Two of Japan's leading dirt candidates for Saturday's feature meeting headlined a pre-dawn trackwork session at Meydan Wednesday morning, with last year's Group 1 Dubai World Cup runner-up Chuwa Wizard shaded by young upstart Combustion, who contests the Group 2 UAE Derby.
The Ryuji Okubo-trained Chuwa Wizard, ridden by raceday partner Yuga Kawada, is a veteran of the Meydan dirt, while Combustion will become the maiden runner at the Dubai World Cup meeting for Godolphin's Japanese operation with jockey William Buick getting his first feel for the three-year-old.
President of Godolphin Japan Harry Sweeney expressed reservations about Listed Hyacinth Stakes winner Combustion handling the different Meydan surface to the sandier Japanese tracks.
“He's had a successful juvenile career and he established a new track record in the Hyacinth last start, so he's definitely a horse with talent in Japan,” Sweeney said. “Most Japanese Group races are on turf though and so we may not have the confidence that we would have with a top-class turf runner as a dirt runner. It's sand really in Japan, so it's a little bit different from here and it can be much deeper. We will be interested today to see how he handles the dirt at speed with William aboard.
“His Highness Sheikh Mohammed is excited to have a horse of his from Japan racing here, it fulfils his long-held global ambitions. For a horse of this calibre, the options on dirt are limited in Japan and so it was an obvious option.”
Minutes later, Combustion left little doubt that he was suited to the Meydan dirt with a sizzling gallop that left Chuwa Wizard in the dust, giving Buick confidence that the Keizo Ito trainee will be a big contender in the UAE Derby.
“That was something, he went better than Chuwa Wizard!” the grinning Norwegian said. “I couldn't be happier, he's taken to the track well. It wasn't a breeze to find out how fast he is but I am more confident about him now, especially off that good win at Tokyo.
“He's definitely a natural on the surface and he's got a change of pace on it which is key.”
Okubo, though, was bullish after Chuwa Wizard's work, believing that his last-start win in the Kawasaki Kinen – a local Grade 1 on the minor NAR circuit – was a better lead-in this time around.
“This time, Chuwa Wizard has travelled overseas before and so it is something he is familiar with,” Okubo said. “I was a little bit worried after he lost weight on the trip over, but now I think he is in similar condition to last year. Last year, he went to Riyadh for the Saudi Cup before coming to Dubai and that didn't suit him, the ground wasn't right for him and the one-turn 1800m didn't allow him to show his best.
“We saw last year that the two turns of the Dubai World Cup was more suitable and I think the Kawasaki Kinen will help him to produce his best here.”
Chuwa Wizard drew gate three at Tuesday's post position draw, the same barrier as last year.
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