all in the UK last
year. We had thought about America
but that wasn’t possible as he was
never really happy, so we brought him
back to Dubai early. So he is further
forward than he was 12 months ago,
and probably won’t start off in a
sprint like he did last season.
STAR TURN
Eagle Mountain, working in preparation for his Hong Kong Cup victory at Sha Tin last month, will probably be aimed at the Sheema Classic
5h Medicean - Dance To The Top
222226We are looking at the Duty Free as he
has some great form in the book,
having finished second to Eagle
Mountain and Raven’s Pass among
others. He had a long year with Luca
Cumani and we are freshening him
up, so he will be out later on.
Biarritz
5h Count Dubois - Corlia’s Bid
01201/0A very interesting new horse for
Dubai and another who we hope
could progress into a Duty Free
contender. We may start him in a
handicap, though his lofty rating
limits us. The Jebel Hatta would be
an option but we’d probably like to
get a run into him first.
Blues And Rock
3c Casual Meeting - Free Many
26/4123Hopefully a Derby horse and he will
follow the same route as Asiatic Boy
and Honour Devil – a conditions race
and the three legs of the Triple
Crown. He has a hard act to follow
but he is a nice horse and is doing
very well.
Brave Tin Soldier
5h Storm Cat - Bless
8/9682-1
Given his American pedigree we were
always confident he would go on the
dirt and he has certainly proved us
right. He did not fire in three starts
last year so we left him in Dubai for
the summer and he has thrived and
acclimatised. We were pleased with
his comeback at Jebel Ali and very
hopeful on New Year’s Day and he did
not disappoint. The handicapper has
raised him to 107 so we can stay in
handicap company for now, but a step
up in class may be on the agenda.
And we could always try him back on
turf.
Eagle Mountain
5h Rock Of Gibraltar - Masskana
212/121Missed last year’s carnival through
injury but perhaps that was a
blessing, as he returned better than
ever. When we bought him we
thought he was the most exciting
jjContinues page 8
Horse Daiwa Scarlet Target World Cup Trainer Kunihide Matsuda (Jap) jjBrilliant filly’s victory in Arima Kinen in December took
career record to eight wins (four Grade 1s) and two seconds from 12 starts; will be tried on dirt for first time in Tokyo next month
Racing Post Tuesday, January 13, 2009
7
8
Tuesday, January 13, 2009 racingpost.com
DUBAI CARNIVAL 2009
DUBAI RACING CLUB/Andrew Watkins
All set
fair for
Jay Peg
to carry
standard
‘Front House
is really nice
- could be a
bit special’
jjFrom page 6
recruit we had acquired from
Europe and he is starting to
look it. Ran a great race at the
Breeders’ Cup, broke a track
record at Newmarket and won
a Group 1 in Hong Kong. The
Duty Free or Sheema Classic
are the obvious targets and the
latter would be the more
probable at the moment, as he
does stay 1m4f.
Front House
4f Sadler’s Wells - Adjalisa
112311A really nice filly part-owned
by John Magnier and her win
in the Gold Circle Oaks at
Clairwood in South Africa was
achieved against fillies six
months older than she was
without a weight allowance.
That really was some
achievement and she could be
a little bit special. The fillies’
races are obvious targets.
Honour Devil
4c Honour And Glory - Diamond Fitz
1/1121He won two Classics for us
here last year but has had a
few little setbacks since, so will
not be seen in the early stages
of the carnival. The Burj
Nahaar on Super Thursday and
the World Cup would be a
tentative plan but they are a
long way off and we will take
it slowly with him.
Hunting Tower
6g Fort Wood - Stirrup Cup
390700One of our older new recruits
from South Africa but a
genuine Group 1 performer at
A
home who goes on dirt and for
whom we should have a lot of
options. He won the Durban
July in 2007, which was a top
performance. That was over
1m3f but his last run was a
narrow defeat over 1m1f, so he
could drop back in trip.
Imbongi
4g Russian Revival - Garden Verse
151125Was one of the best of his
generation in South Africa last
season and hopefully has the
scope to improve and may
even prove Dubai Duty Free
class. He was just in front of
Hunting Tower in a blanket
finish to the Champions’ Cup,
which was his second big run
in Group 1 company.
India Tiberina
3f Indy Dancer - Isola Tiberina
1A real unknown quantity who
could be absolutely anything
– she has had one start in her
native Chile and won that by
more than ten lengths. That
was on a dirt surface so hopefully she will act at Nad Al Sheba. She seems to do so in her
work and we will find out soon
enough, as she will run in the
conditions race on the first
night.
JJ The Jet Plane
4g Jet Master - Majestic Guest
011111Quarantine red tape cost him a
run in Hong Kong which was a
real shame as he is a serious
sprinter, the best we had at
home last year. Hopefully he
will go on the dirt, in which
case the Golden Shaheen
Honour Devil, pictured winning the UAE 2,000 Guineas from stablemate Royal Vintage,
will not be out early but could have the World Cup on his agenda
becomes an option. If not, we
may revert to turf but he will
certainly be seen in Europe
later this year so we don’t
want to overface him.
is a lovely looking horse and
there is plenty left to work on.
The Sheema Classic could be
on the agenda.
Kildonan
5h Montjeu - Out West
6/71318Again, a Ballydoyle recruit and
this one was a winner at Royal
Ascot last year – as well as
being a full-brother to
Motivator. He has a lot of
scope and hopefully could be a
Sheema Classic horse.
5h Rich Man’s Gold - Cathay Firth
101392Injured in the UK in 2007 but
is back in training now and
showing all his old spark. I
have always thought he could
be one of the best I have
trained and he is very
versatile. The sprint on World
Cup night could be his
ultimate target but he is very
good on turf.
Kingdom Of Naples
4c Sadler’s Wells - Inkling
1/
A real dark horse from
Ballydoyle, who has clearly
had problems but won his sole
start and could be anything.
He has not long arrived and
we need to get to know him.
King Of Rome
4c Montjeu - Amizette
611853Another from Ballydoyle, he
was considered good enough
to run in the Epsom Derby. He
Macarthur
Rocks Off
we are toying with running
him on turf.
Stubbs Art
4c Hawk Wing - Rich Dancer
336659He had a busy season in
Europe so will get a break but
is an exciting addition – his
efforts in the 2,000 Guineas at
Newmarket and in Ireland for
David Elsworth were top class.
Another possible for the
Duty Free and will be
campaigned later in Europe
for sure.
3c Orpen - Lava Gold
121The champion juvenile at
home last year, he is a halfbrother to Gold For Sale who
won the UAE 2,000 Guineas,
so we have to hope the dirt
won’t be a problem. The
Classics are the obvious
targets.
Trinity College
Royal Vintage
4c Fusaichi Pegasus - La Lorgnette
31348He is probably a long-term
project as he is still immature,
but he’s regally bred as a halfbrother to Hawk Wing. He
should be out at the backend
of the carnival.
4g Rich Man’s Gold - Derry Wood
1/21294He has been gelded after a
frankly disappointing time in
Britain. A Maktoum Challenge
campaign aimed towards the
World Cup is one option but
5h Giant’s Causeway - City College
148/33-0
Another from Ballydoyle but
purchased specifically with the
dirt in mind; his pedigree
suggests it will be the making
of him. He had a run in a
sprint to aid his preparation.
Zulu Chief
COMPATRIOT of
Mike De Kock,
Herman Brown is
returning for his
fourth carnival
looking to improve his record
of 13 winners so far.
Only three wins last term
represented a drop on five in
each of the previous two
seasons, but at least they
included Jay Peg in the Dubai
Duty Free. The same horse
leads his 2009 team, which
will comprise about 35, by far
his largest string to date.
Brown says: “Obviously
Linngari will be hard to replace
but otherwise this looks our
strongest carnival team in
terms of quality – it certainly is
in terms of numbers.”
Ryan Moore is back as first
jockey, with Keagan Latham
again part of the operation.
Interview by Jason Ford
Basaltico
5h Shantou - Sfilza
111215Comes to us from Italy, where
he has shown some solid form
and we really like him, so
hopefully we can win with
him.
Bound By Honour
5g Rambo Dancer - Child Of Grace
311453Group 1-placed at home and
looks the sort to be
competitive in staying turf
races.
Desert Links
5g Kahal - Selborne Park
210151A horse with plenty of stamina
who is a Group 1 winner at
home and a horse we are
SOUTH AMERICA
Growing bloodstock reputation likely to be well
S
OUTH AMERICANtrained horses will be
notable only for their
absence as it seems not
a single horse still
trained on the continent is
likely to appear.
However, there will be no
shortage of South Americanbred horses turning up for new
stables after showing a high
level of form at home – a path
well trodden in recent years by
the likes of Asiatic Boy, Cocoa
Beach, Honour Devil and even
STAR TURN
World Cup winner Invasor,
who was bred in Argentina and
raced in Uruguay.
South American-bred horses
dominated the lucrative threeyear-old dirt programme last
year, and Mike de Kock has
another couple of likely sorts
for the UAE Classics. Rocks
Off, an Argentine-bred threeyear-old (shown as four on
northern-hemisphere
racecards) is already a Grade 1
winner in South Africa. He is
rated a potential UAE Derby
horse, while another Argentine
import Blues And Rock will
also be aimed at the Triple
Crown.
Among the fillies, Chilean
star India Tiberina will be
aimed at the Classics, but the
vibes are less positive for
compatriot Indiscutible
while the four-year-old Inca
Noble, an Argentine Grade 1
winner, has had setbacks.
This year’s new wave of
imports is set to include
Argentine Derby winner Tecla
Shiner and Chilean sensation
Sos Brillante, both with
Godolphin.
Three-year-old filly Sos
Brillante is in full training and
will aim to follow in the
footsteps of compatriot Cocoa
Beach in the fillies’ Classics,
but Tecla Shiner is still in the
US and is likely to start later.
Others purchased by UAE
interests to race in Dubai
include Chilean Group 1
winner Vito Corleone,
Peruvian 2,000 Guineas
winner Galactos and the
unbeaten Peruvian-raced colts
Paso De Gloria and Felix.
Peruvian-bred Felix, a
16-length debut winner, is
likely to contest the three-yearold conditions race on January
22 for owner Sheikh Majid and
trainer Mubarak Bin Shafya.
The same team were behind
Uruguayan black-type winner
Soy Libriano, an Argentinebred colt who finished second
on his UAE debut last month.
Herman Brown could aim
Argentine import Balcarce
Nov at the UAE Derby.
Promising Argentine-bred
three-year-olds Don Velez
and Perfectly, purchased last
year by Prince Sultan bin
Mohammed bin Saud al
Kabeer, are due to remain in
Saudi Arabia preparing for a
tilt at the UAE Derby. Chileanbred Don Renato and
newcomers Esta Bailando
and So Shiny are expected to
show up at an earlier date.
Chilean dual-Group 3
Horse Midshipman Target UAE Derby Trainer Saeed Bin Suroor (UAE) jjTop US-trained juvenile in 2008 when Breeders’ Cup Juvenile was second Grade 1
victory for former trainer Bob Baffert; has joined Godolphin, who will aim him at UAE Classics with possible Kentucky Derby tilt later on
9
Racing Post Tuesday, January 13, 2009
STABLE TOURS
HERMAN BROWN
SOUTH AFRICA 13 winners from 120 runners (10.8%)
looking forward to running. He
is a lovely, strong, promising
type, hopefully with scope to
improve.
he should be competitive. We
like what we have seen of him
and hopefully he can have a
good carnival.
Happy Spirit
Mourilyan
4f Silvano - Happy Land
201212Placed in the Oaks at home
and we will be looking at the
two fillies’ races for her as a
starting point. We like her a
lot.
5h Desert Prince - Mouramara
288360He had a busy 2008 and only
ran a month ago in Hong
Kong, so is probably as fit as
any of ours at the moment.
He’ll probably be seen out in
early February. He has loads of
scope and will be campaigned
from Europe later on, so may
not have too many runs here.
He was arguably unlucky in
the Canadian International and
we know Nad Al Sheba suits
him, so the Sheema Classic
will be on the agenda again
– looking to improve on last
year’s eighth.
Jay Peg
5h Camden Park - Laptop Lady
8/63211Opened our World Cup night
account last year, before going
to Singapore and winning, and
will replace Linngari [went to
Sir Michael Stoute and now
retired] as our standard-bearer.
He had a nice break after
Singapore and spent some
time in the UK. He has settled
back in well here and we are
stepping up his preparation to
try to get him ready for a 71⁄2f
handicap at the second
meeting – a race Linngari won
last year.
Jet
5h Yagli - Inflacionaria
153/3U1As his name suggests, he is a
sprinter. We hope he will turn
into a Golden Shaheen
contender as he was a Group 1
winner in Brazil.
Kings Gambit
4g Silvano - Lady Brompton
115211A Guineas and Derby winner
at home and one we really
hope could be a bit special; he
is by no means the biggest but
has a real touch of class. The
Sheema Classic via
something like the Al
Rashidiya is the plan.
Narc
6g National Assembly - She’s No
Secret
13111/9He stayed in Dubai for the
summer after his ninth in the
Golden Shaheen [for Mike de
Kock] on World Cup night. He
was a top sprinter at home and
his preparation was rushed last
year, as it was a late decision
to run in Dubai. He has
acclimatised well and the Al
Shindagha Sprint will be his
first target, with the hope of
getting to World
Cup night
again.
Oracle West
7g Western Winter - Noble Prophet
625/130Has been a carnival regular
and a great servant for Mike
[de Kock]. Has won a Dubai
City Of Gold, been placed in
the last two runnings of that
race and was runner-up in the
2007 Sheema Classic. That will
be his target again and we left
him here for the summer to
give him a break, so he will
probably be out in early
February.
Racecar Rhapsody
4c Tale Of The Cat - Reflect The
Music
34/4444Will only just have arrived
when the carnival starts, but
we are hoping he could be a
Godolphin Mile contender. His
American form is strong – he
was fourth to Big Brown in the
Preakness.
Traffic Guard
5h More Than Ready - Street Scene
320225A very interesting addition
with some great form in
Europe – especially a second to
New Approach in the Irish
Champion Stakes – and no
stranger to Nad Al Sheba as
this will be his third carnival.
He is a bit leggy and I don’t
think will thrive on a busy
campaign, so we will freshen
him up and just give him a few
runs, perhaps starting in the
Al Rashidiya.
Mourilyan: eighth
in the Sheema
Classic last year
for John Oxx, and
will be aimed at
the race again
Lipocco
5g Piccolo - Magical Dancer
0/20503Won twice in Britain for Ralph
Beckett. Has settled in well,
although we had to clip him as
he was growing a winter coat!
There are plenty of 6f and 61⁄2f
races on turf to aim him at and
advertised by exports
winner Yes, that nation’s topranked juvenile colt last
season, has joined the stable of
King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz &
Sons. Argentine-bred Joe
Louis and Peruvian champion
three-year-old Muller, onetwo in the Group 2 Crown
Prince Cup in Riyadh in early
January, could also appear.
The only potential South
American-trained presence will
come on World Cup night
itself, when there is an outside
chance that Life Of Victory,
recent winner of the
continent’s most prestigious
race, the GP Carlos Pellegrini,
and Argentine Classic winner
City Banker could be
nominated. Peru’s continental
champ Deepak looks set to
stay on his home continent in
search of a repeat win in the
GP Latinoamericano in March.
Although Brazilian horses
have been prevented from
travelling by a single case
of the highly infectious
disease glanders, there will
be a number of Brazilian-bred
horses in action, notably those
in the care of Pascal Bary.
Alongside Gloria De
Campeao and Sarissa, who
both ran well last year,
Swedish owner Stefan Friborg
has also imported Estrela Do
Oriente, who went to France
soon after winning the Grade 1
Grande Premio ABCPCC. He
bypassed the Sao Paulo
Classics to concentrate on
Dubai.
Michael Burns
10
Tuesday, January 13, 2009 racingpost.com
DUBAI CARNIVAL 2009
‘He has a touch of class
and is delighting us’
A
FTER a prolific 2008
carnival, when his 23
winners were seven more
than closest rival Mike de
Kock, Godolphin trainer
Saeed Bin Suroor will surely struggle
to emulate his tally in 2009.
With the likes of De Kock as well as
the local trainers fielding everstronger teams, saddling winners will
surely be harder than ever.
Plus, of course, the carnival is just
part of a long season for his
international organisation, as the
trainer explains.
“The carnival is just the first part,”
says Bin Suroor. “Obviously, its being
on our doorstep makes it important,
but it is just one part of the year and
the international racing calendar is a
12-month one.
“World Cup night is a long way off
but something we are looking at
already, as is the season in Europe
and America. There are big races all
over the world for which we hope to
have runners throughout the season
and we have to plan accordingly.”
There are no immediate plans for
horses such as Creachadoir, Hala Bek,
Rio De La Plata, Ibn Khaldun or
Schiaparelli – but even without them,
Godolphin hardly look short of
firepower.
Interview by Jason Ford
Alexandros
4c Kingmambo - Arlette
727313Worked very well over six furlongs
recently and we are looking at the
71⁄2f turf handicap on the first night
and a 1m handicap two weeks later.
He was second in the Diomed Stakes
and won a conditions race at Bath
last year and can hopefully win
again.
STABLE TOUR
SAEED BIN SUROOR
UAE
Carnival record 49 wins from 298 runners (16.4%)
Mountain at Newmarket. He is
another who will be entered in the
71⁄2f turf handicap on opening night.
Captain Webb
4c Storming Home - Criquette
115190A new horse from Mark Johnston and
a young, progressive type who has
been working particularly well.
Stamina is his forte – he will run in
either the 1m4f turf handicap on the
opening night or the 1m2f one the
following week.
Donativum
Familiar Territory
Hatta Fort
3c Cadeaux Genereux - Miss Universe
427111Improved rapidly at the backend of
last season for John Gosden and can
hopefully continue to do so. We have
freshened him up and he is going
nicely at home, but we have no firm
plans yet. He is clearly versatile and it
is nice to have two Breeders’ Cup
Juvenile winners in the yard with him
and Midshipman.
6h Cape Cross - Forever Fine
3/21233Will be entered in Maktoum
Challenge I – and he proved himself
very adept on the dirt last year.
Having won a handicap, he then
chased home Curlin a fortnight later.
Ran twice in Europe when third on
each occasion and has pleased us at
home since.
4c Cape Cross - Oshiponga
331413A useful juvenile, he won a Grade 3
in America for us last year and is
another one for whom we are looking
at 71⁄2f turf handicaps.
Feared In Flight
4g Hawk Wing - Solar Crystal
340040One we purchased at the sales, he
was third to our Ibn Khaldun in the
2007 Racing Post Trophy. He was
highly tried early last year but his
handicap mark has come down and
the 1m2f handicap on week two is
his first intended start. Has been
showing up well at home and we
are very happy with him.
Diabolical
6h Artax - Bonnie Byerly
065722I’ve never seen this horse as well as
he was before the Breeders’ Cup – we
really thought he would win, but he
ran a great race in defeat. That race
took a lot out of him though – on top
of all the travelling he did – but he is
back in training now. The Mahab
Al Shimaal on Super Thursday
and Golden Shaheen on
World Cup night look the
most likely options, with
the Al Shindagha
Sprint probably
too early.
Gayego
4c Gilded Time - Devils Lake
210071A very recent addition who has to
go through quarantine before he
joins the string at Al Quoz. We will
have a good look at him when he
arrives but certainly will not rule
out Super Thursday and
World Cup night at
this stage.
Calming Influence
4c King’s Best - Idilic Calm
191869Won a Listed race in France for us last
year and was not far behind
subsequent Group 1 winner Eagle
Iguazu Falls
4c Pivotal - Anna Palariva
321077He should be out on the first night,
with the 71⁄2f turf handicap looking a
perfect slot for him. He is a useful sort
who won on Oaks Day at Epsom.
Irish Mayhem
4c Woodman - Adventurous Di
175911A new recruit to the yard who won
both his last two starts at Great Leighs
for Brian Meehan and we are hoping
he will handle the Nad Al Sheba dirt.
The 1m1⁄2f handicap on week two is
his most likely starting point.
Kirklees
5h Jade Robbery - Moyesii
31/11/32He too will be entered in the
Maktoum Challenge as well as a 1m1⁄2f
handicap the following week. A
Group 1 winner as a juvenile, he was
placed on both outings last season
after a year off and we are keen to try
him on the dirt.
Lady Marian
4f Nayef - La Felicita
561211Won the Prix de l’Opera on her final
start when trained in Germany. Has
not arrived yet and there is no definite
Donativum: Frankie Dettori’s
Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf
winner will now be running in
the Godolphin blue
Former Godolphin stars out to put unfamiliar names on map
TWO years ago, little-known UAE
trainer Ismail Mohammed sent out 16
winners to top the trainers’ lists at the
2007 Dubai Carnival, mainly with
horses running in the colours of
Princess Haya. While emulating
Mohammed would be a tall order for
anyone, there are a couple of firstseason UAE-based trainers who look
sure to leave their mark this time.
Mubarak Bin Shafya
Looks to have a strong team at his
disposal at Al Asfa Stables, from
STAR TURN
where he will be training mainly for
Princess Haya and members of the
Maktoum family as well as others.
Heading his team is Happy Boy,
winner of the opening round of the
Maktoum Challenge on opening night
in 2008 and likely to run there again.
“He likes the conditions and has
been in good form,” says Bin Shafya.
Other notable former Saeed Bin
Suroor inmates include
Dijeerr, Gravitas,
With Interest and
Meydan City.
The former William Haggas-trained
Stewards’ Cup winner Conquest is a
new Maktoum recruit, but he did not
seem to handle the sand on his Dubai
debut last week. Felix, an import from
Peru, ran a pleasing race in the same
sprint and looks an interesting
prospect as he qualifies for the threeyear-old conditions races.
Yaddree was a useful performer
for Michael Jarvis and continues to
sport the yellow colours of Sheikh
Ahmed. A pair of former-Clive
Brittain-trained horses have also
joined Bin Shafya in carnival regular
Hattan, a Group 3 winner on both
Polytrack and turf, and Yahrab,
winner of his last three starts.
Having won with four of his first
six runners, Bin Shafya now has five
winners from 23 runners. “We started
well and we have to be happy with
what we have achieved, but things
will be more difficult now,” he says.
Abdulla Bin Huzaim
IGOR PROTTI, a Godolphin carnival
winner last year, could be Bin
Huzaim’s stable star. He will carry the
colours of Sheikh Mohammed’s son,
Sheikh Mansoor.
Emirates Skyline was a useful
turf performer for Godolphin who did
not appear to handle the dirt on his
first start for his new trainer, while
Plavius was Bin Huzaim’s first
winner and a Jebel Ali success last
Friday secured his carnival berth in
dirt races. Filios is surely better than
he has shown in three UAE outings
and will be in action at the carnival.
Jason Ford
Horse Eagle Mountain Target Sheema Classic/Duty Free Trainer Mike de Kock (SAf) jjFormer Ballydoyle horse really came into
his own towards end of last year when runner-up at Breeders’ Cup before stunning victory in Hong Kong Cup
11
Racing Post Tuesday, January 13, 2009
STABLE TOURS
plan for her, but if all is well when she
gets here we may consider aiming her
at World Cup night.
Midshipman
3c Unbridled’s Song - Fleet Lady
1121Joined us after winning well at the
Breeders’ Cup. He has impressed
everyone since arriving and done his
bits of proper work in great style. We
have to hope that he is a horse for the
UAE 2,000 Guineas and UAE Derby,
after which we will decide his future
plans, but he is an exciting sort and
one we are really looking forward to.
DOUG WATSON
UAE 26 winners from 367 runners (7.1%)
Merchant
Marine a
real monster
Green Coast
T
Merchant Marine
4c Green Desert - Baldemosa
17Did not race until October last year
when winning a Leicester maiden on
his debut, before finishing third on his
only subsequent outing. He is
unexposed and we will try him on the
dirt, probably over 7f on February 5.
HE American clinched his
second UAE title last season
and his total of 26
thoroughbred winners (eight
more arab wins) make him
by far the most successful UAE-based
trainer at the carnival outside
Godolphin.
As his whole campaign this time
has been geared towards the carnival,
Watson may have his strongest-ever
team. “We had very few new horses
for the domestic season but have been
able to make some exciting additions
to our carnival team,” he says.
“Sheikh Hamdan remains my main
patron but all the owners have rallied
round and we are really looking
forward to the carnival.”
Sos Brillante
Interview by Jason Ford
Rohaani
My Indy
4c Indygo Shiner - My Light
11-236A Group 2 winner in his native
Argentina, he was third in the UAE
2,000 Guineas last year and then sixth
in the UAE Derby. He has thrived
since and been working very well.
The first round of the Maktoum
Challenge on the opening night is his
first target.
Sirocco Breeze
3f Dance Brightly - Strike Out
1A nice filly who we might consider for
the fillies’ 71⁄2f turf race on the first
night, but that may come a bit soon.
Tecla Shiner
3c Indygo Shiner - Mert Type
26111Another one who has yet to arrive
and that we will need to assess when
he does, with an eye on Super
Thursday and World Cup night.
Two Step Salsa
4c Petionville - Two To Waltz
211263Has some smart form in America for
previous connections and we are quite
keen to try him on turf. The Al
Rashidiya would be an option if we
went the turf route, if not perhaps the
middle round of the Maktoum
Challenge the following week.
Veracity
5h Lomitas - Vituisa
25/5113A genuine stayer who won the Jockey
Club Cup for us last October. The
Dubai Racing Club Gold Cup at the
end of February is his target and he
could make up into a nice horse.
Vineyard Haven
3c Lido Palace - Princess Aloha
1311As you would expect of a dual
Grade 1 winner, this horse really does
seem to have a touch of class and has
delighted us since arriving. He is a
beautiful, athletic mover and one I
really do like. He and Midshipman
both appear to have taken the trip
very well and are happy, fresh and
thriving in the sunshine.
Yamal
4c Green Desert - Pioneer Bride
211318Another newcomer and one who
pleased us immensely when working
last week, he will be aimed at the
1m handicap on January 29. Very
well and is hopefully still
progressive.
STAR TURN
Barbecue Eddie
5g Stormy Atlantic -The Green Owl
224183A proven quality sprinter who was
fourth in last year’s Golden Shaheen
and that is his target again this year.
He had three runs in the States but
has been back a while and is in good
shape. The Al Shindagha Sprint will
be his first run and Richard Hills was
impressed when he sat on him for the
first time last week.
Classic Blade
3c Daggers Drawn -Queen Bodicea
411195His British form is obviously very
good [won the July Stakes for Tom
Dascombe] but we need to try him on
the dirt and test his stamina. It would
be nice to aim him at the UAE 2,000
Guineas but if he does not stay or act
on the dirt, there are some nice new
conditions races on turf for
three-year-olds that would be ideal.
Force Freeze
4g Forest Camp - Antifreeze
11213-1
He is another nice recruit from
America and has plenty of pace as he
showed when winning at Nad Al
Sheba on New Year’s Day. He arrived
early and settled in immediately so
we hoped he would go very close and
he is one who could improve through
the ranks, with the Al Shindagha
Sprint his next likely run.
6h Green Desert -Oriental Fashion
2/41791After only eight starts is hopefully still
progressing. He won a 1m handicap
at the carnival last year and earned a
Godolphin Mile berth. In great form
and can win again. He loves the dirt
and made a winning reappearance.
5g Tiznow -Head East
156134He is a real monster of a horse and
hopefully he can build on some
impressive form in the States. He was
third to Curlin on his penultimate
start and a nice winner before that.
We have to aim him at the World Cup,
probably via the Maktoum Challenge.
Mutamarres
6g Green Desert - Injaad
29/1110Won three at the carnival last year
and earned himself a World Cup night
invitation in the process. Versatile
with regards trip and surface, so we
can place him to good effect.
7h High Yield - Strawberry’s Charm
38/6002This will be his third carnival for us
and he really deserves a change of
luck as he has endured more than his
fair share of problems. We have had a
clear run with him this season and he
can win one, be it on dirt or turf, as
he acts on both.
Stevie Junior
3c Monsieur Bond - Song of Skye
511The UAE 2,000 Guineas is his target
and we may wait until then for his
first run. He won twice on Polytrack
for Peter Chapple-Hyam and seems to
handle the dirt well in his training.
Stamina is not a problem and he
could be a serious Classic contender.
Trust N Dustan
4g Trust N Luck - Lorraine
62437-6
Was highly tried in the States and
really pleased us on his local debut;
he could just be a dark horse who
could nick a dirt handicap.
War Monger
5h War Chant -Carnival Delight
306237A Grade 1 performer on turf in the US
who was beaten less than six lengths
at the Breeders’ Cup behind Goldikova
from a bad draw. He is an exciting
addition. The Nad Al Sheba turf track
will hopefully suit him as he is a
lovely, big horse.
ERWAN CHARPY
UAE 12 winners from 233 runners (5.2%)
Golden
Arrow right
back to best
A
FORMER local champion
trainer, Frenchman Erwan
Charpy looks to have a
strong team for 2009 and
has been in great form this
season, winning the first three Listed
thoroughbred races of the season.
Charpy says: “The competition
looks certain to be tougher than ever,
but we have strength in depth, with a
nice mix of dirt and turf horses.”
Tadhg O’Shea is stable jockey, with
apprentice Shane Gorey also on the
books. Pat Smullen will also ride.
Interview by Jason Ford
Blackat Blackitten
5h Inchinor - Tara’s Girl
11/1126He is a long way from being ready to
race and if he does make the track it
will be at the end of the carnival.
Fingers crossed we can get him out,
as he is a very nice prospect.
Emirates Gold
6h Royal Applause - Yara
1/78411Has won both starts this year, making
history by defending his crown in the
National Day Cup at Abu Dhabi.
There is a 71⁄2f race for him on
opening night. The plan is to stick to
turf and the Al Fahidi Fort could be a
target, if not the Zabeel Mile.
Golden Arrow
6h Danehill - Cheal Rose
622501A lovely horse who’s right back to his
best, winning his sole start this
season. He’ll start in the Maktoum
Challenge I, in which he was third in
2007 and sixth last year. He has truly
acclimatised now and can progress.
Grantley Adams
6g Dansili - Noble Peregrine
006/981A carnival winner for Mick Channon
in 2007 and won HH The President’s
Cup at Abu Dhabi on his first start for
us. Talented but has his quirks. He
will run over 61⁄2f on the first night.
Hello Morning
4c Poliglote - Hello Molly
356576A new recruit from France for Sheikh
Hamdan, he was beaten only a length
by Tamayuz in April. Has been
freshened up and is working well on
dirt, so we may well try him on that.
Jalmira
8m Danehill Dancer - Jaldini
954211A new recruit from Ireland who has
won her last two on Polytrack but
seven on turf. Will be aimed at the
two fillies and mares’ races, with the
Cape Verdi in three weeks’ time the
first target.
Mashaahed
6h In The Wings - Patacake Patacake
38721/4We really like him. He had just the
one start for us last year in a valuable
handicap. Two of his wins in Britain
were in Listed company and we are
looking at something like the Al
Rashidiya for him as a starting point.
Munaddam
7g Aljabr - Etizaaz
187/309Dual carnival winner for Ed Dunlop in
2007 but we were always up against
time last year and he has settled in
nicely now. He needed the run at Abu
Dhabi and will be entered in the 61⁄2f
handicap on day one.
Rampallion
6h Daylami - Minute Waltz
50/1001Won on the first night of the carnival
last year but then we probably ran
him back too soon. Won first time
again this season but will not be
rushed back.
Singing Poet
8g Singspiel - Bright Finish
20/714-4
He won the Jebel Ali Stakes for us
just over two years ago and is very
talented. He has not been
straightforward though – he has had
only 11 starts. The second round of
the Maktoum Challenge is the plan,
but we would not discount handicaps.
Tajdeef
4c Aljabr - Tabheej
3/22263May have won only once but had
some smart form for Barry Hills and is
another for the turf handicaps.
Tasteyville
6g With Approval - Rahfee
21/1205A Sheikh Hamdan new recruit from
the States, where he is a Grade 3
winner. His last two runs were in
Group 1 company and we are looking
at the Godolphin Mile as a target.
AUSTRALIA
Melbourne trainer weighing up raid with Group 1 pair
A
USTRALIAN horses have a
useful strike-rate from only
a handful of runners in
Dubai. Melbourne-based
trainer Mick Price is eyeing
the carnival with a pair of Group 1
winners in Light Fantastic and
Alamosa, although neither is
certain to run there.
Light Fantastic, who at three
won the Cadbury Guineas over 1m at
Flemington, really made his name by
beating Aussie superstar Weekend
Hussler when the pair made their
seasonal debuts at Caulfield last
August.
“He’s back in work, but it will all be
dependant on form and how he
comes up,” says Price. “We’ve had a
few little problems but we’re
confident we’ve sorted them out. It
would be great to get to Dubai.”
Alamosa won three Group 1s in
his native New Zealand before joining
Price and adding to his tally in the
David Jones Toorak Handicap over
1m at Caulfield in October.
“We weren’t disappointed with his
Cox Plate seventh, but he is probably
a handicap mile horse,” says Price.
“He will also have to show us that
he warrants the trip. He’s a four-yearold and probably in his last few
months of racing, so to put him on
the world stage at the top of his form
would be great for his stud potential.”
Price’s Melbourne neighbour Danny
O’Brien has nominated five horses but
is unlikely to send any.
Andrew O’Toole
Horse Indian Blessing Target Golden Shaheen Trainer Bob Baffert (USA) jjTremendous filly who followed up championship-winning 2yo
campaign (won Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies) with three more Grade 1 successes in 2008; never out of first two in 12 starts (nine wins, three seconds)
12
Tuesday, January 13, 2009 racingpost.com
DUBAI CARNIVAL 2009
‘As a Group 3 winner, Banknote
seems well treated – he’s in good
form and we’ll look at handicaps’
B
RITAIN’S team includes a
Breeders’ Cup winner, a
multiplicity of Pattern-race
performers, a contingent of
previous visitors and several
horses who have joined new trainers
since they last ran on home soil.
The Ralph Beckett-trained
Muhannak is the Breeders’ Cup hero
flying out to the Middle East where,
having won the Marathon at Santa
Anita on the AW in October, he will
bid for more glory on the sand in the
Maktoum Challenge.
The catalogue of Group- and Listedrace winners making the trip to the
UAE also features the Queen’s
Banknote (Andrew Balding),
Halicarnassus (Mick Channon),
Kandidate (Clive Brittain), Charlie
Farnsbarns and City Leader (Brian
Meehan) and Spanish Moon (Sir
Michael Stoute).
As well as Kandidate, those to have
travelled successfully before include
the Alan Jarvis-trained Wise Dennis,
who notched two victories at Nad Al
Sheba in 2008, and John Gosden’s
Racer Forever, already proven to be
ideally suited to the 61⁄2f turf course.
David Nicholls is due to send the
largest number of raiders with a team
running into double figures, among
them Abraham Lincoln, formerly with
Aidan O’Brien, and the ex-John
Dunlop-trained Munsef.
Regular fans of racing in the desert
will know that the record of Britishbased horses in previous Dubai
seasons suggests they do much better
on turf than dirt.
Ben Hutton’s detailed results survey
appears elsewhere in this supplement
but it has to be worth noting that only
three UK-resident trainers – Brittain,
Gerard Butler and Jeremy Noseda –
have ever saddled a winner on Nad Al
Sheba’s sand.
Interviews by David Lawrence
Abraham Lincoln
5h Danehill - Moon Drop
290000He probably won’t go until the middle
of February, as there’s a possibility
he’ll be running on World Cup night
and, if he went too early and stayed
more than 90 days, we’d need to get
involved in a period of quarantine.
Our plan at the moment is to give him
two races in Dubai, with the first
being a 6f conditions race towards the
end of February. David Nicholls
Arabian Gleam
5h Kyllachy - Gleam Of Light
6/58641He’ll be my only runner at the
carnival, although I’m still discussing
the bigger races at the end of the
Dubai season with my owners, and
he’ll fly out in early February. There
are races for him during that
month and he’ll be running
over 1m on turf. Jeremy
Noseda
STAR TURN
WHAT THE TRAINERS SAY
THE BRITISH CHALLENGE
EDWARD WHITAKER
Baharah
5m Elusive Quality - Bahr
019012She’s a very good filly, both on turf
and the AW, so there ought to be
opportunities for her. She went in
2008, when things didn’t quite work
out for her against the colts, but we
plan to keep her to her own sex this
time. Her first option comes on
February 5 and there’s another
possible opening for her later that
month. Gerard Butler
Banknote
7h Zafonic - Brand
7/43421He’s been nominated for the past two
years but has had problems, so this
year we’re finally looking forward to
him taking his chance. He won his
last race, so he’s in good form, and he
seems quite well treated considering
he’s a Group 3 winner. He’ll go to
Dubai this month and we’ll look at
turf handicaps. Andrew Balding
Pat Smullen celebrates after Muhannak’s victory in the Breeders’ Cup Marathon at Santa Anita in October
Beaver Patrol
7g Tagula - Erne Project
280338He’s an absolute star and always picks
up prize-money when he goes to
Dubai. He absolutely loves the
sunshine and racing out there suits
him perfectly, especially as there are
several 61⁄2f events for him to aim at.
Eve Johnson Houghton
Benllech
5g Lujain - Four Legs Good
121511He’s one of five I’m taking to Dubai
and his first target is a 61⁄2f 95-110
handicap on turf. There are a few
similar races and they all look as if
they’ll be very well contested, with
divisions in some cases, but we hope
he’ll do well. David Simcock
Big Robert
5h Medicean - Top Flight Queen
428063He’ll be aimed at handicaps over
1m2f/1m4f and I think the style of
racing in Dubai will suit him. The turf
track at Nad Al Sheba has a good long
straight and the ground never seems
to get too fast, which is ideal for him.
Karl Burke
Buachaill Dona
6g Namid - Serious Contender
500100He’s been to Dubai before, so
we know he enjoys
himself there, and there are plenty of
races for him, over 6f and 61⁄2f. He’ll
go this month and he’s in good form.
David Nicholls
Bushman
5g Maria’s Mon - Housa Dancer
31127He’s in good form. I’m delighted with
him, and his first target in Dubai
comes in mid-February. We plan to
start him off in a 1m2f handicap on
turf. David Simcock
Clifton Dancer
4f Fraam - Crofters Ceilidh
8/51168Her initial target is a fillies’ handicap
over 71⁄2f on January 15. There’s
another opportunity for her about
three weeks later and, as she seems in
very good form, we’d be hopeful that
she’ll do well. Tom Dascombe
Confuchias
5h Cape Cross - Schust Madame
053175He goes well on the AW, but 6f/7f on
turf is also ideal and there are plenty
of races he can aim for. He’d prefer
soft ground on the grass, but Nad Al
Sheba’s turf has a bit of sponge in it.
Karl Burke
Docofthebay
5h Docksider - Baize
420520We don’t plan to run him very early,
so he won’t fly out until the end of the
month. He’s rated 104, which means
he’s eligible for the 0-105 band, and
we’ll try to find suitable opportunities
at around 1m. He will race on turf.
Jamie Osborne
Drill Sergeant
4g Rock Of Gibraltar - Dolydille
219333The plan is to run him in handicaps.
He’s got good form over 1m4f and,
while most of his races have been on
turf so far, I wouldn’t discount letting
him have a crack at the dirt.
Mark Johnston
Eva’s Request
4f Soviet Star - Ingabelle
692251We haven’t worked out any definite
early targets for her, but she’s in great
form and there should be plenty of
options for her – she’s very tough and
will probably stay for the duration.
Mick Channon
Fullback
3c Redback - Feet Of Flame
222212He’ll run virtually straight off the
plane in a 7f conditions race on
January 22 and we’re hoping he’ll do
well enough to earn a place in the
UAE Guineas. There are several other
options for him, including on Super
Thursday. Stan Moore
Halicarnassus
5h Cape Cross - Launch Time
045090He won a couple of Group 3s at three
and kept smart company throughout
last year. He never seems to lose his
summer coat and loves to get the sun
on his back – in that respect the
summer of 2008 was far from ideal
for him. Mick Channon
Hearthstead Maison
5h Peintre Celebre - Pieds De Plume
6/36371The ratings band for the handicaps at
the Dubai Carnival only goes up to
110, so he’ll probably have to start
out by contesting Pattern races. He
could run on turf and dirt.
Mark Johnston
Hindu Kush
4c Sadler’s Wells - Tambora
410485As is the case with Abraham Lincoln,
there’s a possibility that he’ll be
running on World Cup night, so he
won’t be going until mid-February.
We’ll start making a definite plan for
him once we know what his ultimate
target will be. David Nicholls
Intrepid Jack
7h Compton Place - Maria Theresa
710480In very good form and the plan is to
start him off in a race on February 5.
Horse Kane Hekili Target World Cup Trainer Katsuhiko Sumii (Jap) jjTop class on dirt, this 7yo is back in brilliant form after
long layoff, winning second Japan Cup Dirt (three years after first) in 2008; fourth to Electrocutionist in 2006 World Cup
13
Racing Post Tuesday, January 13, 2009
AROUND THE STABLES
He’s due to leave on January 18,
which should give him time to
acclimatise, and I’d expect him to
have two runs, unless he shows he’s
good enough to have a crack at
something on World Cup night. He
goes well on the AW, so he may have
a try on the dirt. Hughie Morrison
Northern Fling
5g Mujadil - Donna Anna
898300He’s got plenty of options and he’ll
probably be among the first of ours to
go. We’re looking at a Group 3 over 6f
as a possible. David Nicholls
Paco Boy
Jack Junior
5g Songandaprayer - Ra Hydee
104530He was second in the 2008 UAE
Derby, so we know he likes Dubai.
He’s rated 100-plus, so his
programme will be dictated by that,
but he could race on turf and dirt.
David Nicholls
4c Desert Style - Tappen Zee
171131The Dubai Duty Free is the one
possible race for him. But it is over
1m1f, which we’re still unsure about
as far as his stamina is concerned, so
we’re still to decide if he’ll make the
trip. Richard Hannon
Purple Moon
Judd Street
7g Compton Place - Pudding Lane
805515There aren’t all that many 5f races for
him, but he’ll stay 6f around the bend
at Nad Al Sheba and I think the style
of racing in Dubai will be ideal for
him. He can run on the dirt as well.
Eve Johnson Houghton
Kandidate
7h Kabool - Valleyrose
U18376He’s picked up useful prize-money
every time he’s been to Dubai, so
we’re hoping he can do it again. He’s
very versatile, he’s tremendously
sound, he handles travelling well and
he holds his form, so he’s ideal for the
carnival and will be aimed at the
Maktoum Challenge races.
Clive Brittain
Keeptheboatafloat
3g Fusaichi Pegasus - The Perfect Life
01204We’ve got two definite races in mind
for him. The first is a 7f conditions
race on January 22 and he’s a certain
starter in that. There’s a Group 3 later
on that would also suit, and we might
think about a longer stay for a Listed
race or two. Karl Burke
6g Galileo - Vanishing Prairie
62/5292He’s settled in well in Dubai and his
target is the Sheema Classic with one
prep run beforehand. Luca Cumani
Presvis
5g Sakhee - Forest Fire
551221He’s already in Dubai and seems to
have taken the journey well. He’ll be
aimed at handicaps. Luca Cumani
Racer Forever
6g Rahy - Ras Shaikh
017950He’ll have 0-100 handicaps on turf as
his targets. There are three nicely
spaced out from late January
onwards, all over 61⁄2f, and that’s his
ideal distance. Peter Shoemark,
racing secretary to trainer John
Gosden
Royal Power
6f but I can’t have it and we’re hoping
to run him in a Group 3 over that
distance.
David Nicholls
Supaseus
6g Spinning World - Supamova
310378He’ll have his first run at the start of
February. There are a couple of
options for him then and I haven’t
ruled out trying him on dirt. He’s got
a choppy sort of action and doesn’t
mind making the running, both of
which suggest he might go well on
the sand surface. Hughie Morrison
6g Shinko Forest - Changing Partners
1/21233He’s settling in nicely, but I won’t be
deciding on a programme for him
until I’ve been out myself. The idea is
to run him in turf handicaps, from
late January or early February
onwards. He’ll go 1m, but we’ll also
look at the 71⁄2f races. Luca Cumani
Valery Borzov
5g Iron Mask - Fay’s Song
950120He’s got similar options to Strike Up
The Band, including Group 3s over 6f,
but he’ll also have a crack at some of
the 61⁄2f events. David Nicholls
Versaki
3g Verglas - Mythie
043507His first race will be a 7f conditions
event for three-year-olds and we’ll
plan a longer programme for him
after that. David Nicholls
Waldvogel
Spanish Moon
Wise Dennis
4c Galileo - Lobmille
210507Handicaps are his target – the ratings
band goes up to 110 so he should
have a few opportunities. There’s
every chance we’ll try him on dirt as
well as turf. Mark Johnston
5h El Prado - Shining Bright
663121We’re planning to aim him at a Group
2 over 1m4f on turf in the hope that a
good run then will enable him to gain
a place in the Sheema Classic.
Teddy Grimthorpe, racing
manager to owner Khalid
Abdullah
Muhannak
Strike Up The Band
7g Polar Falcon - Bowden Rose
311879Won a handicap and a Listed race at
the last carnival and he’ll have a
similar programme. The first chance
for him is on January 27 and there
are more in February at around
1m. He knows his way around in
Dubai, which is an advantage.
Alan Jarvis
5g Chester House - Opera
101117He doesn’t have that many options,
but we’re hoping to aim him at a leg
of the Maktoum Challenge on
February 5. I’m not yet certain what
else he might run in, but we’ll build
his programme around that race.
Ralph Beckett
6g Cyrano De Bergerac - Green Supreme
221724He didn’t really take to the dirt in
Dubai when he went in 2007, but he
was a colt then and he’s a different
horse now he’s been gelded, so we
may give it another try. Some people
seem to think
he doesn’t get
5g Polish Precedent - Wurftaube
632247No programme has been mapped out
yet but 1m4f turf handicaps are likely
to be his targets. Luca Cumani
Without A Prayer
4c Intikhab - Prayer
3/81571
There are no fewer than ten possible
races for him within a month. He’s
got plenty of speed, so I wouldn’t be
worried about dropping him back to
1m, and he seems equally at home on
turf and dirt. Ralph Beckett
Munsef
Youmzain
7g Zafonic - Mazaya
22/5227We haven’t had him all that long, but
he looks a nice horse and he’s got
some decent form – he’s run in Group
races and was second in a Listed
event at Ascot last season. I hope he
does well for his new owner – it’s
great to find someone who’ll buy
horses like this at the moment.
David Nicholls
6h Sinndar - Sadima
252132He’ll be going for the Sheema Classic
for the third time – he was second to
Vengeance Of Rain and fifth to Sun
Classique, but I felt we rode him too
handy last time. It is early in the
season for any horse coming from
Europe, but he seems in great order at
home. Mick Channon
Young Mick
Noble Citizen
4c Proud Citizen - Serene Nobility
431173He’ll race on dirt and we’ve got a
7f 90-105 handicap in February in
mind as his initial target.
David Simcock
Racer Forever: John Gosden’s 2008 carnival
winner will be back for more this time
STAR TURN
WHAT THE
TRAINERS
SAY IRELAND
Swop
6h Xaar - Magic Touch
630001He’ll go out to Dubai this month and
run on turf. We’re looking at a race
over 71⁄2f as a first possible target.
David Nicholls
Love Galore
Lord Admiral bidding
for Jebel Hatta repeat
7g King’s Theatre - Just Warning
592010-8
He’s looking in great form, as good as
I’ve seen him. There’s an opportunity
for him on January 29 and then a
Listed event over 1m6f late in
February. I’m sure racing out there
will suit him, as they tend to go a
good pace and there’s a nice long
straight. George Margarson
A
TRULY dismal Irish
carnival record was
significantly improved last
year when Lord Admiral
and Mourilyan both struck
twice to take the nation’s total to
seven winners over five years.
After two blank carnivals, those
2008 victories were much welcomed,
and Lord Admiral is back for more for
Charles O’Brien as he returns for the
fourth time. The much-travelled eightyear-old is part of an Irish team set to
feature horses from major stables such
as Jim Bolger, Dermot Weld and John
Oxx, who saddled Mourilyan.
Weld and Oxx look set to send just
one runner each but Ger Lyons,
rapidly making his way up the
training ladder, intends to take four.
Interviews by David Lawrence
Akua’Ba
5m Sadler’s Wells - Ghana
026137Her first target is a 61⁄2f turf handicap
on January 22. We’re hoping she’ll do
well enough while she’s in Dubai that
we can upgrade her. Jim Bolger
PICK
Ones to watch
Ben Hutton
Trading Post
6
L’Amico Steve Eduardo Martins, Bah
Grade 1 winner on turf in Brazil who
flopped on Dubai debut (also on turf).
Ran poorly again on grass, but such
Brazilian-breds tend to favour dirt and
could be worth another chance on it.
JJ The Jet Plane Mike de Kock, SA
A brilliant name for a brilliant horse.
He absolutely bolted up in a 6f Grade 1
in South Africa last time and looks a
tremendously exciting prospect.
Whether he can handle dirt is
something of an unknown, but Mike
de Kock is usually good at ascertaining
this sort of thing.
Presvis Luca Cumani, GB
Should be up to winning Listed and
Group races, but will have an excellent
chance in a handicap to begin with, as
he’s a progressive type who will be
taking on exposed rivals.
Rocks Off Mike de Kock, SA
Impressed when winning a Grade 1 for
juveniles in South Africa and Mike de
Kock believes him to be the real deal.
He is Argentine-bred so there is every
chance he will clean up on dirt.
Silver Mist Mike de Kock, SA
Much will depend on his handicap
mark. Has run well in Grade 1s in
South Africa, and if he’s rated around
105, the evidence from previous years
suggests he can win a handicap.
Swop Luca Cumani, UK
As with Presvis, he’s highly progressive
and is trained by Luca Cumani. Should
be capable of winning at least one
handicap before stepping up in class.
Horse Doctor Dino Target Sheema Classic Trainer Richard Gibson (Fr) jjThird last year, this admirable globetrotting 7yo
is a byword for consistency and tenacity, having been placed in Group/Grade 1 events in six different countries, winning three
Ard Na Greine
3c Galileo - Alfaguara
221We’ve got no fixed plan for him at the
moment, but he’ll be racing from 1m
up to 1m2f. Our first-choice options
are turf races, but he’s run well on the
AW track at Dundalk, so there’s a
possibility that we’ll also try to find
opportunities on dirt. Jim Bolger
Dohasa
4g Bold Fact - Zara’s Birthday
61641UThere are races for him, mostly
handicaps, from early February
onwards. He’ll go 6f or 7f and, while
the turf would be our first preference,
haven’t ruled out the dirt. Ger Lyons
Duc De Savoie
3c Harlan’s Holiday - Tea For Three
23He won’t go until the end of January
or the beginning of February, so we’ve
made no firm plans for him yet.
Dermot Weld
Fiery Lad
4g Mull Of Kintyre - Forget Paris
171131He’ll probably go, like the rest of
mine, on January 17 and he will be
aimed at handicaps over 1m2f, with
turf our first preference, but dirt as an
option. Ger Lyons
Leandros
4g Invincible Spirit - Logjam
604521Leandros is in much the same
position as Dohasa and will go at the
same time. He’s a 6f/7f horse and
will race on turf with dirt as an
option if he handles it out there.
Ger Lyons
Lord Admiral
8h Lord Prado - Lady Ilsley
225488He won’t be able to contest the same
Group 3 he won last season as he’s
been to America and needs to go
through a period of quarantine, but
he’ll be travelling out in February and
we’re hoping he can try for back-toback wins in the Jebel Hatta on Super
Thursday. He seems very well.
Charles O’Brien
Summit Surge
5g Noverre - Lady Peculiar
2341178There will be plenty of races for him,
either on turf or dirt. He wants 7f or
1m. Ger Lyons
Varsity
6m Lomitas - Renowned
623132She’s due to go early and there are
plenty of opportunities for her. She’ll
be aimed at turf handicaps for horses
rated 95-110, and there’s pretty much
one a week for us to take a look at.
She’s in good form. Charlie Swan
Via Galilei
4c Galileo - Manger Square
712329There’s an opportunity for him on the
same card as Akua’Ba’s first race on
January 22. It’s a 1m2f handicap on
turf and that will be his
opening target. Jim
Bolger
14
Tuesday, January 13, 2009 racingpost.com
DUBAI CARNIVAL 2009
ASIA
JAPAN RACING ASSOCIATION
Saudis are
back – and
so is Japan’s
sweetheart
Bahrain
A NATION that still looking for its
first winner, but trainer Fawzi Nass
had a few placed last year and both
Aleutian and Halkin are back for
more, writes Jason Ford.
They will be joined by two carnival
regulars formerly with Doug Watson
in Listed winner Jonquil and
Boston Lodge, embarking on a sixth
successive UAE campaign and twice a
carnival winner in 2007, including a
Group 3.
“In the past we have sent horses to
Doug who have needed to run in
Dubai to obtain carnival ratings,”
explains Nass. “However, this time all
four are rated high enough so will run
in my name. Hopefully we can get a
winner, but it will not be easy with
younger, progressive horses sure to be
in opposition.”
Gary Hind will probably be in town
to partner Bahraini sprinter Nights
Cross – “he could surprise a few
people,” says the jockey – but a
couple of Brazilian names look likely
to have a bigger say.
Antonio Cintra Pereira, who won
the Al Shindagha Sprint in 2006 with
Heart Alone, is now based in Bahrain
and will have at least three exBrazilian horses travelling direct from
the US, headed by Super Class.
For quarantine reasons, his assistant
Eduardo Martins has taken over halfa-dozen others coming from Bahrain,
among them Happy Runner, who
won on the opening night last year,
and Grade 1 winner L’Amico Steve,
a bitter disappointment in 2008. The
Bahraini team has been strengthened
markedly by the purchases of exBritish three-year-olds Jargelle –
winner of the Weatherbys Super
Sprint for William Haggas
– and maiden winners Absent
Pleasure and Purple Sage.
Japan
ALTHOUGH it is difficult to forecast
precisely which horses will show up in
Dubai, one of the world’s racing
superpowers looks sure to have a
greater presence than in the past,
writes Nicholas Godfrey.
The number of potential Japanesetrained acceptors runs into double
figures, headed by the superstar filly
Vodka, who finished fourth off a
slower-than-ideal pace in last year’s
Duty Free.
Trainer Katsuhiko Sumii saddled
Vodka to become the first female for
63 years to win the Tokyo Yushun
(Japanese Derby) in 2007 and she
continued to thrive last term as a
four-year-old, winning a pair of
fiercely contested Grade 1s in the
Yasuda Kinen and the Tenno Sho.
On her most recent outing she was
third to Sheema Classic possible
Screen Hero in the Japan Cup
before connections opted for a trip to
Dubai, where she could have a prep
run before the Duty Free.
High-class stablemates like Pop
Rock, regularly placed at the top
level, and Tosen Captain could also
make the trip, while Vodka’s arch-rival
Daiwa Scarlet – spectacular winner
of the Arima Kinen last time – is in
line for a crack at the World Cup itself
if she shows her aptitude for dirt in
the February Stakes at Tokyo
racecourse next month.
Japan has several more carnival
possibles. Casino Drive, a Grade 2
winner in the States before
disappointing when quietly fancied
Japanese squad is headed by the hugely popular Vodka, seen here winning the Grade 1 Yasuda Kinen in June
for the Breeders’ Cup Classic, is
among the more intriguing names.
Kuwait
SURELY the most aged carnival team
will be that of Kuwaiti Rashed
Bouresly, whose Dubai-based team –
like those of Mike de Kock and
Herman Brown – are considered
‘permanent imports’ and don’t train
alongside the locals, despite long-term
residence, writes Jason Ford.
Stable star Star Crowned was
arguably the revelation of the 2008
carnival, having been bought out of
Brian Meehan’s yard for just 2,000gns
in July 2007. A 5f track record and a
third in the Golden Shaheen followed
and he looks sure to be a player in the
sprints again, although his trainer
considers the six-year-old a miler in
the making.
Etihaad ran well for a long way in
the first round of the Maktoum
Challenge last year and could pinch a
dirt handicap. Bouresly actually has
two winners of the Maktoum
Challenge I in his yard of talented
old-timers – 2005 winner Grand
Emporium, who also won the
Godolphin Mile for Mike de Kock, and
veteran Estimraar, who won the
race in 2003.
Razkalla, runner-up to Phoenix
Reach in the 2005 Sheema Classic,
was highlighted last week by Bouresly
as being in great form. Shanty Star,
winner of the 2003 Queen’s Vase for
Mark Johnston, was a carnival winner
for Bouresly in 2006, while Conceal
was a winner in 2007 and seldom
runs a bad race. He showed his
wellbeing on dirt at Jebel Ali last
Friday.
Ketter has been highly tried in the
past but it could be Grand Hombre,
fourth in the 2004 Dubai World Cup,
is the most interesting of all after an
excellent third over an inadequate 1m
on New Year’s Day. He just might be
well handicapped.
Saudi Arabia
TRAINER Jerry Barton returns to the
helm at Nofa Stables this season for
his main patron Prince Sultan
Mohammed Saud Al Kabeer, who has
enjoyed notable Dubai success in the
past with the likes of Chiquitin, Gold
For Sale and Simpatico Bribon, writes
Jason Ford.
Barton also saddled Sei Mi and
Crimson Quest to finish second and
fourth respectively to Street Cry in the
2002 Dubai World Cup, after Sei Mi
had been fourth the previous year.
Saudi owners have been shopping
around the world – and by World Cup
night they could again present a
strong challenge. Barton’s carnival
runners, who are stabled alongside
half of Mike de Kock’s string, include
last year’s Godolphin Mile third Don
Renato, who won the 2,000 Guineas
in his native Chile.
Also from Chile is Esta Bailando,
a Group 1 winner who is likely to be
aimed at the UAE 1,000 Guineas and
Oaks. Assistant trainer Stephane
Chevalier is impressed with her,
saying: “She could be anything – she
has a great turn of foot.”
Big City Man, a sprinter with a
couple of minor stakes wins to his
name in the US, made a stunning UAE
debut last week when easily winning
a 6f conditions race. World Cup night
is the long-term target.
Naval Officer won a Group 3 at
Longchamp. Given his American
pedigree, he could be another UAE
2,000 Guineas/Derby horse.
Homebred filly Deem and Noble
Bedouin, who broke his maiden last
week when transformed by a move to
the turf, are others to note from the
Barton string.
South African Neil Bruss is a new
name. His most high-profile recruit is
the ex-Andrew Balding-trained Top
Lock, sold at Tattersalls for
410,000gns in October. Connections
will be hoping he can develop into a
Sheema Classic contender.
The ex-Mick Channon
Championship Point was
purchased for 67,000gns, while tough
handicapper Curzon Prince looks a
versatile type for dirt or turf.
REST OF UAE
Glen Nevis
one to watch
after pleasing
debut for
Al Raihe yard
STAR TURN
A
LI RASHID AL RAIHE goes
into the carnival leading
the UAE trainers’ table and
he will be keen to add to
his total of seven winners
at the big meeting.
Prince Tamino won twice last
year on turf, while Jet Express is a
versatile and consistent performer
who goes on both surfaces. Stable
jockey Royston Ffrench also
highlighted Glen Nevis, a turf
winner last year for Godolphin, as a
horse to keep an eye on after a
pleasing debut for the yard.
Musabah Al Muhairi may not be in
the same form as he was this time last
year but signs are that the yard is
running into form.
Stable jockey Wayne Smith is
hoping new recruit New Freedom
can be competitive in the dirt sprints.
Leitmotiv, who missed the 2008
carnival, is one to watch on turf. He
shaped with immense promise last
week, having been second twice for
Saeed Bin Suroor in 2007. Expect to
see stable stalwart Instant Recall
back on turf after disappointing badly
on the sand last week.
Richard Mullen is stable jockey to
Satish Seemar and will ride the
majority of the stable’s runners when
the owners do not have a retained
rider. He worked the exciting
ex-South African four-year-old
Pointing North with a pair of
Herman Brown’s horses last week and
was clearly impressed by the gelding,
a Cape Guineas winner.
Terrific Challenge, a tough
sprinter who broke a turf track record
Horse Youmzain Target Sheema Classic Trainer Mick Channon (GB) jjDual Group 1 winner is set for third visit to Dubai
(third and fifth in last two Sheema Classics) after finishing runner-up in Arc for second year in a row
at Monmouth Park in the US, is a
dual winner on the dirt at Nad Al
Sheba, while Tiz Now Tiz Then
had bits of graded-stakes form for
former trainer Eoin Harty last year,
notably when third to Macho Again in
the Grade 2 Jim Dandy Stakes. The
son of dual Breeders’ Cup Classic
winner Tiznow was runner-up in the
Oklahoma Derby on
his most recent
outing.
15
Racing Post Tuesday, January 13, 2009
AROUND THE STABLES
WHAT THE
TRAINERS
SAY REST
OF EUROPE
Sarissa
‘should
be our
first
winner’
S
PANISH-TRAINED horses
made an international
breakthrough in 2008 thanks
to Maurice Delcher’s Equiano
and Bannaby – and the
nation will be represented in Dubai
for the first time in the coming weeks
thanks to the San Sebastian trainer,
Roman Martin.
His two raiders, Polan and Flying
Blue, were set to run on the opening
day, but travel problems mean their
debuts may be delayed by a week.
Jose-Luis Martinez, nine times Spain’s
champion jockey, will be aboard the
pair both at exercise and in races.
The French endured a blank year in
2008 with a number of near-misses,
including an unlikely string of
second places for Pascal Bary’s exBrazilian squad. Most of them are
back again, with Bary
pinpointing Sarissa as his best
hope, while Alain de RoyerDupre is quite bullish about
Alnadana’s chances.
Elsewhere, old favourite Quijano,
who provided Germany with two of
its three successes at the 2007
carnival, is back for a third time while
Luigi Riccardi has three horses
attempting to break Italy’s carnival
duck.
she does not like soft ground so we
stopped with her to prepare her
especially for Dubai. She is a strong
filly and is in very good condition.
She will go for the Cape Verdi, which
I won two years ago with Sanaya. I
think she is better than Sanaya, but
she is not Darjina, that’s for sure.
Alain de Royer-Dupre (Fr)
Bertranicus
6g Take Risks - L’Etoile La Lune
4/34512He has the most quality of my three
horses and will run in the Group races
over 7f/1m. He won easily on his only
try on the sand at Deauville,
impressing Kieren Fallon, so we are
hoping to run him on the dirt.
Luis Urbano (Fr)
Black Mambazo
4c Statue Of Liberty - Rich Gift
031282He is the best of my three Dubai
horses and I am very happy with him.
His only bad race was when I tried to
step him up to 1m for the Italian
Guineas. Initially we are going to try
him on the sand, over the straight 6f
on January 22. Luigi Riccardi (It)
Bright Halo
4f Spring Halo - Bright Blue
27/1111She arrived from Montevideo in July
and was bought specifically for Dubai,
so we did not try to run her in France.
I have watched her races in Uruguay
and the course looks a bit like Nad Al
Sheba – left-handed and with a
special type of dirt. She is definitely a
dirt horse – I have tried to work her
on grass and it was not for her
at all.
Jean de Roualle (Fr)
Peace Royale
6h Vettori - Jabali
8/11914He’s a solid sort of horse who likes
quick ground and there is a suitable
series of 1m4f handicaps for him early
on. He was not overly raced last year
and is rated 95, so should get in off a
low weight. We ran him at Deauville
last month just to get him fit. Initial
travel plans fell through, so he is
stuck at home in very bad weather
and it is possible he will need his first
run. John Hammond (Fr)
4f Sholokhov - Peace Time
16/1152We took her to Newmarket for the
sales but did not get the price we
wanted so brought her back, as I
think think she is still capable of
winning a nice prize. There are a
number of fillies’ races at 1m/1m1f.
We would like to run her in the Duty
Free. Andreas Wohler (Ger)
Contest
5h Danehill Dancer - Mala Mala
97777-1
He came from the horses-in-training
sales in October from David
Wachman’s – for 32,000gns, which
looks cheap after his win at Lingfield
on Saturday. I had been pleased with
his work and he’ll go for 61⁄2f races in
Dubai. They should suit him as he
likes quick-run races as a hold-up
horse.
David Simcock, who has been
handling Contest for Christos
Theodorakis (Gr)
Dream Impact
8h Royal Academy - One Fit Cat
1/16010He’s eight years old now and is
getting a bit lazy so we’ll try running
him in blinkers. This will possibly be
his last big opportunity before we
retire him. Luigi Riccardi (It)
Duellant
4c Dashing Blade - Dapprima
162358He is a handicapper who should be
competitive off his current mark and
will be campaigned over 1m2f.
Peter Schiergen (Ger)
4c Danehill Dancer - Aiming
313562I only got him from Bryan
Smart a couple of weeks
ago but he loves firm
ground and should be
suited by 6f/7f
handicaps. We’ll stick
to the turf with him,
but he moves well and I
like him – he has a lot of
speed. Xavier Nakkachdji (Fr)
Quijano: “loves
it in Dubai”
and as good
as ever
Estrela Boa
3f Our Emblem - Notizia
53214She was a nice filly in Brazil and is
only three and a half years old. She
should be competitive over 1m/1m2f
in the three-year-old races.
Pascal Bary (Fr)
4f Danehill Dancer - Alnamara
554213She won a Listed race and was third
in a good Group 3 at Longchamp, but
blood to report for 2009. However, a
couple of stable stalwarts are back in
training in 2006 Burj Nahaar winner
Marbush and 2007 Jebel Hatta
victor Seihali. Both have been
placed on World Cup night.
Selvaratnam said: “They have had
problems and are both approaching
the twilight of their careers. That
said, they have been pleasing us.”
Fellow veterans Remaadd,
Hallhoo and Yasoodd will be
competing, but
Mandobi, Ans
Flying Blue
4c Fly To The Stars - Viking’s Cove
261010He is a miler and a dirt specialist – he
has won on it twice at Deauville. His
current rating of 105 might be a little
high, but his last run was
disappointing so we are hoping it will
be dropped. His main target is a 7f
race on February 5. Alfonso
Ramos, owner’s racing
manager; trained by Roman
Martin (Sp)
Gloria De Campeao
5h Impression - Audacity
222838He raced in Dubai last year and will
have the same kind of programme this
time. We’ll start him off in the
Maktoum Challenge. He ran
exclusively on the dirt there last year
and will be beginning on that surface
again, but he is able to run on grass
too. Pascal Bary (Fr)
Kachgai
6g Kaldounevees - Toujours Juste
67/2311He’ll be out on the opening day in a
rated stakes over 71⁄2f on turf. He had
a few little problems and has taken a
while to get in shape, but if we could
get him back to his best he could be
well handicapped. Luis Urbano
(Fr)
Lessing
4f Orpen - Lady Morgane
1/13965
She was bought at the Arc sales in
early October and used to be trained
in Spain. She should be effective
between 6f and 1m. She will start off
in a 90-plus rated stakes on January
15 and we will see if she makes it to
the Cape Verdi or if we need to keep
her to handicaps.
Xavier Nakkachdji (Fr)
Objeto De Arte
3c Redattore - Academia Real
211311A very good horse in Brazil and I
think he’s nice. We’ll start him off in
the first leg of the Maktoum
Challenge. Pascal Bary (Fr)
5h Boatman - Adrienne
5/22197He went last year but only managed
one run before he got a quarter crack,
so I hope he can manage a full
campaign this time. He did well in
France last summer, winning at
Compiegne, and he will run on
January 15 in a 71⁄2f conditions race.
Pascal Bary (Fr)
Bach and Charlie Cool, a carnival
winner for William Haggas in 2007,
could be of greater interest in turf
handicaps – though Mandobi won on
dirt at Jebel Ali recently.
Dhruba’s brother Adi, who has a
great record with sprinters, has
saddled both Conroy and Salaam
Dubai to be placed in the Golden
Shaheen on World Cup night. The
latter has slipped to an attractive
handicap mark.
Malayeen is another capable of a
big run in a dirt sprint, but
Selvaratnam is cautious. “The
carnival gets more competitive every
year. These horses are not getting any
younger and are vulnerable to
improving types,” he says.
Tony Manuel has a couple of
interesting types in Algharb and
King Jock. The latter is a turf
specialist who has two big Abu Dhabi
wins to his name alongside an Italian
Group 2 for former trainer Robbie
Osborne. Algharb is proven on both
surfaces but more likely to be seen on
the dirt. “There should plenty of
Estrela Do Oriente
Alnadana
STAR TURN
Far From Old
5h Galileo - Dear Girl
2/27185He has fair form in France and has
been training very well since he
arrived in November. He will start off
in a 1m4f turf handicap on January
29 and we’ll then look for something
similar around three weeks later.
David Simcock, who has been
handling Bucintoro for Christos
Theodorakis (Gr)
Easy Target
Interviews by James Crispe
Mullen also gave a favourable
mention to Escape Route, a
carnival runner for John Gosden last
year. Two of his three wins have been
registered on Polytrack and he
seemed to handle the dirt in 2008.
Another addition to the Seemar team
is carnival regular Book Of Music, a
winner for Ismail Mohammed in 2007
who won again last year for Saeed
Bin Suroor.
With a dozen carnival winners
among his 450-plus UAE victories,
Dhruba Selvaratnam has no fresh
Bucintoro
Polan
4c Golan - Slinky
561112His rating is only 95 and we believe
he is very well treated as he beat two
good horses when he won a Listed
race at Bordeaux. His goal is a 1m6f
event on February 6 and we hope to
give him one run before then.
Alfonso Ramos, owner’s racing
manager; trained by Roman
Martin-Sanchez (Sp)
Quijano
7g Acatenango - Quila
451229We know he loves it in Dubai and is in
just as good form now as he has been
in previous years. His main target will
again be the Sheema Classic and he
will probably have one start, or
maybe two, beforehand.
Peter Schiergen (Ger)
Regionalista
3g Roi Normand - Repeat Rafela
11He came from Brazil four months ago
and did not show much at home, so
we had him gelded. He’ll run in 1m4f
handicaps. Pascal Bary (Fr)
Remarque
4c Marju - Run For Me
854132He is a big, strong horse who likes to
make the running and stays 1m. I
expect him to improve a lot as he
should be suited by the style of racing
in Dubai. Luigi Riccardi (It)
Santiago Atitlan
7g Stravinsky - Silvette
255/330We know he likes fast ground and
we’ll target handicaps over 6f/7f.
Andreas Wohler (Ger)
Sarissa
5h Music Prospector - Sylicon Purple
407922She ran very well in Dubai last year
and her two most recent French starts
were very good. She should be ready
first time out, for a 5f race on January
29, and should be our first winner.
Pascal Bary (Fr)
Tricien
5h Lomitas - Cherry Moons
1/05840
He could be the most difficult of my
three horses to place as I fear he is a
little overrated. His best trip is 1m4f.
Luis Urbano (Fr)
options for both and they can be
competitive,” says Manuel.
And we must not forget Rod
Simpson, who is hoping
Balthazaar’s Gift, who showed
smart form for Kevin Ryan and Luca
Cumani in Britain, can register a
carnival victory.
“He is a nice horse and he has
settled in well,” says Simpson, doing
well since his return to the Gulf. “We
know races will not be easy to win
but we will certainly have a crack.”
Jason Ford
Horse Viva Pataca Target Sheema Classic Trainer John Moore (HK) jjHong Kong hero has scores to settle after possibly unlucky
defeat in 2008 when final flourish came too late to catch Sun Classique; multiple Group 1 winner also found trouble in HK Cup
16
Tuesday, January 13, 2009 racingpost.com
DUBAI CARNIVAL 2009
THE GREAT
1996 CIGAR If you build it, they will come
1997 SINGSPIEL The show must go on
The fulfilment of a long-cherished dream for Sheikh Mohammed as the world’s best horses came together in his own backyard to
chase a $4m purse. In the first of series of titanic encounters under the floodlights at Nad Al Sheba, the peerless Cigar proved
himself the world’s number one as he led home a 1-2-3 for the Americans after an eyeball-to-eyeball duel with Soul Of The Matter.
A privilege to witness, the race still causes the hairs on the back of your neck to stand up. Who said it would never work?
A torrential storm on World Cup Saturday left Nad Al Sheba waterlogg
postponed. For just five days, after an amazing operation to drain the
surface. Take nothing away from Singspiel, another fantastic winner w
was as memorable as the efforts needed for the race to take place at al
2000 DUBAI MILLENNIUM Out on his own
2006 INVASOR Cosmopolitan champ
Dubai Millennium was named by Sheikh Mohammed with the express aim of winning the first World Cup of the new millennium.
He did so in superlative fashion with a towering all-the-way victory, setting a hot pace and just going further and further away
from his rivals with a performance that sparked remarkable scenes of jubilation from the dish-dashed hordes. “I almost had tears
of disbelief,” said Frankie Dettori.
A formidable winner, practically the poster horse for international rac
Triple Crown before being bought by the Dubai-based Maktoums and
Panamanian Fernando Jara, needed to be at his strongest as his redou
hard-fought battle, the pair eight lengths clear.
17
Racing Post Tuesday, January 13, 2009
WORLD CUPS
ged – not a typical occurrence in the Gulf – and the race
circuit using a team of helicopters hovering over the sand
who cut down the dirt specialists, but nothing he achieved
ll.
cing, having been bred in Argentina and won the Uruguayan
shipped to Kiaran McLaughlin in the States. His jockey, the
ubtable partner held off the tenacious Premium Tap in a
1998 SILVER CHARM Thou shalt not pass
In its early years, the World Cup led a charmed life with never-to-be-forgotten races seemingly the norm. Here, the steel-grey lionheart
Silver Charm, the first Kentucky Derby winner to race beyond his home continent for 63 years, somehow fought off King George winner
Swain for the most courageous of victories. In the most thrilling of all World Cup finishes, the winner was headed not once, but twice.
2008 CURLIN Veni vidi vici
He came, he saw, he conquered. Dubai laid out the red carpet for American superstar Curlin – and the four-year-old did not disappoint.
Despite being drawn on the outside of a 12-horse field, the power-packed chestnut strolled clear of World Cup rivals who were left
trailing by nearly eight lengths. In a swaggering performance, the
Pictures Edward Whitaker Words Nicholas Godfrey
heavyweight champion of the world won with disdainful ease.
18
Tuesday, January 13, 2009 racingpost.com
DUBAI CARNIVAL 2009
F
ROM arabians to
internationally
campaigned
thoroughbreds, Dubai
has a long history of
raising horses. Yet the Gulf
state – second by some
distance in terms of wealth to
oil-and-gas-rich Abu Dhabi
among the seven United Arab
Emirates – has the shortest
history among the world’s
major racing nations.
Appropriately enough, the
seeds of today’s standing were
sown in Newmarket, self-styled
‘home of the thoroughbred’,
where in 1975 Dick Warden, of
the Curragh Bloodstock
Agency, first met – in his words
to friends soon after – “a
charming Arab, who would
like to buy a few horses and
could one day be a very big
owner”.
Taste of success
Warden, who had completed a
commission to supply horses to
the Dubai police force, was
describing his eventual client
Sheikh Mohammed who, the
following year, with his eldest
brother Sheikh Maktoum,
bought three yearlings at the
Tattersalls October Sales.
They went into training with
John Dunlop – Hatta and
Haddfan owned by Sheikh
Mohammed, and Shaab by
Sheikh Maktoum – and Hatta’s
four successes in 1977 proved
to be the catalyst for the single
biggest equine empire gathered
by one family.
The brothers – Sheikhs
Maktoum, Hamdan,
Mohammed and Ahmed – can
trace their love for and special
relationship with horses to
their family Bedouin culture
and traditions.
They were taught to ride by
their father, Sheikh Rashid Bin
Saeed Maktoum, the founder
of modern Dubai, who in turn
learned the skill from his
father, Sheikh Saeed Bin
Maktoum.
A recent chronicle of Dubai
history points out: “Arab
fascination with horses dates
back centuries. Bedu folklore
tells of tribal gatherings on
important occasions such as
Eid Al-Fitr, a celebration to
mark the end of the holy
month of Ramadan, when
sportsmen showed off their
skills in falconry and shooting,
and matched their finest
WHERE
RACING IS
IN THE
BLOOD
Howard Wright on the history of
racing in Dubai, where the vision of
Sheikh Mohammed has succeeded
in attracting the best in the world
camels and horses in
long-distance races across the
desert.”
In the case of Sheikhs
Maktoum and Mohammed
and, to a lesser extent Sheikh
Ahmed, all those aspects were
true, but they went further by
encouraging the type of
horseracing more familiar in
the west.
Start of something big
When the seeds sown by Hatta
and company were
transformed into green shoots
of organised racing in Dubai
through the 1980s, the
Maktoum family’s earliest
trainers, Paddy Crotty and Bill
Mather, could not have
imagined exactly what lay
ahead, but they had an inkling
they were on the verge of
history.
Mather, who arrived from
Newmarket in 1984 to run the
Royal stables, recalls: “There
was nothing there but the
camel track, a training track
and my stables.
“Everyone believed that we
were in at the beginning of
something new, that something
big was going to happen. It
just took a little longer to get
racing up and running than
expected.
“It was hard to get them to
race in the early days, but the
most competitive stables, such
as ours and Za’abeel, got a few
ex-European thoroughbreds,
mostly old handicappers, and
the whole scene became more
competitive.
“Eventually, I asked Sheikh
Maktoum if he would put
down a gallop, because we had
to work the horses on the
camel track. Instead, he built a
racecourse.”
That racecourse was Nad Al
Sheba.
Satish Seemar was in at the
start of the Nad Al Sheba
revolution, as trainer at Sheikh
Mohammed’s Za’abeel stables
since January 1991, from
where two years later he was
credited with the first
Maktoum winner trained
outside Europe, Dayflower.
“My first meeting with
Sheikh Mohammed, in the
camel yard, lasted 20 minutes,
and I heard a man predicting
exactly what is happening
now,” he says. “He talked
about having the best racing in
the world, with people
bringing horses from all over.
A lot of people have money,
but they don’t all have the
vision of Sheikh Mohammed.
“At that time, it was hard to
believe but, not knowing
Sheikh Mohammed but
knowing about him, I was
immediately convinced this
was the place to be.
“I remember in January
1991 he sat on a sand dune
and, with his camel stick, drew
the shape of Nad Al Sheba
racecourse. About a month
later racing took place, Lester
Piggott and Willie Carson rode
at the meeting and I won three
cars!”
winner with Mushref.
Yorkshire Oaks; Sheikh
Maktoum’s Touching Wood
becomes family’s first Classic
winner, in St Leger.
Rise and rise of Dubai
Seemar has witnessed at first
hand the rise and rise of Dubai
from Gulf trading post to highrise international hub for
commerce, finance and
tourism.
“When I first visited Dubai
from America in 1989, there
was nothing here but a nice
charming little village,” he
says.
“Looking out from what is
now my office, there were sand
dunes, some old buildings, a
so-called stable, a woodenrailed track and a retired
police horse for Sheikh
Mohammed to ride.
“Sheikh Zayed Road, the
main route to Jebel Ali, was
barely two lanes wide. I
remember crossing it on a
horse with Sheikh Mohammed
and his friends, and we walked
from the stables to the sea,
passing through a shanty town
where people would come out
in the streets to cheer Sheikh
Mohammed.
“Today, Sheikh Zayed Road
is a 12-lane highway, with the
new monorail running
alongside.”
jjHistory of racing in Dubai
1940s
Kuwait claims
oldest history of
horseracing in Gulf, on sand
track outside Kuwait City.
Anecdotal stories of racing on
beach at Abu Dhabi in 1950s and
1960s; Bahrain’s ruling family
races arabian horses on circular
track with running rail; Saudi
Arabian royal family races
arabians and cross-breds on
number of oval tracks.
1969
Sheikh Maktoum
develops first Dubai
racecourse at Al Ghusais, with
STAR TURN
private stables, on site now
occupied by international
airport. Tight oval sand track
stages several open meetings
each winter for purebred
arabians and imported
thoroughbreds. Closes before
1982 season, due to increasing
noise from developing airport;
Sheikh Maktoum relocates
stables to Nad Al Sheba, then
area of scrub outside city limits.
Around same time Sheikh
Mohammed establishes stable at
Zaíabeel, challenging friends to
races round tight oval track,
remnants of which can still be
seen within a training track used
by Satish Seemar.
1977
Sheikh Mohammed
registers first
Maktoum-owned winner, Hatta,
trained by John Dunlop, whose
four juvenile wins in Britain
include family’s first Group
success in Molecomb Stakes.
1979
Sheikh Maktoum
registers his first
winner with Shaab.
1980
Sheikh Hamdan
registers his first
1981
Dubai camel track
stages first regulated
meeting on October 1, including
three races for thoroughbreds;
regarded as beginning of
organised racing in Dubai and
UAE. Paddy Crotty becomes
pioneering trainer at Zaíabeel.
1982
New racecourse opens
in Sharjah. Dubai
sponsors Champion Stakes at
Newmarket for first time.
Sheikh Mohammed registers
first Group 1 success, Awaasif,
1983
In first season as
owner, Sheikh Ahmed
wins Irish 2,000 Guineas with
Wassl.
1984
Flat, sand training
track opens at Nad Al
Sheba, with Bill Mather trainer
for royal stables. Sheikh
Mohammed’s Deceit Dancer is
family’s first winner of US
Graded race.
1985
Sheikh Mohammed is
leading owner in
Britain for first time, with 71
individual winners of 115 races,
including 16 Group races.
Maktoum family wins four of
five British Classics, with Oh So
Sharp (1,000 Guineas, Oaks,
St Leger) and Shadeed
(2,000 Guineas). Sheikh Hamdan
registers first Classic win, Al
Bahathri (Irish 1,000 Guineas).
1986
Sheikh Hamdan’s
At Talaq wins
Melbourne Cup.
Horse Purple Moon Target Sheema Classic Trainer Luca Cumani (GB) jjEbor winner who was narrowly beaten in 2007 Melbourne Cup, but this year showed he
belonged in weight-for-age Group 1 company with fantastic effort in defeat in Hong Kong, where he was short-headed by Doctor Dino
19
Racing Post Tuesday, January 13, 2009
TREVOR JONES
“The whole of Dubai has
come on in leaps and bounds,
and, although the jockeys’
challenge and the World Cup
were important, exposure
through the carnival means the
rest of the world knows about
Dubai,” Seemar adds.
“I’m fortunate, and
honoured, to have been a part
of the development of Dubai,
which has been an exceptional
phenomenon. There is so much
invisible energy in this country.
“When I spent time in
France last summer, it was as
if I was in retirement, but in
Dubai I’m energised.”
Racing has become part of
the Maktoums’ drive to turn
oil-fired Dubai into a world
centre for tourism and
commerce.
The oil is running out, but
energy has been channelled
1988
800-seater
grandstand added at
Nad Al Sheba training track.
1990
New racetrack opens
at Al Met, adjacent to
Metropolitan hotel; joins with
Sharjah, Ajman camel track and
rough circuit in Umm Al Quwain
staging programme of up to six
meetings each winter.
1991
Sheikh Ahmed opens
new racecourse at
Jebel Ali; joins with tracks
including Al Met, Sharjah and
into huge property
developments, housing major
financial, commercial and
leisure activities, and transport
schemes that turn a street map
bought one year into an
archive item the next.
‘It’s like a dream’
Saeed Bin Suroor, the
ex-policeman who became
Godolphin’s trainer in 1995,
knows the whole before and
after of Dubai’s emergence into
the international spotlight.
“There has been a long
tradition of racing horses in
the country, but among
individual people,” he says.
“Horses have been bred here
for hundreds of years, for
hunting out in the desert.
“But our country is only 37
years old, and there have been
huge differences, with people
Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club
(managed by former Grand
National-winning jockey Pat
Buckley) to stage UAE national
programme over 1991-92 season.
1992
New racecourse opens
at Nad Al Sheba (Jan
29), after refurbishment of
facilities and relaying of racing
surface; first official meeting a
month later features Willie Carson
and Lester Piggott. Organised
racing leads to new stables, more
imported horses, and formation
of Emirates Racing Authority to
administer racing; 1992-93 season
The original stands at Nad
Al Sheba were built within
hailing distance of the
camel track, which once
hosted thoroughbreds
coming from all over the
world. It’s like a dream.”
Recalling his childhood, Bin
Suroor adds: “My father had a
number of shops and, growing
up in Hatta, I remember
coming into Dubai to pick up
goods, driving along sand
roads. There was no tarmac
and it took a long time.
“And when I was in the
police force, if a horse got
loose he would run across the
desert for two or three miles
before we caught up with him.
“Only recently I met a group
of chess players, who said they
had come to Dubai expecting to
jjContinues page 20
marks start of professional racing
in UAE. Godolphin has first
runner, Cutwater, at Nad Al Sheba
(Dec 24).
1993
Inaugural
international jockeys’
challenge at Nad Al Sheba
(March); US pairing of Gary
Stevens and Kent Desormeaux
jjContinues page 20
20
Tuesday, January 13, 2009 racingpost.com
DUBAI CARNIVAL 2009
‘It’s incredibly exciting.
It’s a place that looks
forward, not back’
jjFrom page 19
see sand and desert, tents and
camels. You would have to go
a long way to see any of those
now.”
Mahli Al Basti, prominent
Dubai businessman, Anglophile
racehorse owner and board
member of the Emirates Racing
Authority, Dubai Racing Club
committee and Meydan
committee, has also experienced
a lifetime of change.
“You simply can’t compare
Dubai today with ten years
ago, never mind 20 years ago
or when I was a boy,” he says.
“I remember going to school
by bus or to the market with
my father by car, and there
were very few proper roads.
There were hardly any hotels –
the first I can remember was in
the 1980s, the Chicago Beach,
which became the Jumeirah
Beach.”
Al Basti echoes Bin Suroor’s
wonderment at what the
outside world thought of
Dubai, saying: “When I went
to school in Eastbourne in the
early 1980s, I lived with an
English family, and when I told
my landlady where I came
from, she asked: ‘Is that in
Saudi Arabia? Do you live in a
tent, with camels outside’?
“I had to tell her that we
lived in houses and went to
proper schools. Now my
landlady and her family come
to Dubai three times a year.
World Cup effect
“Nobody really knew where
Dubai was, but now, wherever
you go in the world, people
know exactly where it is. In
America and the UK, if you
meet people shopping and
they ask where you are from,
they know about the Dubai
World Cup or the tennis.
“The World Cup made the
big difference, then the
carnival. I own horses in
England and Dubai, and if I go
to the UK for a day, I can open
the Racing Post and see the
racecards and watch my horses
running on TV. It’s
marvellous.”
‘A magical place’
Few people have been closer to
Sheikh Mohammed’s ambitions
than Simon Crisford, who left
the Racing Post to become first
his assistant racing manager
then racing manager to the
new phenomenon, Godolphin.
“I first came to Dubai in
1991, and my first impression
was of a place of mystery and
magic and charm,” he says.
“That feeling has survived. The
mystery might not be the
same, because Dubai is now a
world hub, and the charm may
be different, because of all the
development, but it’s still a
magical place.
“It’s incredibly exciting,
whatever line of business
you’re in, because things
happen, and they happen
quickly. It’s a place that looks
forwards, not backwards.
“The first time I came here, I
knew something exciting was
about to happen, although I
didn’t know why or how. It
was like being towed along on
a wave of enthusiasm and
excitement, never knowing
what was round the corner.
“Sheikh Mohammed would
never really tell you what was
in his mind, but in 1992, after
Godolphin had had its first
runner at Nad Al Sheba, he
asked me to bring horses out
from England.
“The first were Dayflower
and Blush Rambler, then the
following year we brought out
Balanchine, and that was really
the start of Godolphin.”
Land of opportunity
New York-born and New
Jersey-raised Doug Watson is
in his 16th season in Dubai,
after arriving in 1993 as
assistant trainer to Kiaran
McLoughlin. Now dual
champion trainer, he too has
gone through the changes.
“I intended staying for a
year,” he says, “but the
opportunities kept coming and
the racing kept getting better.
“When I arrived, they had
just opened Nad Al Sheba, and
the racing community was so
small we could all fit in the
Trade Centre hotel for our
Christmas party.
“The Trade Centre
Probably the greatest night
in Dubai’s racing history:
Sheikh Mohammed greets
Dubai Millennium after his
World Cup win in 2000
apartments were a marker to
get back home after racing at
Nad Al Sheba. Now you can’t
see them.
“No-one would have thought
then that we’d be able to
watch Tiger Woods, [Andre]
Agassi and [Roger] Federer,
and a horseracing World Cup.
So many things have changed,
especially the traffic, but the
restaurants are fantastic and
there are so many things for
people to do.”
The view from the jockeys’
room comes from multiple
champion Ted Durcan, who is
in his 12th season in Dubai.
“I found it a lovely city when
I first came in 1996, but much
smaller and quieter, and more
intimate to live in,” he says.
“There was a mystery about
the place, and there still is,
although it’s a different
mystery, with all the
developments.
“Every year Dubai has got
bigger and better. It’s
expanded upwards and
outwards, but for all the right
reasons.
“Of course there are a few
annoyances, like the traffic and
moving around at night, but
it’s the same in every city and
is well worth putting up with.
My wife and I love coming
jjHistory of racing in Dubai
jjFrom page 19
takes overall trophy. Staged for
three years. First winter
preparation in Dubai for
Maktoum horses. Former Henry
Cecil-trained Dayflower and
Blush Rambler return to Europe
in colours of Sheikh Maktoum;
fifth in the 1,000 Guineas,
Dayflower (Satish Seemar)
becomes first UAE-trained
winner outside Gulf a fortnight
later in conditions event at York.
1994
Godolphin’s
international
operation starts; registers first
Classic success, Balanchine in
Oaks at Epsom and Irish Derby;
licence-holder Hilal Ibrahim is
first Emirati to train winner in
Europe. Godolphin also sends
Cezanne to win Irish Champion
Stakes, while Lovely Millie takes
Solario.
1995
Godolphin sets up
European base in
Newmarket; new trainer Saeed
Bin Suroor wins first Classic
with Moonshell (Oaks) and
swiftly follows up with the
Derby courtesy of Lammtarra,
a Godolphin horse, although
RACINGPOST.COM
not all their runners carried
famous blue silks then and he
ran in name of Sheikh
Maktoum’s 19-year-old son
Saeed. Global nature of
operation established by
Group 1 wins for Heart Lake
in Japan and Red Bishop in
Hong Kong and US.
1996
Dubai World Cup
meeting
inaugurated. Main race run
on dirt; $4m prize-money
makes it world’s richest. Won
by US star Cigar.
For all the breaking news and latest updates during
the carnival, there’s only one site to visit
21
Racing Post Tuesday, January 13, 2009
EDWARD WHITAKER
PICK
Ones to watch
Nicholas Godfrey
International editor
6
Alnadana
Alain de Royer-Dupre, Fr
Trainer struck here with
Sanaya and reckons this one’s
better; likes fast ground and
specially prepared for Dubai.
Esta Bailando
Jerry Barton, KSA
Pay close attention to Saudi
runners again now Barton’s
back in control in Riyadh;
Group 1 winner looks likely
sort for the fillies’ Classics.
Estrela Do Oriente
Pascal Bary, Fr
Grade 1 winner in Rio whose
form has been franked by
Negro Da Gaita, whom he beat
at La Gavea in June and went
on to win Sao Paulo Derby.
Front House
Mike de Kock, SAf
If De Kock says she “could be a
bit special”, that’s good enough
for me – but the form’s in the
book anyway.
Presvis
Luca Cumani, GB
Looked Group horse in making
when winning at Newbury and
just the sort to thrive in goodclass handicaps at up to 1m4f;
tailormade for Dubai.
Sarissa
Pascal Bary, Fr
Likes Dubai and went
frustratingly close last year in
dirt handicaps; equally
effective at 5f/6f and trainer
confident of early success.
Carnival mastermind Frank
Gabriel, who followed the line
of Lord John Fitzgerald,
Sheikh Mohammed’s most
trusted administrator Michael
Osborne and Les Benton as
head of racing in Dubai, first
experienced the emirate in a
different role.
“I worked at the first four
Dubai World Cups while I was
at Arlington Park, helping to
disseminate the simulcast
signal,” he says.
“Coming to a region I’d
never visited, my first
impression was of staying in
the Hilton, and being driven to
Nad Al Sheba, where you
could feel the buzz from
watching the best horses in the
world.
“In each of the four years a
newer and bigger hotel had
been built. Then, when I came
back to work here in 2002,
everything had changed again,
especially the roads
infrastructure, and areas that
were desert when I first came
had been developed.”
Gabriel is an integral part of
even more spectacular change
on the horizon. As the last
carnival at Nad Al Sheba winds
up, and the World Cup
prepares to wind down racing
on the site, last word goes to
frequent Middle East visitor
and current Abu Dhabi trainer
Rod Simpson.
“If you think about
ripping up Nad Al Sheba and
building something better, it’s
beyond normal
comprehension,” he says. “But
then that’s Dubai.”
2000
2004
2008
back; it’s a home away from
home for us.”
About the carnival, Durcan
says: “The concept is very
exciting, because it has put
Dubai on the international
stage and everybody wants to
be in it. The standard is getting
higher, and everyone wants a
slice.
“This year it’s going to be
extremely hard to win. I was
leading rider at the second
carnival with 14 winners. Last
year I had seven, and this year
I will be lucky if I have as
many.”
Best horses in the world
Dubai World Cup
prize-money
increased to $6m; won by
Godolphin’s Dubai Millennium
in track record. Seven-race card
with $12m prize-money includes
revamped Golden Shaheen,
worth $1m.
2003
International
trainers offered
space at Nad Al Sheba stables
for 2002-03 season. Godolphin
wins 100th Group or Grade 1,
with Sulamani in Arlington
Million.
Dubai Racing Club
begins international
racing carnival at Nad Al Sheba,
running for ten-week period
from mid-January to World Cup
meeting in late-March, with
$31m prize-money.
2005
At World Cup
meeting,
Sheikh Mohammed unveils
plans to build new $2.5bn
racecourse, Meydan, as part of
sporting, commercial and
residential centre, adjacent to
Nad Al Sheba.
Fifth carnival
attracts horses from
20 countries. 18 winners for
South African stables takes
country’s total to 70.
2009
Last carnival before
demolition of Nad Al
Sheba facility after World Cup
meeting on March 28. Meydan
racecourse to stage start of
2009-10 season in November.
2010
Meydan due to host
first Dubai World Cup
meeting in new facility.
22
Tuesday, January 13, 2009 racingpost.com
DUBAI CARNIVAL 2009
THANKS
FOR THE
MEMORIES
N
EARLY two years ago, on
the eve of the 2007 Dubai
World Cup meeting, the
Dubai Racing Club staged
a ‘Celebration of Racing’ at
one of the city’s multitude of
glittering hotels.
The majority of invited guests
assumed the event was a chance for
the hosts to proudly show off how far
racing had come at Nad Al Sheba
since the track’s first meeting in 1992.
No-one would have begrudged the
opportunity either. Remember, the
Dubai World Cup was first run only in
1996, while the first Dubai
International Racing Carnival was up
and running just eight years later. As
a consequence, Dubai today boasts
the world’s most valuable race,
raceday and carnival, and stages the
most international racing on the
planet.
But looking back is not the Dubai
way. Instead Sheikh Mohammed
unveiled the mindblowing
development Meydan, which it is
hoped when it opens will set the
benchmark for all horseracing and
indeed sporting facilities across the
world.
The presentation was met with
incredulity. After all, Nad Al Sheba
had now cemented itself as a centre of
global horseracing – the futuristic
Millennium Grandstand had only
been completed six years earlier. After
all that hard work, why on earth
would you tear it all down and start
from scratch?
“People have to realise Sheikh
Mohammed and Dubai do not stand
still,” says trainer Clive Brittain, who
is more qualified than most on the
subject, having been an ever-present
at Nad Al Sheba on World Cup night
since its opening.
While Brittain is undoubtedly right,
Meydan has a lot to live up to. Nad Al
Sheba may be deemed surplus to
requirements in Dubai when it closes
its doors after the World Cup meeting
in March, but anywhere else it would
still be considered a market leader.
Put simply, Nad Al Sheba can easily
rival any of the world’s top
racecourses.
The history of the course stems
back to 1986, when the track itself,
STAR TURN
Former Dubai Racing Club official Seb Vance bids
farewell to host venue Nad Al Sheba, set to close after
this year’s World Cup meeting in March
situated about 5km south-east of
Dubai city centre, was first laid, in
what was at the time, the middle of
the desert.
The original Maktoum grandstand
followed two years later, and then, in
1992, racing was up and running. The
pace hasn’t relented since.
John Gosden was involved in
discussions about the future of Nad Al
Sheba in these formative stages. “The
place had been lying dormant until it
was decided to revitalise the track
with a jockeys’ competition in the
early 1990s,” recalls the Breeders’
Cup-winning trainer.
“We attracted an amazing line-up
with some of America’s best,
including Chris McCarron, Pat Day
and Jerry Bailey, but top jockeys from
Australia, Japan and Europe were also
involved and it was a tremendous
success.”
It put the course on the
international map, and the Dubai
World Cup evolved from it. Cigar
winning the first one in 1996 was a
huge breakthough, and the list of
brilliant winners, including Dubai
Millennium in 2000 and Curlin last
year, has continued.
“Personally, one memory that will
stick with me is having to organise
Allen Paulson’s travel to the 1996
Dubai World Cup – which doesn’t
sound too taxing,” adds Gosden.
“But the fact that he would only
bring Cigar to Dubai if his dogs could
travel with him on the plane meant
there was a lot of pressure! We got the
dogs there and thankfully the horse
too.”
The Millennium grandstand, with
unparalleled viewing and hospitality
facilities, and the envy of most
racecourses around the world, opened
on Dubai World Cup day in 2001.
Work did not stop there though, as
the original Maktoum grandstand was
complemented by an additional wing
in 2002.
For those unlucky enough not to
have been to Nad Al Sheba, the track
is left-handed, with the dirt on the
outside of the turf (the reverse of
Meydan’s track layout). Travel and
stabling costs are heavily subsidised
for visiting horseman and the training
facilities there remain unsurpassed
anywhere, according to Brittain.
“Everything you need is provided
for and everyone does their job really
well – from the stalls handlers to the
farriers, from the vets to the grooms.
You don’t have a thing to worry
about,” says Brittain.
“With every year it’s got better and
better, and that’s because they listen
to horsemen,” adds the trainer. “They
are always asking our opinions on
how to improve Nad Al Sheba and
are quick to learn from any mistakes.
“One year, we suggested a
swimming pool for the visiting
trainers might be a good idea. The
next year it was in place.”
But there is more to Nad Al Sheba
than the serious business of racing.
As you’d expect from Dubai, the
racecourse is a truly cosmopolitan
and social arena, like no other in the
world.
First-time Western visitors will be
slightly bewildered by having to tread
a careful path through the sprawling
picnics and flowing dishdashas and
abayas in front of the grandstands.
Here, Dubaians pay nothing for
entrance, but can leave in a brand
new car or a few thousand dirhams
richer if successful in the prediction
and raffle competitions.
A
ND, aside from the
socialising (racing is
mostly on Thursdays – the
start of the weekend) and
competitions, the
Dubaians are there because it’s in
their blood. Arabia is where the
thoroughbred was conceived and their
loyalty and reverence to the Maktoum
family means their horses always
receive the loudest cheer.
These are shouts from the heart,
rather than the pocket, as betting is
outlawed in Islamic society. But if you
want to splash some cash there are
numerous bars, restaurants and
corporate hospitality in the upper
levels of the Millennium Grandstand
and boxes in the Maktoum
Grandstand, which are always heavily
populated by Westerners and Arabs
alike.
Trainer Marcus Tregoning, whose
main patron is Sheikh Hamdan,
suggests this adds up to an experience
John Gosden (left) and Marcus Tregoning:
long-time visitors to Nad Al Sheba
Horse Vodka Target Duty Free Trainer Katsuhiko Sumii (Jap) jjSuperstar filly, most popular racehorse in racing-mad nation
after becoming first female for 63 years to win Japanese Derby in 2007; placed on all four Grade 1 starts last term, winning two
Nad Al Sheba, opened in 1992,
has been at the centre of Dubai’s
phenomenal growth on the
international racing scene
like no other in the racing world.
“Nad Al Sheba’s a unique place,
much like the rest of Dubai, and the
crowds at the course always reflect
the true cosmopolitan nature of the
city,” says the trainer, who won the
Sheema Classic in 2002 with Nayef.
“People from all backgrounds go
and that’s because they want to see
the world’s best racing. It really is a
global affair, the crowds, the horses,
the horsemen – everyone comes
together in Dubai.
“From my point of view, the topclass racing is down in no small part
to the course, and particularly the turf
track, which is a unique feat of
engineering given the climate.
“It always rides really well, just on
the fast side of good. Racecourses
have had big problems laying turf
tracks down in Britain, but Dubai got
it absolutely spot on.”
Tregoning adds: “I don’t have any
horses to take this year, but hopefully
we’ll have some good enough for
Meydan. I’d love to be part of that; it
will be something truly spectacular.”
It certainly will – but Nad Al Sheba
will do just fine in the meantime.
23
Racing Post Tuesday, January 13, 2009
EDWARD WHITAKER
TRACK FACTS NAD AL SHEBA
Source: dubairacingclub.com
1600m (1m)
1400m (7f)
1600m (1m)
1200m (6f)
1800m (1m1f)
1000m (5f)
2000m (1m2f)
1200m (6f)
2400m (1m4f)
2200m (1m3f)
Location
Nad Al Sheba is located about 5km south-east of the city centre of Dubai,
clearly signposted on the Sheikh Zayed Road, Emirates Road and the Al Khail
Road.
Circuit
Dirt
The 2,254m, left-handed dirt track was first laid in 1986 and was resurfaced in
1997 before the third Dubai World Cup. There are three chutes for starts at 1m
(1,600m), 1m2f (2,000m) and 1m4f (2,000m). The home straight is
approximately three furlongs (600m) long.
The track is made up of a hard dirt base with 18cm of cushion on the
surface. Eight centimetres of cushion is routinely harrowed up, watered and
groomed to ensure the going remains constant. The track is also extremely well
drained, and has up-to-date equipment to seal the surface in the event of
anticipated rainfall.
Turf
Approximately 2,120m (1m3f), left-handed and triangular inside the dirt track,
with a two per cent camber on the straights and four per cent camber on the
turns. The grass is a Bermuda hybrid from the US which thrives in the hot and
humid climate. In the winter months, when the Bermuda grass goes dormant,
winter rye is planted for cover in order to add cushion and colour during the
colder months.
Season
The season at Nad Al Sheba is split into three parts: the Winter Racing
Challenge (WRC), the Dubai International Racing Carnival (DIRC) and the
Dubai World Cup meeting.
The WRC makes up the first part of the season from early November to early
March, and consists of a series of races over three different distances with
horses earning points according to their finishing positions. The 2008 stars
were Malayeen, Jet Express and Kayak, who won the 6f (1,200m), 1m
(1,600m) and 1m2f (2,000m) finals respectively. Each of the three finals were
worth AED300,000 (£53,685).
The DIRC, which runs from the middle of January to the beginning of March,
attracts some of the finest horses from all around the world to compete for the
$31 million on offer before the season climaxes with the Dubai World Cup
meeting at the end of March.
Admission
jjFavourite Nad Al Sheba moments
Free entry to public enclosure; public grandstand seating is also available free
of charge in the Maktoum and Millennium grandstand. Badge must be
purchased for all hospitality areas. See dubairacingclub.com – from AED50 (£9)
for Terrace Bar during carnival. Young children in pushchairs not permitted in
grandstands or hospitality areas.
Dress code
In public areas, the dress code is casual. In the Terrace Bar, smart casual attire
applies – t-shirts, trainers and shorts are not permitted. Smart dress is
required in both Millennium and Maktoum grandstands: women are
encouraged to wear hats and racewear although this is optional. Jeans,
t-shirts, trainers and shorts are not permitted within grandstand and parade
ring.
Ted Durcan
Tadhg O’Shea
Richard Mullen
Became UAE champion jockey
for seventh time in 2008
Runner-up in 2007-08, now
in seventh UAE season
Veteran of 11 seasons
It has to be winning on Conflict in
the Godolphin Mile and Rhythm
Band in the Dubai Duty Free on
Dubai World Cup night in 2000, the
same year Dubai Millennium won.
That night will live with me forever.
I’ve been very lucky here over the
years, and it will be sad to say
goodbye, but what will replace it
looks truly incredible.
This is my 12th season now, so
I’ve got to know the tracks really
well. For the sand, you need a
horse with plenty of speed, who
can sit handy, and a high stall can
certainly help, especially if you
have a horse who lacks experience.
On the turf, providing it’s an
evenly run race, you’d generally
prefer a hold-up horse. It’s a big,
long straight and there are hardly
any hard-luck stories.
WINNING the Dubai Kahayla Classic
for purebred arabians on Mizzna
stands out for me – to have a
winner on Dubai World Cup night is
what it’s all about. It’s the biggest
day of the year and all eyes are on
Nad Al Sheba for the last Saturday
every March.
We knew Madjani would be no
pushover as he’d won it three times
before, but it was the end of the era
for him, and hopefully the start of
another for Mizzna.
On the dirt, you really need to be
in the van with a horse who has
plenty of pace. The grass suits
hold-up horses; you can drop them
right in, even in a 12-runner race
over 61⁄2f or 7f, and not have to
worry.
STAR TURN
I’VE got so many memories of the
place, it’s difficult to choose.
Finishing second on Tropical Star in
the 2004 Godolphin Mile is one,
while the following year I won the
Al Shindagha Sprint and Burj
Nahaar on Estimraar.
On the dirt you need pace to lay
up and a draw from five to eight is
ideal. It’s similar to in America
– your horse has to travel, and you
can afford to run wide and get your
horse rolling into the straight.
The grass can be compared to
French racing. It’s a long way up
the straight and you want to save
plenty of horse. There’s no point
eyeballing each other on the false
straight, because you’ll have
nothing left in the locker. That said,
with no-one wanting to make the
running, last season saw the odd
race nicked from the front.
OTHER TRACKS IN THE UAE
Alongside carnival home Nad Al Sheba, two other tracks stage regular racing in
the United Arab Emirates – and both of them stage three internationally
recognised Listed races for thoroughbreds.
Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi (adec-web.com) racecourse, located in the UAE capital, stages turfracing only, primarily catering for purebred arabians. A sharp, right-handed
track, the straight is slightly less than two furlongs long and the majority of
winners are handy entering the straight. The Abu Dhabi fixture list for 2008-09
features 15 meetings in total.
Remaining fixtures (all Sunday): January 25; February 1, 8, 15, 22; March 8,
15, 22.
Jebel Ali
Jebel Ali, with its unique oil and sand combination surface and very steep
incline to the finish, hosts ten meetings in 2008-09.
Horseshoe shaped, there is a 7f and the one bend is right-handed, with a
home straight almost 5f long.
Unlike Nad Al Sheba and Abu Dhabi, they race in the afternoon as there are
no floodlights and the track is popular with
locals for its garden party atmosphere.
Remaining fixtures (all Friday): January 16,
30; February 13, 27; March 13, 20.
Horse Archipenko Target Duty Free Trainer Mike de Kock (SAf) jjOne-time Aidan O’Brien-trained horse was a bit unlucky
in Duty Free last year before coming good at Group 1 level in Hong Kong’s Queen Elizabeth II Cup
24
Tuesday, January 13, 2009 racingpost.com
DUBAI CARNIVAL 2009
Howard Wright checks on
progress at Meydan, the
carnival’s new home for 2010
and $1.25bn recession-buster
P
ROPERTY prices slump,
banks rein in lending: sounds
familiar? Not even Dubai is
immune from the
international downturn, with
UAE government officials forecasting
that economic growth in the region,
which was running in double-digit
figures six years ago, will fall from 7.5
per cent in 2008 to 3.1 per cent this
year.
Yet, even in the light of recent
events, sceptics should resist putting
out a mayday for Meydan, the fastrising racecourse development
described by organising committee
chairman Saeed Al-Tayer as “a
landmark for the world, not just
Dubai”.
Dubai’s property bubble has not
irreparably burst, but the sector is
leaking dirhams at a serious rate, and
the tag ‘construction capital of the
world’, based on having up to onethird of all cranes in situ, is seriously
at risk, as government-backed
entrepreneurs call a halt to new
developments and slow many ongoing
projects to a snail’s pace.
However, some ventures cannot
wait. The driverless, overground rail
link from the airport to Jebel Ali Free
Zone, and the city-centre
underground system, for instance.
Meydan is another, and the
importance of meeting a fixed-point
deadline was the reason advanced by
the developers for last week’s
cancellation of the main $1.25bn
(£890m) construction contract with
the joint venture of local company
Arabtec and the Malaysian firm WCT
Engineering.
Delays “in delivering certain zones”
prompted the decision, which was
taken to safeguard progress over the
coming months, Al-Tayer says, adding
the promise: “We are geared up to
deliver the project as announced to
host the Dubai World Cup in 2010.”
Just as Ascot simply could not
afford to miss the event-dominated
target date to open its massive
development, so Meydan racecourse,
first phase of a sprawling sporting,
commercial and residential venture,
seems certain to be an exception, as
well as exceptional.
Timing was always going to be
tight, given that the first public
intimation of the iconic development
came in March 2007.
Ten months on from 2008 World
Cup night, overseas visitors returning
for this year’s carnival will be
staggered to see that the whole 1.3
kilometre-long construction has taken
shape. “A landscraper,” says the
project’s commercial director,
Mohammed Al Khayat, comparing it
to the world’s tallest building, the
818-metre high Burj Dubai, which
towers into the nearby skyline.
Activity stretches from the five-star
hotel at one end to the skeleton of the
STAR TURN
Visitors returning for this year’s carnival will be staggered to see that the whole 1.3km-long construction has taken shape at Meydan
NO MAYDAY
FOR MEYDAN
marina boathouse, into which a fourkilometre canal will run from Dubai
Creek, at the other.
Hidden from public view behind the
miles of boundary fencing, the
crowning glory of the grandstand is
being put together, Lego-style.
The pieces for the 400 metre-long,
crescent-shaped roof structure have
been constructed in China, from
where the world’s second-biggest
crane has been shipped – the biggest
stays at home, apparently – to assist
in the final lifting process.
Unofficial word around the Meydan
site is that the crescent may rise to
coincide with this year’s World Cup
fixture, which could explain why Al
Khayat discusses progress in a relaxed
mood, while taking care not to convey
over-confidence.
“Our priorities are the hotel and
racecourse, and we’re pleased,” he
says. “We are on target to open for the
World Cup in 2010, and the building
should be ready in November this
year.”
Al Khayat confirms that an even
earlier target is likely to be fulfilled.
The first, so far unnamed, guests are
expected to occupy the Meydan hotel
in March – that’s March this year – for
a ‘soft’ launch of the facility through
to September.
As for the sporting side of the
project, Dubai Racing Club chief
executive Frank Gabriel continues to
formulate his ideas, which will only
start to become reality when the
bulldozers move on to the existing
Nad Al Sheba site a few days after the
winner of this year’s World Cup is
acclaimed.
The carnival will be over, and
Gabriel can concentrate on Meydan.
“Most of the details of the building
are set in stone,” he says, “but we
work on the infrastructure from day
to day, looking at the construction of
the dirt and turf courses, and the
various facilities for everyone from
owners and trainers to stable staff and
the press.”
Necessity may dictate that the
overall racing experience changes
little in 2009-10.
“We evaluate the programme every
year, but the carnival will not alter in
its purpose or goals when we move to
Meydan,” Gabriel says. “We’re still on
the same schedule, to start the next
season in November this year, but
we’ll have to see about the future of
the carnival.
“Will it be extended? I don’t know.
If we did adjust, we would do so only
if we improved the quality.”
On the possibility of adding a
second day to the World Cup
programme when Meydan is built,
Gabriel remains equally circumspect.
“There are pros and cons about
having an extra day,” he says,
pointing to the Breeders’ Cup. “It’s
about having the right races on what
would be the first day of the meeting.
“It’s definitely something to think
about, because of what the
international event does by bringing
people to Dubai.”
M
ORE pressing is the
decision about the type
of artificial surface that
will be laid at Meydan’s
inner circuit, and
Gabriel expects to announce the
preferred provider within a few
weeks.
He is giving away no clues, which
means that while Tapeta has been
stockpiled for laying at the new
training track, the manufacturers of
rival surfaces Cushion Track, Polytrack
and Pro-Ride can continue to invest in
hope of gaining the high-profile
contract.
Meanwhile, Al Khayat has investors
of a different kind on his mind, and
here the economic situation has
turned up a good-news avenue.
“In our marketing plan, we focused
on solid developers, who were not
dependent on selling units to cover
their costs,” he says, “so only about
five per cent of our investors have
faced difficulties with their payments.
“A small number were speculators,
and we have lost those, so we will
have only solid people as partners,
who are the ones we want.
“In addition, the selling price of
units has fallen. For example, the cost
of a unit that sold for three million
dirhams (£535,000) in 2008 has come
down to AED2m (£357,000), which
will encourage more people to take up
properties.
Al Khayat’s final observation on
Dubai’s slowing economy strikes at
the one aspect of Meydan racecourse
that seemed unlikely to figure in any
calculations.
“Contracts for the
development are much
lower, and prices
won’t increase,”
he reports.
On time and under
budget: now that does
make Meydan
exceptional.
Horse Screen Hero Target Sheema Classic Trainer Yuichi Shikato (Jap) jjJapan Cup winner’s career has been interrupted by injury but
he came good in no uncertain terms with shock victory over stellar field of solid Grade 1 horses in nation’s top international race
Racing Post Tuesday, January 13, 2009
25
26
Tuesday, January 13, 2009 racingpost.com
DUBAI CARNIVAL 2009
HOW TO FIND WINNERS AT
NAD AL SHEBA by Richard Young
M
AKE the most of
the 2009 carnival
as it’s probably
the last time
anyone will have
a big edge in Dubai.
I am thinking particularly
about the Nad Al Sheba dirt –
or, more accurately, sand – a
surface that has long seen
prominent racers enjoy a
massive advantage over holdup horses.
Only ten horses have come
from off the pace to win in 170
races on dirt (a miserly 5.9 per
cent) since the carnival started
in early 2004, compared to a
much healthier total of holdup winners (69 from 200
races, 34.5 per cent) on turf
for the same period.
However, the goalposts will
move in future as it is almost
certain a synthetic surface
rather than a traditional dirt
one will be used when Meydan
– Dubai’s new state-of-the-art
racecourse – is unveiled in
November. They have already
selected Michael Dickinson’s
patented Tapeta for the
training track there.
Thus the bias against horses
with no previous dirt
experience will probably
disappear – as was
demonstrated so dramatically
at the Breeders’ Cup on the
Santa Anita all-weather, when
Raven’s Pass and
Henrythenavigator went onetwo in the Classic.
For now, though, one last
time, the usual dirt-track bias
will be in play. Take note.
The Nad Al Sheba grass
circuit isn’t without its biases
either, and the most notable
aspect of turf racing at the
carnival venue is the moderate
percentage of front-running
winners (only 13 from 200
races).
The following is a study of
previous races over the
carnival’s five-year history,
aiming to offer insight into the
ideal running styles, the draw
and which trainers or nations
have fared best over which
distances on which surfaces.
DIRT TRACK
Straight course 5-6f
30 carnival races since 2004
jjThe bias that saw a marked
disadvantage for those racing
against the stands’ rail in 2007
evened itself out last year. It
will pay to monitor things
early on but the track’s
managers will again be keen to
offer a level playing field.
jjProminent racers have
enjoyed a huge advantage.
While the usual strongly run
races have meant front runners
haven’t fared as well as could
STAR TURN
Follow prominent
racers to gain an
edge on the dirt
Dirt pointers
Turf pointers
jjAlways side with the prominent runners with previous dirt
jjBe aware how difficult it is to make all the running on turf,
experience rather than turf specialists and hold-up performers
although an in-form horse can be dangerous if allowed to
dawdle in front
jjStrong travellers with the ability to quicken immediately are
of more interest than horses who take time to hit top gear
jjA double-figure draw has been overcome over most distances,
jjBeware of a very low draw on the round course for horses
but the percentage call is to side with those middle to low
that need to be held up
jjWith its long straight and a reasonable gallop over most
jjWatch out for the likes of Frankie Dettori and Johnny
distances, the ability to get the trip is of paramount importance
Murtagh when allowed an uncontested lead – they are
particularly adept at ‘nicking’ a race from the front
jjBritish-trained horses have a poor record on dirt, but have
be expected (only five made
all), those unable to go the
early gallop have a wretched
record and only the smart
Tropical Star (2007) has come
from a long way off the pace.
jjDirt sprints have proved a
culture shock for British
runners, who have yet to win
over either distance. The home
contingent has fared best with
17 victories, although they
have played second fiddle to
the Americans in the Golden
Shaheen on World Cup
evening.
jjHorses carrying the USA
suffix have fared particularly
well and, over 6f, 16 of the 23
races have been plundered by
horses bred in the States.
Round course
7f, 7 1⁄2f, 1m, 1m1⁄2f
79 carnival races since 2004
jjTwenty-three horses have
been able to make all or most
and an even bigger percentage
of winners have come from
just behind the pacemakers –
but only four have come from
behind to win.
jjNo part of the track on the
round course seems favoured
and horses have been able to
win hard against the rail, just
off the rail and in centre.
jjRock Music made all from
stall 16 in 2006, Asiatic Boy
did the same from box ten the
following January (both over
7f) and Becrux scored from
trap 12 in 2005 (1m1⁄2f) but all
other winning front-runners
have come from single-figure
berths.
jjHappy Boy (midfield) won
from stall one on his UAE
debut last January but, given
the kickback and lack of
options, a low stall in big fields
is often a disadvantage for
hold-up performers. A middleto-high draw and a position
three or four deep is usually
preferable.
jjKeep an eye on South
American-bred horses. Horses
from this part of the world
have racked up 12 victories
from 31 races since the start of
2007.
won nearly one in four of all races on grass
Round course
1m1f, 1m2f, 1m4f
stud, this year’s World Cup
looks anything but clear-cut.
61 carnival races since 2004
jjMike de Kock has taken six
of the last ten races over 1m1f
and has won three of the last
five runnings of the UAE Derby
with Lundy’s Liability (2004),
Asiatic Boy (2007) and
Honour Devil (2008). Saeed
Bin Suroor won four of the six
races over 1m2f last year.
jjEleven horses have made all
over the first two distances
(there’s been only three races
over 1m4f) and results of both
have shown the importance of
racing up with the pace.
jjRoehampton (2005) and
Rampallion (January 2008)
are the only two to come from
behind in 30 races over 1m1f,
while hold-up horses have
fared only marginally better
(three wins from 28 races)
over 1m2f.
jjWinners have come from
most stalls positions (only stall
15 without a win) but the
ideal scenario for horses who
don’t have to lead is to occupy
a handy pitch two or three
deep out of the kickback.
jjAmerican Breeders’ Cup
Classic winners have a great
record in the Dubai World Cup
but, with the last Classic run
on a synthetic surface and the
winner already packed off to
jjClive Brittain’s Kandidate
became the third Britishtrained winner over 1m1f
when making all in 2007 but
British horses have generally
struggled since over that trip
and they have yet to register a
win over 1m2f.
TURF TRACK
Sprints 6f, 61⁄2f
43 carnival races since 2004
jjWith such a long straight
and habitually true-run races,
it’s not really a surprise that
front-runners have a very
ordinary record in this
category. Take out the three
Horse JJ The Jet Plane Target Golden Shaheen Trainer Mike de Kock (SAf) jjSouth African sprint champion, winning five
in a row last year, including a pair of Group 1s at Scottsville and Clairwood; yet to race on dirt, but just watch him go if he likes it
times Mutamarres scored from
the front last year and the
record of horses making all in
sprints stands at one (National
Captain in 2007) from 40.
jjUnlike on dirt, hold-up
horses have held their own
over these distances and
horses ridden with a degree of
patience have a similar record
in all carnival races to those
ridden just behind the pace.
jjHorses have been able to
win from a double-figure draw
in sprints (six wins) but the
best bet over these distances
has been to side with those in
the bottom half of the draw.
jjAn area where the British do
well. Horses from the UK have
taken 16 of the 43 races, with
Mick Channon (six wins)
firmly leading the way.
jjThe British wins have shown
that a progressive or wellhandicapped sort is not
essential in sprints. Several
have been exposed ‘twilight’
horses with an ordinary strikerate in
the UK.
27
Racing Post Tuesday, January 13, 2009
FINDING WINNERS
TOPDRAW
BERNIE FORD
jjREAD
RICHARD YOUNG’S SPOTLIGHTS IN
THE POST THROUGHOUT THE CARNIVAL
Selections last year included dual scorer Mourilyan, highlighted
as ‘open to bags of improvement and one to be interested in’
DUBAI RACING CLUB/ANDREW WATKINS
Wider-drawn horses
value on dirt track
A
Kandidate became the third British-trained winner over 1m1f when making all under
Ryan Moore in the second round of the Maktoum Challenge on dirt in 2007
Races at 7 1⁄2f and 1m
Races at 1m1f and 1m2f
64 carnival races since 2004
58 carnival races since 2004
jjOnly two (Three Graces in
2004 and Kalankari in 2007)
have made all over 71⁄2f, while
only a horse of the calibre of
Yard Arm (2005) has led
throughout in 40 races at 1m.
jjOnly Elvstroem (2005) and
Jay Peg (2008) have made all
in the Dubai Duty Free, while
only two have successfully
gone from the front from 28
races over 1m2f.
jjHorses ridden with a degree
of patience have enjoyed the
edge – and that’s especially the
case when the early gallop has
been a true one.
jjAs over shorter trips, horses
racing midfield and behind
have enjoyed most success, but
punters should be aware that
the more tactical races have
seen those racing prominently
come firmly into the equation.
jjObe Brave and Kalankari
overcame stalls 11 and 12
respectively over 71⁄2f in 2007
but all races since over that
trip have been won by runners
in single-figure berths, while
Pentecost in 2006 was the last
horse to score over 1m from a
double-figure draw.
jjBritish and Irish trainers
have done well, registering 17
victories (26.6 per cent), but
races over these distances have
also had an international
flavour with wins for the UAE,
Australia, South Africa, France,
Turkey and India.
STAR TURN
jjA double-figure draw is far
from insurmountable over
either distance depending on
the horse and its running style,
but stalls eight and lower have
the best record in recent years.
chipped in with three victories
over the shorter trip, including
David Junior in the 2006
Dubai Duty Free.
Races at 1m4f
35 carnival races since 2004
jjMaking all over this trip has
proved beyond most and only
the top-class Heart’s Cry, who
set a modest gallop in the
2006 Sheema Classic, has led
from start to finish.
jjThat said, those racing fairly
prominently have enjoyed their
share of success, especially in
muddling contests – but the
overall edge has been to side
with those held up in midfield
or further behind.
jjMike de Kock has been the
trainer to follow with 16
victories, but Saeed Bin Suroor
won five of the six races over
1m2f last year.
jjEven though there is plenty
of time to get organised, only
six horses in 30 races with
ten or more runners have
managed to overcome
double-figure draws.
jjBritish trainers have notched
seven wins (25 per cent) over
1m2f in the period under
consideration and have also
jjBritish and Irish trainers
have supplied ten of the 35
winners, including three of the
seven races at the trip in 2008.
TALE of two biases:
that’s the story of
the effect of the
draw at Nad Al
Sheba.
The turf course conforms to
natural expectations of a lefthanded round track – lowdrawn horses should benefit
from the shortest route on the
inside rail – but the dirt course
behaves in a counter-intuitive
fashion, tending to favour
those drawn wider.
The extent of the draw bias
is certainly stronger on the turf
track. Races at six trips feature
running round a bend (the 6f
trip is run on a chute that joins
the main track). Of them, four
have seen horses drawn in the
lowest third winning around
half of the races, effectively
boosting their win-and-place
prospects by around 50 per
cent.
However, it is worth noting
that the two exceptions – the
1m1f and 1m2f trips – are
statistically much fairer, which
is perhaps a consequence of
the positioning of the stalls in
relation to the bend.
Previewing last year’s
carnival in these pages, the 1m
and 1m4f trips were
highlighted as having the
strongest draw biases. That
low bias duly came to pass as
nine of the 12 winners from
the qualifying races came from
the bottom half of post
positions.
If anything, though, the bias
was even stronger over 61⁄2f.
From five races over that trip,
the forecast was made up of
those coming from the lowest
four post positions on four
occasions.
The low bias on the turf
course will be factored into the
EFFECT OF THE DRAW
Carnival races with 10+ runners 2004-08
Wins (percentage finishing in 1-2-3)
Trip
No. races
6f (dirt)
19
7f (dirt)
21
1m (dirt)
27
1m1f (dirt)
14
1m2f (dirt)
16
Low
Middle
High
Topdraw verdict
10 (33)
6 (36)
3 (29)
too variable to call of late
5 (30)
8 (33)
8 (37)
no significant bias
7 (25)
11 (34)
9 (41)
high⁄middle the value call
5 (36)
4 (24)
5 (40)
middle has poor record
4 (24)
5 (33)
7 (42)
high⁄middle the value call
low has very useful edge
6f (turf)
15
7 (47)
4 (31)
4 (22)
61⁄2f (turf)
22
12 (36)
5 (35)
5 (29)
low dominant of late
71⁄2f (turf)
18
8 (46)
2 (26)
8 (28)
low has a handy edge
1mile (turf)
35
17 (44)
10 (26)
8 (30)
low has useful advantage
1m1f (turf)
25
8 (30)
9 (35)
8 (35)
high potentially bit of value
1m2f (turf)
26
8 (34)
6 (30)
12 (37)
high potentially bit of value
1m4f (turf)
28
16 (40)
4 (25)
8 (35)
low holds handy advantage
Topdraw summary The effect of the draw varies between trips – even on the same
surface to some extent – and some biases have shifted around from year to year.
However, there are some compelling patterns, historically the strongest of which is over
1m4f on turf, where low has consistently enjoyed a commanding edge. The 61⁄2f sprint
has been extremely kind to low over the past few seasons too. There are a couple of
reasonable biases on dirt too, with the best value the counter-intuitive biases over 1m
and 1m2f, where middle to high have a considerably better record than those drawn low.
relative prices of each runner
in betting outside Dubai, but
keep an eye out for those who
run well from a seemingly
unfavourable berth.
Wise Dennis, for example,
was a fair third in a 1m
handicap on his Dubai debut
in February, but that effort
could be seen in an even better
light when his post position of
11 of 14 was considered. The
first and second had come
from one and two. Wise
Dennis ran twice more at the
carnival and won both – at
British odds of 13-2 and 4-1.
The most significant bias on
the dirt track highlighted last
year was over 1m2f, and with
four winners out of five in
2008 having come from the
top third, there is no doubting
its value.
The dirt mile has reasonably
strong trends, and middle-tohigh post positions are likely to
enjoy a slight edge generally
on the round dirt course, but
straight sprints run on a
straight are a little too variable
to call.
Incidentally, it is worth
pointing out that the first day
of the carnival last year
definitely went against the
grain and actually favoured
those drawn low on the dirt.
It’s difficult to be sure of
what exactly happened to
change the bias, but it
demonstrates that different
climactic conditions (the first
day’s action followed a rare
deluge) or preparation of the
racing surface can result in
temporary draw biases that go
against the norm. Stay alert.
The four strongest draw biases
jj61⁄2f turf
A cracking strike-rate for low, the bottom third winning more than half the races, although the place
statistics are not as impressive. That said, last year was totally dominated by low, when all five
forecasts involved horses drawn in the lower half.
jj1m turf
Low has enjoyed a distinct advantage, winning almost half the qualifying races (17 of 35) over the trip.
Six of seven races run last year were won by one of the bottom six post positions. Historically, high has
not performed significantly worse than middle but the trends might be a little skewed by a period in
late 2005/early 2006 where high performed well above their average.
jj1m4f turf
Low has a definite and distinct edge, with a better than one in two strike-rate (16 wins from 28 races).
Middle has a relatively poor record – it could be that those drawn there are prone to being squeezed out
of contention or have to use up too much energy to keep or attain a decent rails pitch early on.
jj1m2f dirt
High-to-middle have enjoyed an edge over low, which in statistical terms is only marginal (low four
wins, middle five and high seven) but, as a counter-intuitive draw bias, favouring
those racing away from the inside rail on the outside, it could be valuable.
Horse Jay Peg Target Duty Free Trainer Herman Brown (SAf) jjDefending champion went on to emphatic victory in Singapore
Airlines International Cup after surprise win in last year’s Duty Free, when beating Darjina, Archipenko and Vodka
28
Tuesday, January 13, 2009 racingpost.com
DUBAI CARNIVAL 2009
NATION-BY-NATION GUIDE
TO THE CARNIVAL by Ben Hutton
EDWARD WHITAKER/RACINGPOSTPIX.COM
Mighty South
Africans
can rule
the turf
again
B
OOKMAKERS tend to have a
wealth of knowledge about
the vast majority of events
that they price up, but there
are occasions when they
don’t know everything, and the Dubai
Carnival is certainly one such
instance.
The reason for this is the number of
different racing nations that turn up
– 26 over the space of five carnivals
so far, with more expected – and it
must surely be next to impossible for
anybody to produce a totally accurate
assessment when so many alien
formlines are involved.
This creates an excellent situation
for punters outside the UAE (where
gambling is illegal) because the
potential of knowing something that
the layers don’t is one of the few
occasions to offer an advantage in the
battle against the bookies.
Of course, punters face precisely
the same difficulties when it comes
to working out what chance an
unknown horse has of winning, but
by looking at the trends emerging
from specific countries, and knowing
when horses from particular nations
seem to be at their best, we can play
the percentages and increase our
chances.
This globe-trotting guide should
be used in conjunction with the
adjacent table. Figures have been
collated from the five years the
carnival has been in existence and
STAR TURN
World Cup night is included.
Any mention of profit or loss is
calculated using a £1 level stake at
the industry starting price. It should
also be noted that Saeed Bin Suroor’s
stats are part of the UAE pile, which
exclude the Kuwaiti trainer Rashed
Bouresly.
Our multinational manual got off to
a flyer last year in pointing out
Brazilian-trained horses on dirt, but
unfortunately a repeat is out of the
question as there has been an
outbreak of the infectious disease
glanders in Sao Paolo that has kept
that nation at home.
The carnival won’t be quite the
same without the Brazilians – but
they aren’t the only nation to produce
regular profits. Just have a look at the
South Africans.
Australia
Only one Australian-trained horse
turned up at the Carnival last season
– 25-1 outsider Niconero who was
11th of 16 in the Duty Free – but the
Aussies are still worth a mention
because of the way a couple of Tony
Noonan-trained handicappers
performed on turf in 2007.
Benedetti and Smart And Mighty
were race-fit and initially rated 100
and 99 respectively. They won their
first three races between them, and
the important point to take on board
is a handicapping one.
The pair had both proven
Jay Peg on his way to springing a 50-1 shock for South African
trainer Herman Brown in the Dubai Duty Free last year
Their runners receive only a short
mention just in case the situation
changes, or Brazilian horses end up in
stables in other countries (Herman
Brown, for example, of South Africa,
has at least one recruit, and Pascal
Bary has a few as well – see France).
Without wanting to waste too much
space on something that is unlikely to
happen, the table doesn’t lie, and
their runners should be backed on dirt
and opposed on turf.
Even on turf, a loss is posted (but to
a lesser extent), and this is because
bookmakers can afford to offer short
odds about horses who will be
familiar to British punters, confident
they’ll still take bets on them.
Thoroughly exposed handicappers
who have been struggling to carry big
weights in competitive handicaps at
home tend to dominate the handicaps
in terms of numbers, but are clearly
vulnerable to well-weighted rivals.
It cannot be stressed enough how
the presence of such horses in
handicaps forms one of the keys to
winning at Nad Al Sheba, as a wellhandicapped horse from abroad or an
improving type from Britain is
obviously at a massive advantage
when taking on a field full of horses
who do not have the same scope to
progress further.
Britain
France
On the whole British-trained horses
should be opposed on dirt, as they
return a whopping loss and there was
not a single win in 34 attempts last
year. Note also that the nine wins on
dirt are accounted for by five horses
and three trainers (Clive Brittain,
Gerard Butler and Jeremy Noseda).
The exceptions to this rule are those
who are proven on the track or who
have dirt pedigrees, and a very
important point is that just because a
horse acts on Polytrack does not mean
it will cope in Dubai.
Pascal Bary had an excruciating run of
luck last season as he saddled six
runners-up in a row on dirt. A word of
warning though, as the three horses
who achieved this feat were all recent
recruits who were Brazilian-bred.
Other than this trio, only one other
first-three finish has been gained by
French-trained horses on dirt from 21
attempts. As well as last year’s
recruits, Bary has also got his hands
on Estrela Boa, Estrela Do Oriente and
Regionalista, all of whom hail from
Brazil.
themselves at Listed and Group 3
level at home, and should have been
rated around 105 or higher. If any
Aussies turn up this time around
with a similar level of form and a
rating in the region of 100, they
should be capable of winning
handicaps on turf.
Brazil
Ireland
Irish-trained horses tend to struggle
on dirt, and it was the same story on
turf until last year, when Mourilyan
and Lord Admiral both bagged two
wins each. Mourilyan was not a
stereotypical Irish raider, as he
arrived with a highly progressive
profile, and if such Irish runners turn
up again then they will have to be
respected.
Macau
It may well be worth keeping an eye
on their runners on dirt, since
although they have posted a loss of
£4, they have provided four winners,
five second places and six thirds.
Added to that, Safety Investments
seemed to have a lot of talent last
year but was relentlessly keen in his
races, which twice ruined his chance.
South Africa
No-one needs telling how South
African trainers Mike De Kock and
Herman Brown have to be feared at
the carnival, and both again look to
have powerful teams for 2009.
Although they have winners on
both dirt and turf, we should
concentrate on the latter, which is
where the profits are found.
Brown’s record on
turf over five
years stands at
12 from 91 for
Horse Albertus Maximus Target World Cup/Godolphin Mile Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin (USA) jjStepped up on previous form
to win Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile for Vladimir Cerin and then sold to Sheikh Hamdan (trainer won World Cup with Invasor)
29
Racing Post Tuesday, January 13, 2009
FINDING WINNERS
BEN HUTTON’S BLOG THROUGHOUT TOPSPEED
THE CARNIVAL ON RACINGPOST.COM DAVE EDWARDS
jjREAD
Last year those taking the Trading Post man’s advice to follow Brazilian
horses on dirt were immediately rewarded with a bumper day-one double
CARNIVAL SUCCESS NATION-BY-NATION
Overall
Country
Turf
Dirt
Wins
Runs
+/-
Wins
Runs
+/-
Wins
Runs
+/-
171
2229
-£705.97
73
1113
-£428.49
98
1116
-£277.48
South Africa
71
398
+£61.71
44
248
+£99.93
27
150
-£38.22
United Kingdom
58
655
-£193.66
49
476
-£82.42
9
179
-£111.21
UAE
USA
12
91
-£19.46
0
22
-£22.00
12
69
+£2.54
Brazil
11
138
+£59.00
2
50
£0.00
9
88
+£59.00
8
195
-£105.25
4
97
-£40.50
4
98
-£64.75
Kuwait
Ireland
7
99
-£47.47
7
85
-£33.47
0
14
-£14.00
Germany
5
43
+£4.23
5
31
+£16.23
0
12
-£12.00
-£30.00
France
5
64
-£28.17
5
34
+£1.83
0
30
Australia
4
12
+£24.00
4
10
+£26.00
0
2
-£2.00
Macau
4
62
-£18.00
0
14
-£14.00
4
48
-£4.00
Saudi Arabia
4
59
-£18.00
0
14
-£14.00
4
45
-£4.00
Turkey
3
23
+£16.00
2
12
+£12.00
1
11
+£4.00
Japan
3
28
-£10.25
2
8
+£2.25
1
20
-£12.50
Singapore
2
27
+£7.00
2
20
+£14.00
0
7
-£7.00
India
2
19
-£9.50
2
16
-£6.50
0
3
-£3.00
Norway
1
18
+£18.00
1
9
+£25.00
0
9
-£9.00
Hong Kong
1
11
-£1.00
1
7
+£3.00
0
4
-£4.00
Czech Republic
0
1
-£1.00
0
0
N/A
0
1
-£1.00
Greece
0
1
-£1.00
0
0
N/A
0
1
-£1.00
Argentina
0
2
-£2.00
0
1
-£1.00
0
1
-£1.00
New Zealand
0
2
-£2.00
0
2
-£2.00
0
0
N/A
Denmark
0
10
-£10.00
0
3
-£3.00
0
7
-£7.00
Sweden
0
15
-£15.00
0
8
-£8.00
0
7
-£7.00
Italy
0
22
-£22.00
0
9
-£9.00
0
13
-£13.00
Bahrain
0
23
-£23.00
0
12
-£12.00
0
11
-£11.00
a profit of £62.50, although 50-1
Dubai Duty Free winner Jay Peg
skews this quite significantly, and De
Kock has 30 wins from 138 runners
for a profit of £36.93.
Brown, who trains Jay Peg, also
looked after Great Rhythm and
Sushisan, who won handicaps off 104
and 107 respectively in 2007. All
three runners had previously been
placed in Grade 1 company in South
Africa, so it is clear that such form
should not be underestimated.
From a handicapping angle, South
African Grade 1-placed runners
should be rated in the 110s, and if
they are any lower then they should
be winning handicaps in Dubai.
Don’t ignore the dirt horses,
however. There will be more chances
than usual this year owing to the lack
of Brazilian-trained horses, and
Brown and De Kock both have a
number of likely sorts among their
South American recruits, many of
whom were originally from Argentina.
Turkey
The Turks have had runners fill the
frame 12 times from 23 starts, which
is an impressive record. Their runners
seem equally adept on dirt (six placed
effort from 11 runs) and turf (six
from 12).
UAE
The home-trained horses that tend to
get into handicaps at the carnival are
STAR TURN
usually rated around the 100 mark, so
obviously such animals will be
popular with owners who want to
have a runner at the meeting.
The only problem is that they have
often reached the summit of their
improvement – the ones who have
been bought from Britain to be
trained in the UAE tend to have no
scope to progress.
Add to this the fact that they spend
the end of 2008 racing against each
other in the Winter Racing Challenge,
resulting in any recent progression
being factored into their handicap
ratings prior to the start of the
carnival, and you have a bunch of
highly rated, thoroughly exposed
horses turning up in January.
Perhaps this should be seen as a
positive for anyone trying to locate
winners, however, as such horses can
be easily identified and discarded
from calculations in preference of
those who are better handicapped.
The above reasoning accounts for
the poor record of UAE trainers at the
carnival, which is more prevalent on
dirt than turf.
Obviously there are exceptions, and
these horses are the ones to
concentrate on, as Al Shemali, Blackat
Blackitten and Third Set highlighted
last year when scoring for Godolphin.
Without wanting to
‘after-time’, they weren’t
too hard to spot
either.
PICK
Ones to watch
Richard Young
Spotlight
6
Diabolical Saeed Bin Suroor, UAE
Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint runner-up
could end American stranglehold on
Golden Shaheen.
Lipocco Herman Brown, SAf
Fast-ground specialist for Ralph
Beckett who cost new connections
82,000gns in October, goes well fresh
so keep close eye on for UAE debut.
Macarthur Mike de Kock, SAf
Trainer turned ex-O’Brien Archipenko
and Eagle Mountain into Group 1
winners. This one looks a likely sort
for the Sheema Classic.
Military Power M Bin Shafya, UAE
Dual 1m2f turf winner for John Hills
who improved for new trainer when
runner-up on UAE dirt debut.
Disappointed on turf next time but
run may have come too quickly.
Presvis Luca Cumani, GB
Progressive handicapper with good
turn of foot. Effective over 1m2f but
should have no problems with 1m4f.
Swop Luca Cumani, GB
Close third in Cambridgeshire – on
only his sixth run – looks better than
bare form. A progressive individual
with plenty of scope. Can make impact
from current mark of 100.
Record vulnerable
to US speed assault
C
ERTAIN track records at
Nad Al Sheba have stood
for a long time but one of
the oldest looks in danger
this year.
US sprinter Big Jag posted a time of
68.10s over 6f on the sand in the
inaugural Dubai Golden Shaheen, but
with several American speedsters in
line for the Group 1 event in March,
this excellent mark could well be
under threat.
Bob Black Jack, who established
what was claimed as a world record
on the AW at Santa Anita in January
2008, looks a likely suspect. Running
in the Sunshine Millions Dash – a race
he is set to contest again later this
month – he stopped the watch at a
clock-busting 66.53s.
A number of British-trained horses
take the eye elsewhere for the
carnival. David Nicholls has a
numerically strong team and it will be
interesting to see how Valery
Borzov fares. Suited by a strong
pace, he won on three occasions last
term on turf and Polytrack.
The Mark Johnston-trained Love
Galore is a resilient performer who
dipped inside standard time when
beating a decent field at Goodwood in
July.
Bankable, who proved highly
frustrating for Luca Cumani last
season, is now with Mike de Kock and
looks one to note on the clock, as
does the Queen’s Banknote, lightly
raced last season for Andrew Balding.
Swop has raced only six times in
his life, being placed in three hot
handicaps including the
Cambridgeshire, and looks overdue a
decent payday. Mojito Royale has
performed consistently well on
Dundalk’s all-weather circuit and Eoin
Doyle’s Irish raider could be placed to
advantage.
Finally, a note on the race
distances. On occasions the running
rail on Nad Al Sheba’s turf track is
moved out by three, five or seven
metres to even out wear and tear, but
the starts are moved by a
commensurate amount to
accommodate the changes so all races
are run over the correct distances.
Such a level of reliability is excellent
news for all
concerned.
Bankable, frustating for Luca Cumani last
year, is one to watch now with Mike de Kock
TRACK STANDARD AND RECORD TIMES
Distance
standard time
record holder (date)
record time
weight
going
fast
Dirt track
5f
Star Crowned 14 Feb 08
56.30s
9st4lb
51⁄2f
1m03.20s
Kabalevsky 27 Jan 00
1m2.50s
9st2lb
fast
6f
1m10.50s
Big Jag 25 Mar 00
1m8.10s
9st
fast
57.00s
61⁄2f
1m17.00s
Festival Of Light 11 Mar 01
1m16.11s
8st8lb
fast
7f
1m 23.10s
Kahal 11 Feb 99
1m21.18s
8st8lb
fast
fast
71⁄2f
1m29.60s
Fire Thunder 23 Dec 99
1m28.70s
8st9lb
1m
1m35.60s
Cornish Snow 21 Feb 99
1m34.67s
8st8lb
fast
1m1⁄2f
1m42.50s
Jalil 8 Feb 08
1m42.15s
8st8lb
fast
1m1f
1m48.10s
Altibr 11 Feb 99
1m46.92s
8st11lb
fast
1m2f
2m1.70s
Dubai Millennium 25 Mar 00
1m59.50s
9st
fast
1m4f
2m27.50s
Ambassador 28 Jan 99
2m28.32s
9st4lb
fast
1m6f
2m56.00s
Rasin 8 Jan 01
2m57.90s
8st3lb
fast
2m
3m23.00s
Nadeem 15 Mar 01
3m23.50s
9st2lb
fast
6f
1m10.00s
Prince Aaron 20 Jan 05
1m10.82s
8st8lb
gd/fm
61⁄2f
1m16.40s
National Icon 10 Mar 05
1m15.78s
8st11lb
gd/fm
71⁄2f
1m 29.70s
Cat Belling 21 Feb 04
1m 29.47s
8st9lb
gd/fm
1m
1m36.70s
Desert Destiny 10 Mar 05
1m36.27s
8st10lb
gd/fm
1m44.40s
8st10lb
gd
1m46.20
9st
gd
1m48.60s
9st
gd
2m1.18
8st11lb
gd
Turf track
1m1⁄2f
1m45.00s
Siege 5 Mar 00
1m194y
1m48.00s
Jay Peg 29 Mar 08
1m1f
1m49.40s
Rhythm Band 25 Mar 00
1m2f
2m1.50s
1m4f
2m30.00s
Razkalla 10 Mar 05
2m 27.40s
9st6lb
gd/fm
1m6f
2m57.00s
Mamool 27 Feb 03
2m 55.84s
8st10lb
gd
2m
3m23.00s
Kayseri 10 Apr 03
3m 22.74s
8st6lb
gd
Boule D’Or 27 Jan 05
Horse Colonel John Target World Cup Trainer Eoin Harty (USA) jjTravers Stakes was one of two Grade 1 victories last term, when
this son of dual Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Tiznow was second only to Big Brown among American three-year-olds
30
Tuesday, January 13, 2009 racingpost.com
DUBAI CARNIVAL 2009
THREE CARNIVAL
MAHLI AL BASTI OWNER
FERNANDO JARA JOCKEY
W
Mahli Al Basti: “We love a challenge and love to compete”
Ambition to
win World
Cup is no
pipe dream
M
AHLI AL BASTI is high
on the list of Dubai’s
leading businessmen,
controlling huge family
interests in construction
and industrial cleaning, as well as a
successful equine feed company.
He puts hard work well in front of
dreams, but does admit to a burning
ambition – to win the Dubai World
Cup.
“Perhaps not this year, maybe not
even in the next five years, but at
some time,” he says, before adding,
should anyone accuse him of getting
ahead of himself: “I hate to dream. If
you do that, you can be disappointed.”
Al Basti, a committed Anglophile
for more than 25 years since
furthering his education in England at
the age of 18, also reveals an
ambition for his racing interests in
Britain, which partly gives the game
away about his main distance targets.
“I’d love to win one of the English
Guineas,” he says, “and then the St
James’s Palace and QEII Stakes.”
Although two former Kevin Ryantrained sprinters, Hammadi and
Bounty Quest, are among the team
that will represent Al Basti at the
carnival, milers to middle-distance
horses are his preferred choice.
“That’s the sort of horse I try to
buy,” he says, which explains part of
the thinking behind the recent
additions he has sent to champion
trainer Doug Watson. The other part
concerns standards.
Al Basti has a single carnival winner
to his name. As a local owner, as
much as being a member of the
Emirates Racing Authority and board
member of the host Dubai Racing
Club, he wants to do better, but
recognises that the level of
STAR TURN
competition has risen each year.
“We love a challenge, and love to
compete,” he says, “but to compete
properly at the carnival, you have to
have the quality.
“The minimum rating is 90 on dirt
and 95 on turf, but bringing a horse
in on those levels has the risk that
they could be dropped a pound or
two for a poor run, which would keep
them out of future races.
“So I reckon on having a horse
rated at least 95 on dirt and 100 on
turf to be competitive.
“From about the sixth meeting to
the end of the carnival, it gets very
hard. But if you get a horse to World
Cup night, that’s marvellous.”
Al Basti, who will spread his 18
two-year-olds in training in England
among Henry Cecil, John Gosden,
Richard Hannon, Karl Burke and
Kevin Ryan, has pinned his latest
carnival hopes on purchases made at
Newmarket and in the US.
Announcing his intentions when
underbidder for Sugar Ray, the
600,000-guinea, record-priced
sale-topper at Tattersalls in October,
he bought the-then three-year-olds
Weald (250,000gns) and World Ruler
(180,000gns) from Khalid Abdullah’s
French-trained string.
Al Basti has another ex-Abdullah
purchase, Fingerprint, in his team. He
completed his Newmarket
acquisitions with Classic Blade
(130,000gns), whom Tom Dascombe
trained to win the July Stakes, before
closing his first season with fifth place
to Bushranger in the Middle Park.
Lightly raced Weald won a Listed
race over 1m4f at Longchamp in May,
while miler World Ruler won two of
his first three starts before finishing
placed in Group 3 and Listed grade.
From the US come Shopton Lane, a
three-time stakes winner, and Bur
Dubai, whose half-brother Jack
Sullivan is a carnival regular.
Asked to nominate his chief hopes
at this stage, Al Basti plumps for
Bounty Quest and Shopton Lane on
dirt and Hammadi for the turf, but he
warns: “I don’t rush my horses, and if
Doug Watson feels they
can’t make it this
year, they’ll be
back next year.
There’s no rush.”
HEN Fernando Jara
rode Invasor into the
winner’s circle at Nad
Al Sheba after the
2007 Dubai World
Cup, the 19-year-old Panamanian
jockey seemed to have the racing
world at his feet.
When he returned to the same spot
after winning a handicap named in
honour of Invasor in mid-December,
just short of his 21st birthday, a sense
of appropriateness was not the only
feeling that could be sensed behind
his smiling eyes.
Relief, gratitude and determination
were mixed in with the elation that
naturally flows from riding a winner.
Relief that it was a winner, and at
the scene of one of his most famous
achievements, gratitude for having
been given the chance to share the
spotlight again and determination to
make the most of the opportunity.
For between these two
Invasor-connected events, Jara’s
career plumbed the depths.
He visited Dubai for the first time
with a 2006 record that included wins
for Sheikh Hamdan in the Belmont
Stakes on Jazil and Breeders’ Cup
Classic on Invasor, and a stakes tally
worth nearly $8.7 million.
Even after the World Cup, Jara
clocked more than $5.9m in prizemoney in 2007, but the figure masked
a swift downward trend, which
included changing agents twice and
exiting New York in an attempt to
seek better fortune in California.
In fact, fate took a more serious
turn for the worse. When Jara broke
his collarbone in a Hollywood Park
fall, he headed back to Panama and
disappeared from mainstream racing.
“I was off for three months,” he
says, “and when I was ready to come
back, I just wanted to spend time with
my family.
“Things were not going good when
I moved to California. I kept thinking,
‘What am I doing wrong’? But I didn’t
think I was doing anything wrong.”
An outsider might think he had had
too much adulation too quickly, and
could not handle the downsides
that can follow success as
inevitably as night
follows day.
Jara’s English
is good, but
perhaps not
good
enough
Determined to
make most of
second chance
in the big time
to explain what was going on in his
head.
Nevertheless, he wanted to ride
again, and two winners on his first
day back in Panama told their own
tale. When Sheikh Hamdan’s US
racing manager Rick Nichols and
trainer Kiaran McLaughlin got in
touch, he knew what his next step
should be.
Doug Watson, Sheikh Hamdan’s
principal UAE trainer and McLaughlin’s
former assistant, takes up the story.
“Fernando signed up to my
Facebook page, which was the first I’d
heard from him since the World Cup,”
says UAE champion trainer Watson.
“Then I was approached by Rick
and Kiaran to say they had been
talking to Sheikh Hamdan about
Fernando and asked if I’d be keen on
having him ride for me in Dubai. Of
course I was delighted for him to
come here.
“Fernando rode Mutasallil for me
before he rode Invasor. I was very
impressed then, and we all know
what he did in the
World Cup.
This is a
nice
opportunity for him to get back on
some winners.
“He’s fun to have around, which
makes it that much easier to come
into the yard every day. Hopefully
he’ll get back on the road he was on,
and wherever he goes after here, I’ll
be happy if he does well.”
Jara knows he will vie for rides at the
carnival with Watson’s other jockeys,
Richard Hills and Daragh O’Donohoe,
but he is determined not to let any
opportunity slip through his hands.
“I missed riding in the US, but I’m
focused on here,” Jara says. “Dubai is
a nice place to be, and Doug’s got
some nice horses. I’m looking forward
to the carnival, and if I can get a ride
on World Cup night, even better.”
Fernando Jara:
“Things were not
going good when I
moved to
California”
Horse Honour Devil Target World Cup Trainer Mike de Kock (SAf) jjEx-Argentine colt was one of success stories of last year’s carnival
when three victories culminated in thumping UAE Derby win; has had setbacks since, but reportedly back on course now
DUB
31
Racing Post Tuesday, January 13, 2009
INTERVIEWS BY HOWARD WRIGHT
CHARACTERS
JIM AND FITRI HAY OWNERS
C
RACKING the carnival code
requires a combination of
fresh talent and
experienced personnel,
according to Jim Hay, who
owns Uplands stables in Lambourn
and divides his business time between
London and Dubai.
Hay has combined the two elements
for this year’s festival, by gathering
the six horses who will run in the
name of his wife Fitri under the one
roof of Herman Brown’s barn.
Jay Peg, Brown’s first World Cup
night winner in last year’s Dubai Duty
Free, remains the stable star, but as
the quietly spoken South African bids
to compete with his more extrovert
countryman Mike de Kock, he boasts
some unfamiliar but high-class names
among his 25-strong carnival team.
Hay, who also has horses with local
trainer Tony Manuel – “To fly the flag
for Dubai,” he says – has played a
significant part in assembling the new
blood, with three summer purchases
from South Africa – Kings Gambit,
Lion’s Blood and Bucked Off – and the
more recent acquisition of Patternplaced Balcarce Nov from Argentina.
While dirt performer Balcarce Nov is
the dark horse, there is no hiding the
Kings Gambit the pick
of a six-strong team
quality of the South African trio,
notably Kings Gambit and Lion’s Blood,
who finished first and second in the
2008 Grade 1 South African Classic.
Kings Gambit went on to win the
South African Derby, and was voted
horse of the year and champion threeyear-old in the Highveld region.
While all three are still three-yearolds now in the second half of their
Classic season, they appear as
four-year-olds on northern-hemisphere
racecards. Hay reckons this maturity
advantage is invaluable for the
carnival in weight-for-age terms,
although he will find himself at odds
with the official concerned.
“The UAE handicapper Melvin Day
hasn’t really got hold of the scale yet,”
Hay says. “In January, northern
hemisphere horses have a 12lb
disadvantage against those from the
southern hemisphere, and even in
March it’s still 9lb. That’s too much.”
Hay says that after seeking advice
from Herman Brown senior, who had
an outstanding record as a trainer
before his son took over, he also took
the South African horses’
conformation into account.
“Most South African tracks are very
firm, so all in all I think their horses
are better suited than others to
conditions at Nad Al Sheba,” he says.
Hay has rounded off his Dubai
squad with Brown by dipping into the
pool at Uplands to provide
globetrotter Traffic Guard, who had
four races at last year’s carnival but
failed to make the World Cup card,
and three-year-old Redding Colliery,
won by five lengths at Kempton on his
third and most recent start.
Hay says Traffic Guard will have
just two prep races before tackling the
Dubai Duty Free, while Classic hope
Redding Colliery will be aimed at the
UAE Guineas and Derby.
Fitri Hay: horses will run in her name
While praising the availability of
top-class vets, Hay advances two main
reasons for targeting the carnival
lead-up to World Cup night –
prize-money and opportunity.
“In Britain or Ireland, you find
yourself running against a Derby
winner who’s going on to be a
stallion,” he says. “In Dubai, there’s
no attributed value that feeds through
to stallion status.”
With conditions and opportunity in
mind, Hay nominates Kings Gambit as
the best of his bunch but adds:
“Herman Brown says Traffic Guard
has come on
a ton.”
PICK
Ones to watch
Jason Ford
Dubai correspondent
6
Esta Bailando Jerry Barton, KSA
Trainer served notice of his intentions
with a double at Nad Al Sheba last
week and this grey filly, who won her
only start in Chile, looks to have a
touch of class judged on her morning
work.
Front House Mike de Kock, SA
May have been let in lightly off a mark
of 97 and master trainer could find
nice handicap before stepping her back
up in class.
Kildonan Mike de Kock, SA
Always been highly regarded with form
over a variety of trips; trainer
confident he’ll go on dirt so has full
spectrum of options.
Mulaqat Dhruba Selvaratnam, UAE
Enigmatic character who made an eyecatching reappearance at Jebel Ali last
Friday; acts on the dirt but is a better
performer on turf and, rated 107, has
plenty of 1m4f handicap options.
Super Class
Antonio Cintra Pereira, Bah
Real dark horse, a Group 1 winner in
Brazil who was late addition to
Bahraini-based team of Brazilian
trainer whose two carnival winners
included similar type in Ukrainian last
year.
Tajdeef Erwan Charpy, UAE
Former Barry Hills-trained 4yo who
arrives in Dubai on career-low mark of
104. Third in Middle Park Stakes in
2007 and has the class to bounce
back after disappointing 3yo
campaign.
32
Tuesday, January 13, 2009 racingpost.com