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**Forced Kin** · 25 March 2012, 12:13 PM

Dubai Sheema Classic, sponsored by Longines
US$5,000,000 Group 1
2,410m Turf

1 BEATEN UP (GB) GB William Haggas
2 BOLD SILVANO (SAF) South Africa Mike de Kock
3 CAVALRYMAN (GB) UAE Saeed bin Suroor
4 CIRRUS DES AIGLES (FR) France Corine Barande-Barbe
5 JAKKALBERRY (IRE) GB Marco Botti
6 MAHBOOBA (AUS) South Africa Mike de Kock
7 SHIMRAAN (FR) UAE Mahmood Al Zarooni
8 SONGCRAFT (IRE) UAE Saeed bin Suroor
9 ST NICHOLAS ABBEY (IRE) Ireland Aidan O'Brien
10 TREASURE BEACH (GB) Ireland Aidan O'Brien

**Forced Kin** · 25 March 2012, 12:14 PM

Dubai Duty Free, sponsored by Dubai Duty Free
US$5,000,000 Group 1
1,800m Turf
1 AMBITIOUS DRAGON (NZ) Hong Kong Tony Millard
2 AWAIT THE DAWN (USA) Ireland Aidan O'Brien
3 CALIFORNIA MEMORY (USA) Hong Kong Tony Cruz
4 CITY STYLE (USA) UAE Mahmood Al Zarooni
5 CITYSCAPE (GB) GB Roger Charlton
6 DARK SHADOW (JPN) Japan Noriyuki Hori
7 DELEGATOR (GB) UAE Saeed bin Suroor
8 DUBAWI GOLD (GB) GB Richard Hannon
9 GREEN DESTINY (IRE) South Africa Herman Brown
10 MUSIR (AUS) South Africa Mike de Kock
11 MUTAHADEE (IRE) South Africa Mike de Kock
12 PRESVIS (GB) GB Luca Cumani
13 RAJSAMAN (FR) UAE Ali Rashid Al Raihe
14 RIO DE LA PLATA (USA) UAE Saeed bin Suroor
15 WIGMORE HALL (IRE) GB Michael Bell
16 XTENSION (IRE) Hong Kong John Moore

**Forced Kin** · 25 March 2012, 12:15 PM

Dubai Golden Shaheen, sponsored by Gulf News
Third leg of the 2012 Global Sprint Challenge
US$2,000,000 Group 1
1,200m All Weather

1 GIANT RYAN (USA) USA Bisnath Parboo
2 HAPPY DUBAI (IRE) UAE Ali Rashid Al Raihe
3 HITCHENS (IRE) GB David Barron
4 INXILE (IRE) GB David Nicholls
5 IVER BRIDGE LAD GB John Ryan
6 KRYPTON FACTOR (GB) Bahrain Fawzi Nass
7 LUCKY NINE (IRE) Hong Kong Caspar Fownes
8 ROCKET MAN (AUS) Singapore Patrick Shaw
9 RUSSIAN ROCK (IRE) UAE Musabah Al Muhairi
10 SEPOY (AUS) Australia Peter Snowden
11 SOUL (AUS) UAE Saeed bin Suroor
12 THE FACTOR (USA) USA Bob Baffert

**Forced Kin** · 25 March 2012, 12:16 PM

Al Quoz Sprint, sponsored by Emirates NBD
US$1,000,000 Group 1
1,000m Turf
1 A SHIN VIRGO Japan Ken Kozaki
2 ADDICTIVE DREAM (IRE) GB David Nicholls
3 AUGUST RUSH (SAF) South Africa Herman Brown
4 BETTER BE THE ONE (AUS) Singapore Michael Freedman
5 EAGLE REGIMENT (AUS) Hong Kong Ka Leung Man
6 INVINCIBLE ASH (IRE) Ireland Michael Halford
7 JOY AND FUN (NZ) Hong Kong Derek Cruz
8 MARGOT DID (GB) GB Michael Bell
9 MONSIEUR JOE (IRE) GB Robert Cowell
10 NOCTURNAL AFFAIR (SAF) Ireland David Marnane
11 ORTENSIA (AUS) Australia Paul Messara
12 PROHIBIT (GB) GB Robert Cowell
13 REGALLY READY (USA) USA Steve Asmussen
14 SECRET ASSET (IRE) GB Jane Chapple-Hyam
15 SOLE POWER (GB) Ireland Edward Lynam
16 WAR ARTIST (AUS) South Africa Mike de Kock

**Forced Kin** · 25 March 2012, 12:17 PM

UAE Derby, sponsored by The Saeed & Mohammed Al Naboodah Group
US$2,000,000 Group 2
1,900m All Weather

1 BALADA SALE (ARG) France Pascal Bary
2 BOBY DI JOB (BRZ) South Africa Mike de Kock
3 BURANO (IRE) GB Brian Meehan
4 DADDY LONG LEGS (USA) Ireland Aidan O'Brien
5 ENTIFAADHA (GB) GB William Haggas
6 FALLS OF LORA (IRE) UAE Mahmood Al Zarooni
7 GENTEN (JPN) Japan Yoshito Yahagi
8 HELMET (AUS) Australia Peter Snowden
9 KINGLET (USA) UAE Mahmood Al Zarooni
10 LUCKY CHAPPY (IRE) USA Graham Motion
11 MICKDAAM (IRE) South Africa Mike de Kock
12 RED DUKE (USA) GB John Quinn
13 WROTE (IRE) Ireland Aidan O'Brien
14 YANG TSE KIANG (FR) France Richard Chotard

**Forced Kin** · 25 March 2012, 12:18 PM

Dubai Gold Cup, sponsored by Al Tayer Motors
US$1,000,000 Group 3
3,200m Turf

1 AVERROES (IRE) UAE Ernst Oertel
2 BARBICAN (GB) GB Alan Bailey
3 BRONZE CANNON (USA) South Africa Herman Brown
4 FOX HUNT (IRE) UAE Mahmood Al Zarooni
5 GRAND VENT (IRE) UAE Saeed bin Suroor
6 IRISH FLAME (SAF) South Africa Mike de Kock
7 JOSHUA TREE (IRE) GB Marco Botti
8 KASBAH BLISS (FR) France Francois Doumen
9 MAKANI BISTY (JPN) Japan Yoshito Yahagi
10 MIKHAIL GLINKA (IRE) South Africa Herman Brown
11 OPINION POLL (IRE) UAE Mahmood Al Zarooni
12 UNUSUAL SUSPECT (USA) Australia Michael Kent
13 ZANZAMAR (SAF) South Africa Mike de Kock

**Forced Kin** · 25 March 2012, 12:19 PM

Godolphin Mile, sponsored by Etisalat
US$1,000,000 Group 2
1,600m All Weather

1 AFRICAN STORY (GB) UAE Saeed bin Suroor
2 BARBECUE EDDIE (USA) UAE Doug Watson
3 DERBAAS (USA) UAE Ali Rashid Al Raihe
4 DO IT ALL (USA) UAE Saeed bin Suroor
5 DUX SCHOLAR (GB) South Africa Herman Brown
6 FIRST CITY (GB) UAE Ali Rashid Al Raihe
7 HAATHEQ (USA) UAE Ali Rashid Al Raihe
8 RED JAZZ GB Charles Hills
9 RICHARD'S KID (USA) UAE Satish Seemar
10 SANDAGIYR (FR) UAE Saeed bin Suroor
11 SHAMALGAN (FR) France Xavier Nakkachdji
12 SNAAFY (USA) UAE Musabah Al Muhairi
13 VISCOUNT NELSON (USA) South Africa Mike de Kock
14 WESTERN ARISTOCRAT (USA) GB Jeremy Noseda

**Sprinter** · 25 March 2012, 03:11 PM

Confirmed Joseph O'Brien rides So You Think in Dubai World Cup by twitter

So You Think has been confirmed "a definite runner" in the Dubai World Cup next Saturday - as long as his transferral to the United Arab Emirates goes smoothly.

The Aidan O'Brien-trained six-year-old will be ridden by Joseph O'Brien, the trainer's son, in the richest Flat race in the world at Meydan.

Coolmore's giant Australian recruit, a winner of eight top-level races, is today due to fly out to Dubai.

"So You Think - all being well heads to Dubai on Sunday," read a Coolmore tweet.

"If he travels well & Aidan's happy then he is a definite runner.

"Jockey J O'Brien."

**Sprinter** · 25 March 2012, 03:19 PM

More twitter

So You Think, St Nicholas Abbey, Treasure Beach, Await The Dawn, Daddylonglegs and Wrote have just left Ballydoyle for Dubai.

**Forced Kin** · 26 March 2012, 11:35 AM

Bad news on draw for Cumani & Bell. SNA wont he helped by that draw either.

British raiders in the Dubai Duty Free have not had the luck of the draw in the Group One over nine furlongs at Meydan on Saturday.

Last year's winner, the Luca Cumani-trained Presvis has been put in stall 12 of the 16-strong field while Michael Bell's Wigmore Hall, third 12 months ago, will go from 15.

The Richard Hannon-trained Dubawi Gold has been drawn widest of all in stall 16 and others appearing to hold a disadvantage are Roger Charlton's Cityscape (11) and two of Godolphin's representatives - City Style (13) and Rio De La Plata (14).

Godolphin's other runner Delegator, the mount of Frankie Dettori, is in stall six while Aidan O'Brien's Await The Dawn is drawn close to the inside in stall two.

Stablemate St Nicholas Abbey has been handed a wide draw in stall nine of the 10 runners in the Dubai Sheema Classic.

The Breeders' Cup Turf winner is one of two O'Brien runners along with Treasure Beach, who races from stall six.

Godolphin's three runners have had varied luck with the draw - Songcraft being handed stall one, Cavalryman five and Shimraan 10.

Beaten Up, trained by William Haggas, is in stall three while Marco Botti's Jakkalberry is in seven.

Cirrus Des Aigles, the French-trained winner of the Champions Stakes, starts from gate eight.

The O'Brien-trained Wrote, winner of the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf, has been handed a tough assignment from stall 13 of the 14 declared for the UAE Derby while his stablemate Daddy Long Legs will break from stall seven.

There are mixed fortunes for Brian Meehan's Burano, given a tidy draw in two, compared to William Haggas's Entifaadha and John Quinn's Red Duke in 11 and 12 respectively.

Robert Cowell will have mixed feelings after the draw for the Al Quoz Sprint with Monsieur Joe in stall one and Prohibit in 12.

Addictive Dream is in stall two for sprint king David Nicholls with other British raiders Secret Asset, from Jane Chapple-Hyam's stable, is in 14 and Michael Bell's Margot Did widest of all in 16.

Of the Irish hopefuls in the five-furlong dash, David Marnane's Nocturnal Affair is in five, Michael Halford's Invincible Ash is in seven and Edward Lynam's Sole Power in 15.

In the Dubai Golden Shaheen over six furlongs, the David Barron-trained Hitchens is in stall six, John Ryan's Iver Bridge Lad in eight and Nicholls' Inxile in 10 of the 12 declared.

In the Godolphin Mile, Red Jazz from Charlie Hills' stable is in stall nine next to Jeremy Noseda's Western Aristocrat in eight. Dettori's partner African Story, an impressive winner on Super Saturday, is in four.

Alan Bailey's progressive stayer Barbican (drawn two) is among of field of 13 for the Dubai Gold Cup.

His rivals include Godolphin's Opinion Poll and Herman Brown's duo of Bronze Cannon and Mikhail Glinka.

O'Brien's So You Think heads a final field of 14 for the Dubai World Cup with the draw yet to be made for the world's richest race.

**Forced Kin** · 26 March 2012, 06:16 PM

The view on O'Briens from Dubai

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates -- Led by Breeders’ Cup winners St Nicholas Abbey and Wrote, trainer Aidan O’Brien entered five horses Monday as post positions were drawn for eight of the nine races on Saturday’s $27.2 million Dubai World Cup card at Meydan.

Post positions for the $10 million Dubai World Cup -- the world’s richest race -- will be drawn Wednesday. O’Brien is expected to enter So You Think in that race.
The six horses O’Brien shipped here Monday from Ireland for this year’s World Cup program represent more than he’s run in the entire history of the event which began in 1996. O’Brien is winless with only four previous starters in the series.

Monday, O’Brien entered Breeders’ Cup Turf winner St Nicholas Abbey and Grade 1 Secretariat Stakes winner Treasure Beach in the $5 million Sheema Classic at 1 1/2 miles on turf. He also entered Await the Dawn in the $5 million Duty Free, and BC Juvenile Turf winner Wrote and Daddy Long Legs in the UAE Derby.

**Forced Kin** · 26 March 2012, 06:30 PM

Trackwork notes from The Dubai Racing Club,at Meydan ahead of their major meeting, Dubai World Cup night, this Saturday March 31.

Group 1 US$10 million Dubai World Cup, sponsored by Emirates Airline

Eishin Flash – Three of the seven “Team Japan” horses aim at the Group1 US$10 million Dubai World Cup, sponsored by Emirates Airline. Eishin Flash, who was second on his last outing in the Grand Prix Arima Kinen 2011 behind Triple Crown winner Orfevre, did routine work for 1 � laps on the all-weather.
The work rider Kazuo Fujiwara commented, “It was all down to the horse’s connections, everything up to now has been done well, and the travel was smooth as well. He is in a good form.”

So You Think will be taking part in this years Dubai World Cup night

Game on Dude – Winner of the 2011 Santa Anita Handicap, breezed 800m Monday morning at Meydan Racecourse in preparation for the US$10,000,000 Dubai World Cup, sponsored by Emirates Airline on Saturday. The refined bay covered the all-weather surface in 48.51 seconds.
His stablemate, The Factor (a Dubai Golden Shaheen contender), worked 600m in 36.80 soon after. Former assistant trainer to Bob Baffert, Tim Yakteen, oversaw the Monday training.
“Both of them are ready,” Yaktten said. “Bob wanted them to get a feel and stretch their legs a bit. All thumbs up.”
Exercise rider George Alvarez was aboard both Baffert horses Monday morning. Jockey Chantal Sutherland, who has won three graded stakes aboard the gelded son of Awesome Again, is scheduled to ride on Saturday.

Master of Hounds – With nine Dubai World Cup meeting winners to his credit, South African Mike De Kock is by far the most successful international trainer on the world’s richest race night and only Godolphin’s Saeed bin Suroor has trained more on the card (29).
As always, De Kock will be well represented on Saturday and will have a runner in all of the Thoroughbred contests except for the Dubai Golden Shaheen.
He has yet to win the Group 1 US$10million Dubai World Cup, though has saddled both Asiatic Boy and Lizard’s Desire to finish second and this year he relies on Master Of Hounds, a winner on Super Saturday in the Group 1 Jebel Hatta (1800m turf).
Second in last year’s UAE Derby for Aidan O’Brien, Master Of Hounds filled the same berth behind stable companion Musir in Maktoum Challenge I and was then third in both Maktoum Challenge II and the Group 2 Al Fahidi Fort.
His Super Saturday victory was only the second of his career and de Kock said: “The Dubai World Cup was the target when we bought him and his first run in the opening round of the Al Maktoum Challenge was very pleasing. His next two runs were ok and that was a good win last time. With Bold Silvano disappointing on Super Saturday Master Of Hounds is the obvious one to take his place in the big race. He has come out of Super Saturday well and should be capable of a good run in what looks an open renewal.”

Royal Delta - Besilu Stables’ elegant American champion three-year-old filly of 2011 continued what has been a smooth and powerful initial three days of training over Meydan’s all-weather track with an easy gallop over approximately 2,000m (about 1 � miles) on Monday.
Leana Willaford, an assistant to trainer Will Mott, was in the saddle and said she was very pleased with Royal Delta’s efforts. She was very happy,” Willaford reported. “She gets over this track very well – she just cruises over it.”
Unlike many American horses who tend to be pure dirt specialists, Royal Delta has shown she can be versatile by winning a race on the all-weather Polytrack surface at Keeneland Racecourse last year.
Mott, who is famous in Dubai racing as the trainer of inaugural Dubai World Cup winner Cigar, is due to arrive on Tuesday to oversee Royal Delta’s final preparations to make history in the Dubai World Cup. A daughter of Empire Maker bred by the late Saudi Prince Saud bin Khaled’s Palides Investments, Royal Delta is bidding to become the first filly or mare to win the world’s richest race.

Smart Falcon – The seven-year-old son of Gold Allure worked at the trotting ring and cantered for one lap on all-weather track. On the second lap, he was trotting again to get familiarized with the finishing line and grand stand.
The exercise rider Kenta Kotani commented, “He was a little tense and was not relaxed when he worked on the main track yesterday, but he has been much improved mentally today. He eats up well and keeps his good condition.”

So You Think – The powerful contingent from the Ballydoyle stable of Aidan O’Brien trainees arrived safely at Meydan on Monday morning from Ireland. The O’Brien horses were all reported to have travelled well and it is anticipated that they will appear on the track on Wednesday morning.

Transcend – The 2011 Dubai World Cup runner-up walked around the stable area and did not come out at the main track this morning.
Keita Tanaka, Racing Manager and interpreter, commented, “He galloped yesterday, but he was very fresh this morning, which means his condition is good.”

**Forced Kin** · 26 March 2012, 06:30 PM

Group 1 US$5 million Dubai Sheema Classic, sponsored by Longines

Bold Silvano / Mahbooba – Bold Silvano had long been considered a genuine Dubai World Cup hopeful but two below par efforts on the all-weather have forced connections to switch him back to grass and he will take his chance over 2410m in US$5 million Group 1 Dubai Sheema Classic, sponsored by Longines.
Trainer Mike De Kock explained: “We had really thought he was our Dubai World Cup horse but he has not really fired having returned from injury. His Super Saturday run in the All Maktoum Challenge Round III was a big disappointment but he managed to get his tongue over the bit, swallowed some all-weather and was coughing after the race. He is probably better on turf and stays well so the Dubai Sheema Classic looks the right race for him.”

St Nicholas Abbey/Treasure Beach – The powerful contingent from the Ballydoyle stable of Aidan O’Brien trainees arrived safely at Meydan on Monday morning from Ireland. The O’Brien horses were all reported to have travelled well and it is anticipated that they will appear on the track on Wednesday morning.

Group 1 US$5 million Dubai Duty Free, sponsored by Dubai Duty Free

Ambitious Dragon – Hong Kong’s Horse of the Year Ambitious Dragon enjoyed a gentle Monday workout on the all-weather track under Bev Millard, wife of trainer Tony, after quicker hit-out on Sunday morning.
“I just arrived this morning and I was very happy with what I saw. The horse is in great form and has settled in nicely,” trainer Millard said.
“He has a great temperament and he has brought that with him. He had a barrier trial at Sha Tin last week and he went very well in that so I can’t get him any fitter between now and the race.”

Await the Dawn – The powerful contingent from the Ballydoyle stable of Aidan O’Brien trainees arrived safely at Meydan on Monday morning from Ireland. The O’Brien horses were all reported to have travelled well and it is anticipated that they will appear on the track on Wednesday morning.

California Memory – Victorious in the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Cup last December, also remained in the quarantine area as per the instructions of trainer Tony Cruz who reported on the phone from Hong Kong: “My team says that he has travelled well. He is a very experienced horse in that sense and he will do some fast work later in the week when I am present to see it.”

Dark Shadow – The winner of the Group 2 Mainichi Okan at 1,800m, Dark Shadow did a trotting for a lap before he cantered easily on the all-weather track, and then he went to the receiving barn, saddling barn and paddock for schooling for the raceday.

Dubawi Gold – The four-year-old bay colt never struck a blow in the Group 1 Jebel Hatta earlier this month at Meydan when tenth of 14 runners, but the slow pace counted against this habitual late closer.
He covered 1,800 metres on the main track Monday under jockey Pat Dobbs, who was aboard for the first time since the colt arrived in Dubai.
“It was an easy gallop for him,” Dobbs said. “He quickened up towards the end and he feels good. It’s hard to judge when horses work on their own but he is moving well, which is the main thing.”

Musir/Mutahadee – Trainer Mike DeKock has a good record in the Group 1 Dubai Duty Free having won it with Ipi Tombe in 2003 and dead-heater Right Approach in 2004 and looks to hold strong claims again this year with both Musir and Mutahadee in the field.
De Kock said: “Musir was another one we had a few options for with the Godolphin Mile a strong consideration but I have always maintained he is a turf horse so we are running him here.
“Mutahadee has been a revelation throughout the Dubai World Cup Carnival and is a really exciting, but fragile, horse. With more luck on Super Saturday he would have gone very close and hopefully there will be plenty of pace on this week to help him.”

Presvis – Trainer Luca Cumani was on hand to supervise Presvis’s work on the all-weather track ahead of his defence of his crown on Saturday.
“There are five days until the race and he is on course for his run,” Cumani said. “His prep races haven’t been run to suit so hopefully he will get the pace he needs on Saturday and the gaps will come at the right time down the straight.”

Wigmore Hall – The 2011 Dubai Duty Free third placegetter has been out in Dubai since February 29 and prepped for his race by running sixth in the Group 1 Jebel Hatta – a race he had won 12 months earlier.
“He has been out here a while and needed the run last time out,” said his work rider Gillian Dolman. “He was carrying a bit more condition and was heavier going in to the Jebel Hatta but we have seen big improvement in him since then and he needed the run to get here.”

Xtension – Winner of the Group 1 Champions Mile in Hong Kong last year, arrived in Dubai on Saturday morning and was confined to quarantine area under the supervision of trainer John Moore’s son, George.
“He is eating up well and looked bright and happy in the trotting ring here this morning. His jockey Jeff Lloyd is on the way over here now and it looks as if he will be on him on Tuesday for a workout,” said Moore Jr.

**Forced Kin** · 26 March 2012, 06:31 PM

Group 1 US$2 million Dubai Golden Shaheen, sponsored by Gulf News

Giant Ryan – As with all of the American horses, Giant Ryan shipped to Dubai last week and has settled in nicely, according to his owner Shivananda Parbhoo.
“He travelled really good,” said Parbhoo via phone from Florida. “He came out of the plane and the van ride feeling good. They walked him for three days and took him to the track for the first time on Saturday.
“He jogged on the (all-weather) and he seemed to like it,” Parbhoo said of the 6-year-son of Freud, who will be making his synthetic track debut on Saturday. He was schooled in the paddock on Sunday.
Giant Ryan galloped one circuit of the track and jogged another circuit. Trainer Biznath Parboo, the owner’s father, indicated that Giant Ryan would train the same on Tuesday morning and will have a “slight work with the jockey (Willie Martinez)” on board Wednesday.

Hitchens – Trainer David Barron will arrive in Dubai later this week ahead of Hitchens’ fourth run of the year at Meydan. The seven-year-old has been in good form at the Carnival – winning once (Group 3 Al Shindagha Sprint) and finishing second on another two occasions.
“He has taken well to it out here and arrived back on January 7th,” said his work rider Neil Brown. “He is a good horse to take travelling and has improved while he has been here. He likes the all-weather surface and the sun on his back. He just cantered around the track this morning and will stretch his legs on Thursday.”

Lucky Nine – Winner of the Group 1 Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Sprint in December, Lucky Nine seeks to further enhance his reputation as one of the world’s best sprinters and Dale Bussey, senior work rider to trainer Caspar Fownes, described the initial stages of the Dubawi gelding’s sojourn in Dubai as “all going to plan.”
“I was with him when he travelled to Japan last September (where he was second and fifth in a Group 2 and Group 1 respectively) and he seems a more settled and more mature horse now. All the outward signs are that things are well with him and Caspar will be here tomorrow to oversee his preparation until racenight,” Bussey said.

The Factor – Trainer Bob Baffert, who finished second with Euroears in the 2011 Dubai Golden Shaheen, will be reaching for the winner’s share of US$2,000,000 this year with The Factor.
The gray son of War Front has won 6 of 10 starts, including both the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes and the Grade 2 San Carlos Stakes in his last two races at Santa Anita Park.
Tim Yakteen, former assistant trainer to Bob Baffert, was overseeing the Baffert contingent Monday morning at Meydan. notable trainer himself, Yakteen watched as The Factor worked 600 metres minutes after his stable mate, Game on Dude, breezed 800 metres. Yakteen caught The Factor in 48.51 seconds.
“Both of them are ready,” said Yakteen. “Bob wanted them to get a feel and stretch their legs a bit. All thumbs up.”
Exercise rider George Alvarez was aboard both Baffert horses and said: “The Factor handled the track great.”

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