Dubai World Cup
There was a good thread on here before with track notes etc ...
Whats the main GB/IRE interest this year ?
Group 1 US$10m Dubai World Cup sponsored by Emirates Airlines – 2000m (Dirt)
California Chrome (USA) - Garnering the excitement of the onlookers on Wednesday morning, 2014 Horse of the Year California Chrome arrived at the main track at 7am and stood like a statue under exercise rider Dihigy Gladney before stepping out for his 2800m gallop.
“You see these Grade 1 horses,” said Taylor Made Farm’s Frank Taylor, co-owner. “They walk out and they stop and they get that look that’s like 100 miles away. He did that about five times walking over this morning.”
During the 30-minute walk from the quarantine barn to the track California Chrome had some energetic and familiar company walking along beside him.
“This is how I get my exercise today,” said Jockey Victor Espinoza, who arrived in Dubai on Tuesday night. Espinoza also accompanied his mount on his walk back to the stables.
Looking on, assistant trainer Alan Sherman said: “He’s doing great. He’s been eating up well everyday. He loves to train so much it just makes my job easy.”
Trainer Art Sherman appeared to be enjoying the fact that his Kentucky Derby winner was receiving so much attention.
“Everyone is just so happy that he can race another year,” he said. “He’s got a following you can’t believe. I get texts from everywhere, and people put things all over the internet. I’m just so happy to have him back for one more year.”
Hoppertunity (USA) - Aiming to become the third Dubai World Cup winner trained by Bob Baffert, he jogged in the quarantine complex while following a typical Baffert training pattern. Hoppertunity breezed about 800m on Monday, walked in the quarantine area on Tuesday and then resumed light exercise with the jog. Assistant trainer and exercise rider Dana Barnes said the five-year-old would return to galloping at the main track on Thursday.
“We just had a nice, easy day,” Barnes said. He’s doing perfectly.”
Keen Ice (USA) - With assistant trainer and exercise rider Tammy Fox aboard, he galloped once around Meydan's main oval. "He went well," Fox said. "Just looking forward to Saturday."
Gun Pit (AUS) – Trainer Caspar Fownes said: “Just cantered on the dirt this morning. He’s in great shape.”
Frosted (USA) – Galloped 2400m at Marmoom. "He's fresh, fit and ready to go," trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said.
McLaughlin, who is based in New York, has plotted out a later course leading up to the Breeders' Cup Classic that includes runs in the Suburban, Whitney and Jockey Club Gold Cup.
"Some people believe that racing in Dubai can be difficult on horses, but from my experience that isn't the case at all," McLaughlin said. "Invasor is a perfect example. The year before he won the Dubai World Cup, he finished fourth in the UAE Derby, and less than two months later, he won the Pimlico Special, then the Suburban, Whitney and Breeders' Cup Classic consecutively. Horses that have issues with the return to the States probably already had those same issues when they were in Dubai."
Mshawish (USA) - After arriving in Dubai on Tuesday, leading American trainer Todd Pletcher greeted Mshawish and seemed delighted with his strong gallop around the Meydan dirt track.
“He looks exactly like I hoped he would, and like (assistant trainer) Ginny (DePasquale) and (exercise rider) Nick (Bush) have been describing and sharing in videos they have sent. We’re really pleased with the way he shipped and the way he settled in and with the way he looks and the way he is moving,” Pletcher said. “He enjoys his job and it’s good to see his energy level and his enthusiasm equal to what it was at home.
“I think he is doing as well as he can do, and the trip and everything has gone as smoothly as we could hope for so we’re excited about our chances.”
While riding off the track, Bush had a single word to describe how Mshawish felt during his gallop: “Wow!”
Teletext (USA) – For the third day running, Saudi Arabia’s representative in the world’s richest race did nothing more than light exercise in the quarantine area on Wednesday morning.
Trainer Sami Al Harabi, who is looking forward to saddling his first runner in the UAE, reported: “He’s in very good form and I am happy with his preparation.”
Al Harabi revealed that he is planning to take Teletext, who began his racing career in France but has proved himself the best middle-distance horse in his adopted country this season, to the main Meydan track on Thursday but work watchers will need an early alarm call to catch sight of him, as his start time is expected to be 4am.
Vadamos (FR) - Remained inside the quarantine centre following his gallop on Tuesday. Richard Lambert, travelling head lad for the Andre Fabre yard, said: “Vadamos worked yesterday, so this morning we just walked him in the quarantine yard. He wasn’t ridden, we just led him, which is normal procedure after our horses worked.”