Wednesday, trackwork notes
Group 1 Dubai World Cup sponsored by Emirates Airline
Frankie Dettori is looking forward to the opportunity to write a glorious final chapter to the Dubai element of his storied riding career, with defending World Cup champion Country Grammer headlining a book of seven rides on the card.
A repeat of last year’s success was rendered considerably more complicated by Wednesday night’s post-position draw, with Country Grammer berthed in stall 14 of 15.
“It obviously looks a very competitive race,” said Dettori, who undoubtedly feels a greater weight of expectation than when climbing aboard Country Grammer for the first time twelve months ago.
“Beforehand last year we thought that Life Is Good was unbeatable and he probably was until the furlong pole – and then he just collapsed.
“This year there’s more strength in depth. There’s eight Japanese runners, multiple Group 1 winners and a big field. One thing for sure with Country Grammer is that he’s all about leaving everything on the track. You know he’s going to run until the end so I couldn’t ask for a better companion.
“It’s not going to be easy and stall 14 is not ideal. I spoke to Amir Zedan last night and just said that it is what it is. We can’t change it now so let’s get on with it and see how the race unfolds.”
Dettori added: “I can’t really say a bad word about Country Grammer because if you look at his form he’s all guts, he’s a proper horse.
“The way that he ran in the San Antonio Stakes (at Santa Anita on Boxing Day), he was just sharp and was easy. I was outpaced around the turn and I thought I was in trouble, but the same as last year in the World Cup, he just doesn’t know how to give up.
“Sometimes he runs out of runway but you just know that he’s going to give you everything he’s got.”
Victory for Country Grammer would be a fifth in the Dubai World Cup for trainer Bob Baffert, whose assistant Jimmy Barnes reported: “He had a routine gallop early this morning. He came out of Monday’s work well and we are happy how he looks today.”
The three heavily-favoured horses in the lineup all drew outside, though Simon Crisford, joint-trainer of Algiers (stall 13) is concentrating on the form of his charge.
“He’s trained fantastic going into the race and we’re very pleased with him,” Crisford told a media conference at the track. “He’s spot on in terms of his racing weight and moving and eating well. He’s very chilled and relaxed and loves this racetrack. I couldn’t be happier with him.”
Jockey Joao Moreira rode against his Dubai World Cup mount Cafe Pharoah in a track gallop on Wednesday, instead partnering his Dubai Turf-bound stablemate Danon Beluga. Moreira said this morning that he was thrilled with both Noriyuki Hori-trained horses heading into Saturday.
Of Cafe Pharoah, he said: “We’re going to find out on Saturday whether he will run out 2,000m but his run in the Saudi Cup was very good, I couldn’t have been happier without winning. It’s the World Cup, it’s the best of the best, but he’s one of the top contenders from Japan. He deserves his chance.”
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Group 1 Dubai Turf, sponsored by DP World
What was surely the last of the week’s significant breezes on the main turf track belonged to the John and Thady Gosden trio of contenders; Lord North, Mosthadaf and Trawlerman.
“I love Lord North to bits,” said Dettori after partnering the Meydan hat-trick seeker. “He has his problems but he always turns up at the right time! I rode him this morning and he seems in good form.”
Joint-trainer Thady Gosden added: “He’s been there and done it here before and I’m happy with how he comes into this year’s race compared to the last two years when he has won it.”
Shirl’s Speight has enjoyed an atypical build-up to his challenge, with the Canada-based six-year-old having arrived early at Meydan following after finishing the down the field in Japan’s February Stakes.
“He has been here since the end of February having come here from Japan when he wasn’t at his best on the dirt track in Tokyo,” explained his trainer, Roger Attfield. “Back on turf from what looks a good draw in two he will race better, I feel. He’s very settled here and he breezed well on the turf for his jockey Antonio Fresu last weekend.
“His best form is over a mile but going a mile-and-and-eighth is within his capabilities. I’m hoping he can stalk the pace and he can quicken well. It looks a very hot race but he’s in good shape.”
Musabbeh Al Mheiri fields Alfareeq in the turf and also runs Raaeb (Godolphin Mile), Danyah (Al Quoz Sprint) and Lahresh (UAE Derby).
He said: “I am very happy with all of my runners going into Saturday’s meeting.”
Danon Beluga had an easy morning following a testing gallop on Wednesday – in company with Dubai World Cup contender Cafe Pharoah – with jockey Joao Moreira in the saddle.Moreira said this morning: “He is unexposed which I see as a positive. He hasn’t got too much mileage in his legs. He’s a fresh horse and he’s going into Saturday’s race very well.
“He seems to be a bit immature from what I felt yesterday morning but I think that’s OK because he’s going to get every chance from gate four. I think he is one of my best rides on Saturday, I really believe he has a great winning chance.”
It was the same with Group 1 Mile Championship winner Serifos, coming off a breeze under Damian Lane on Wednesday.Lane said: “It feels as though they are more relaxed and settled when they are here compared to when they are in Japan. He felt really well, he was really smooth and I think gate five is ideal. We should have every opportunity from there.”
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Group 1 Longines Dubai Sheema Classic
Also among the Gosden team’s turf breezers was Mostahdaf, who has yet to crack Group 1 company from limited opportunities in the 2021 St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot and the 2022 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, but who earned plenty of rave reviews when making a winning return to action last month.
“The way he won in Riyadh [by seven lengths in the Neom Turf Cup] was beyond our expectations but we always hoped a big performance like that was in him,” said joint-trainer Thady Gosden.
“He is up to 12 furlongs [2,400 metres] now but he has won in Group company at that trip back home. I think he is in the much the same form as Saudi but this is a very strong race.”
Celebrating his actual fourth birthday on Thursday, Equinox paraded in front of the world’s media, seemingly enjoying the lights, the cameras and the hum of excitement generated by his appearance.
Caspar Fownes was grinning from ear to ear as he watched his hulking grey Senor Toba work on the main track at Meydan. The trainer said: “He’s had a bit of mucus since arriving and it’s taken him a bit of a while to get that out of his system. Today is the first day I’ve thought he’s been truly right since he’s come over here and now it’s just a matter of getting him to Saturday.”
Added jockey Frankie Dettori: “I was supposed to ride Emily Upjohn but when she came out, Caspar rang me up and asked me to ride his horse and I am honoured to ride for someone I consider to be a dear friend.”
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Group 1 Dubai Golden Shaheen sponsored by Nakheel
Jun Park, co-owner of Sibelius, said: “We flew in Tuesday and this entire experience so far has been fantastic. Having been on the other side of things hustling the Korea Cup, it is funny being the one being looked after. This is what we dream of, having a horse in a race like this, and we love the way he is doing.”
Trainer Jeremiah O’Dwyer added: “We have been drawn low in the majority of his races so we are ok with the number one post. Obviously we will have to ride him out of there but we think he can work out a good trip.”