Seemar landed the $12-million G1 Dubai World Cup with the Juddmonte-owned Laurel River (Into Mischief), a victory that crowned a memorable season for the trainer given he landed a second UAE trainers' championship title.

However, pastures new beckon for Seemar, who explained that his large string will be better suited to the new facility. 

“To leave Zabeel with a Dubai World Cup as well as both the trainers' and jockeys' championship was the crowning glory,” the trainer told The National newspaper. 

“It was a good send-off and it was beautiful. I have spent 21 memorable years [there] but life has to move on. They are still putting in everything that we've had in Zabeel. So, there's a lot of work going on there. 

“It's going to be a wonderful facility. Green Stable is the biggest stable at Meydan. We have a large number of horses and that's the most suitable stable. I'm thankful they've offered this to us.”

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What Classic clues may we glean there? Well, maybe none. But I liked the look of Narkez (Fr), who gave his rivals a six-length walloping in the Prix Comrade last Tuesday, picking up where he left off after winning at Clairefontaine last October. Bred by Nurlan Bizakov under his Sumbe banner, the colt represents that magic Siyouni (Fr)-Galileo (Ire) cross, though let's face it, Galileo mares work well all over the place. Narkez, trained by Andre Fabre, has helped to give his owner a great start to the season following the Listed win of Charyn (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) in the Doncaster Mile. 

One person who is entitled to love Siyouni more than most is Peter Brant, who celebrated his first European Classic victory when Sottsass (Fr) won the Prix du Jockey Club before going on to deliver the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe for Brant as well. We're looking forward to seeing his first runners emerge this season, but in the meantime Brant looks to have another decent prospect by Siyouni on his hands in the form of Louise Procter (Fr). Trained by Jean-Claude Rouget, she became the second TDN Rising Star of the week for her sire when remaining unbeaten in her third start in the Prix du Belvedere at Chantilly on Thursday. She looks smart and has the entries to match. 

Making Dreams (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}) kept up her trainer Karl Burke's great strike-rate in French stakes races by winning the G3 Prix Penelope by six lengths on her seasonal debut at Saint-Cloud. She is another who should enter considerations for the Classics, as should the Prix Caracalla winner Mister Gatz (Fr), who was born in the spring in which his sire Adlerflug (Ger) died. The flashy chestnut colt was somewhat reminiscent of his father as he bowled around the lush Parisian turf looking like he was having a mighty time before putting his head down to stride clear of the field by five lengths. Trained in Deauville by Stephanie Nigge for a collection of owners which includes his breeder Mathieu Boutin and Gerard Augustin-Normand, Mister Gatz holds an entry for the Deutsches Derby. 

O'Shea Shines on Dubai's Big Day

Of course last week, or more specifically Saturday, was really all about the Dubai World Cup meeting at Meydan which could certainly be considered a triumph for internationalism. The trophies for the eight Group races were shared between horses trained in America, Ireland, Hong Kong, Japan, France, Britain and Dubai (x2).

It was also a great advertisement for keeping classy horses in training beyond the age of three. The winners of the five Group 1 contests were aged between five and seven, with Jerome Reynier's Dubai Turf winner Facteur Cheval (Ire) (Ribchester {Ire}) being the youngest of those, and the wide-margin Golden Shaheen winner, the former Russian-trained Tuz (Oxbow), enjoying his finest hour as a seven-year-old on his fourth appearance on Dubai World Cup night. 

Tuz and the Dubai World Cup winner Laurel River (Into Mischief) won their races in a manner which must still have their trainer Bhupat Seemar and jockey Tadhg O'Shea blinking in disbelief. By six and a half and eight and a half lengths respectively, they each set a new record for the winning distance, with Laurel River, who broke from the outside gate, overturning that held by Dubai Millennium (GB) for 24 years. 

O'Shea, now 42, has been champion jockey in the UAE 11 times and he is in pole position to claim his 12th title this season. But despite that consistent success, the Irishman had a sole Group 1 victory to his name until Saturday.

A modest and loyal grafter, O'Shea praised Laurel River's owner Juddmonte for keeping him on the horse, saying, “They could have any jockey in the world on him and they kept the faith with me. I'll be forever indebted to them.”

Juddmonte didn't need any other jockey to claim a second Dubai World Cup after Arrogate's victory in 2017. O'Shea, bold from the outset from the number 12 stall, simply rode his rivals ragged and very much deserved his night in the spotlight. 

The Auguste Enigma

The last three winners of the Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) were all in action over the weekend, with Shahryar (Jpn) a good second in the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic, which also featured the last two Japanese Oaks winners Liberty Island (Jpn) and Stars On Earth (Jpn), while Do Deuce (Jpn) was not beaten far when fifth in the G1 Dubai Turf. Lest we think that Japan is completely depleted of its best runners during the big meetings in the Middle East, then look no further than Sunday's G1 Osaka Hai at Hanshin. It featured last year's Japanese Derby and 2,000 Guineas winners, Tastiera (Jpn) and Sol Oriens (Jpn), along with Geoglyph (Jpn), who beat Equinox (Jpn) to win the Guineas in 2022, and the G1 Shuka Sho winner of that same year, Stunning Rose (Jpn).

So much of the Sheema Classic build-up had centred on the clash between Liberty Island and Auguste Rodin (Ire), but the latter, who won last year's Derby and Irish Derby before going on to land the Irish Champion and Breeders' Cup Turf, added to his enigmatic status by finishing last of the 12 runners. 

Don't despair. When 12th in the Guineas on debut last season, Auguste Rodin bounced back to win at Epsom, and he put his last-place finish in the King George behind him to triumph next time out on Irish Champions Weekend. This column, at least, still holds the faith that when he's good, he's very, very good. 

Epsom's honour was however upheld in Sydney over the weekend, where the 2020 Derby winner Serpentine (Ire) claimed his second consecutive stakes win for Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott in the G3 Neville Selwood S. 

It's Whitsbury's World

It is important not to get too carried away with the early two-year-old races. Despite the annual hullabaloo over Royal Ascot, nothing really matters until the autumn, right? But it's impossible not to watch the early skirmishes with interest and Whitsbury Manor Stud's Sergei Prokofiev was represented by his second winner from just two runners when Flicka's Girl triumphed at Wolverhampton on Easter Monday. The David Loughnane-trained filly was also bred by Whitsbury Manor and sold, as is the stud's usual practice, at the Tattersalls December Foal Sale for 22,000gns.

Britain's other juvenile race on Monday over at Kempton went the way of Pont Neuf (Ire) (Cotai Glory {GB}), a winner on debut for Eve Johnston Houghton, who also struck with the two-year-old Tanager (GB) (Havana Gold {Ire}) at Chelmsford on Good Friday. 

The trainer has a well established partnership with bloodstock agent Anthony Bromley of Highflyer Bloodstock when it comes to working the sales and the pair has once again unearthed a couple of useful looking prospects for 24,000gns (Tattersalls Somerville) and €22,000 (Tattersalls Ireland) respectively.

Johnson Houghton has made a flying start to the new season with four winners and three placed horses from nine runners since the official 'start of the Flat'.

Jack Came Back

It was announced last week that Ben Curtis, who was been riding at Fair Grounds in New Orleans over the winter, would remain in America for “the foreseeable future” after riding 43 winners and netting more than $1.5 million in prize-money.

Last September, Curtis had ridden his 1,000th winner aboard Merrijig (GB) (Schiaparelli {Ger}) and as that horse resumed on Good Friday, the absent Curtis was replaced in the saddle by Jack Gilligan, who has recently returned after a decade in the US and now has Curtis's former agent Simon Dodds representing him.

Merrijig was the first of two winners for Gilligan from three rides on Good Friday, and the jockey struck again 24 hours later on his sole ride at Wolverhampton. 

Not to be confused with the Irish conditional of the same name, Gilligan was born in Newmarket but left Britain at the age of 17 with his parents Pat, a racing writer and trainer, and Vicky, a barn foreman at WinStar Farm. With more than 400 wins in America, including two Grade III victories aboard Silver Dust (Tapit), he has been making the most of the opportunities handed to him since returning to his home town.

There are not many names in the jockeys' table with a better strike-rate than Gilligan so far this year. He is currently operating at 20% winners to rides. Backing all of his 45 mounts would have yielded a profit of almost £43 to a £1 stake.

Pecheur Swaps Roles for Rottgen

German Classic-winning jockey Maxim Pecheur retired at the end of last season to succeed Markus Klug as the trainer at Gestut Rottgen near Cologne. He had previously ridden Windstoss (Ger) (Shirocco {Ger}) in the famous Rottgen colours to win the 2017 G1 Deutsches Derby. The colt was trained by Klug, as was Pecheur's G1 Preis der Diana winner, Diamanta (Ger) (Maxios {GB}), for Gestut Brummerhof. 

Pecheur is clearly adjusting well to his new role at the historic training centre and he could well have a Derby contender of his own this year after his first runner, Anspruch (Ger) (New Bay {GB}), won on debut at Cologne on Monday. The Rottgen-bred colt is out of the Group 3 winner Anna Katharina (Ger) (Kallisto {Ger}).

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It's entirely possible that Juddmonte's Laurel River (Into Mischief) managed to upstage him Saturday with an absolutely stunning, front-running tour-de-force in the $12-million G1 Dubai World Cup at Meydan, a result that even those closest to him may not have anticipated.

Winner of the 2022 GII Pat O'Brien S.–where a horse called Senor Buscador (Mineshaft) was third–Laurel River was somewhat controversially withdrawn from that year's GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile, a race for which he was likely to be favored. Sidelined for a spell, Juddmonte elected to transfer their homebred from Bob Baffert to the Dubai-based stable of leading trainer Bhupat Seemar in the summer of 2023.

To say things were off to an inauspicious beginning in the Emirates would be an understatement of monumental proportions. Laurel River faded tamely to finish seventh in the G3 Al Shindagha Sprint on local debut in late January, but as disappointing as that effort was, he bounced back to post an equally emphatic 6 3/4-length victory in the G3 Burj Nahaar on Super Saturday to punch his ticket to World Cup night.

Conventional wisdom dictates that winning the Burj Nahaar leads to a start in the G2 Godolphin Mile over the same course and distance on the big night, but Seemar and the Juddmonte braintrust called an audible and routed the six-year-old to the G1 Dubai World Cup instead: a race 12 times as valuable, but incrementally more challenging on a few levels, not least the 2000-metre distance of the race. Additionally, the Godolphin Mile was likely to attract the speedy Saudi Crown (Always Dreaming) and defending champion Isolate (Mark Valeski), and opting for the World Cup would eliminate the possibility of a suicidal pace duel.

“I feel like the 10 furlongs is a stretch for him, but that is a speed-favoring track and he might be the lone speed,” Juddmonte's Garrett O'Rourke told the TDN when World Cup plans were confirmed Mar. 7.

After drawing 12 of 12 at Wednesday's barrier draw at the Armani Hotel in the Burj Khalifa, many would have further downgraded the chances of Laurel River, reasoning that a horse already questionable to see out the trip would have to go hard–perhaps too hard–in order to secure the front. After all, another speedball–Panthalassa (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn})–had similar misfortune at the draw last year and dropped away to finish well down the field.

But there would be no such repeat Saturday evening, as Laurel River decisively surged into a clear lead with a half-mile to travel and went on to score by 8 1/2 lengths, the largest margin of victory in a World Cup at Meydan.

“I'm still coming to terms with what's happened,” Seemar said. “I think it'll probably sink in in another day or two. It's absolutely amazing. [Jockey] Tadhg [O'Shea] said this morning 'we're drawn 12, I'm not going to be two-minded about it, I'm going to go forward.'”

And go forward he did, sliding over to lead three off the inside with a circuit to travel as he had Military Law (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Dura Erede (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}) for early company. As they turned towards the backstretch, Defunded (Dialed In) circled up so as not to sit wide the trip, and the two of them controlled the pace through the middle stages.

They put the better part of a half-dozen lengths on Dura Erede and the rail-skimming international favorite Kabirkhan (California Chrome) rounding the turn, and by the time Laurel River passed the 600-meter pole, it was really all over but the shouting. Showing no signs of stopping as he hit the top of the lane, Laurel River opened up by perhaps as many as 10 lengths  and jogged it in from there.

Senor Buscador got first run on defending champion Ushba Tesoro (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}), but was run down on the wire for second while adding another $1.2 million to his $10-million grab in the G1 Saudi Cup Feb. 24.

“He brings it every time, he ran a really good race,” said trainer Todd Fincher. “He might have started his run a little early trying to catch Laurel River and maybe that cost us a placing. Hats off to Laurel River, he freaked on everybody there.”

Of the winner, Seemar added, “”He's got so much natural pace. He comes out of the gate and this is why we ran him over six furlongs [in the Al Shindagha].

“Tadhg was able to get some easy fractions and then I saw Defunded coming on his outside but he just kept on going further. I expected to see all the closers flying at him but he kept going.”

For the better part of two decades, O'Shea has pounded the pavement on the Emirates Racing Authority, and he was basking in the afterglow of his Saturday achievements. He also guided Tuz (Oxbow) to an open-lengths success in the G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen, his second in three years after missing by a nostril with defending champion Switzerland in 2023.

“I've been fortunate enough to have had Dubai World Cup night winners but you don't get many opportunities and I'm going to be forever grateful to Juddmonte for keeping me on the horse, they could use anyone and they're a worldwide operation that's really successful,” said O'Shea.

“When he had his first run for the stable, we thought he'd disappointed, but we never lost faith. He was explosive last time and I said the other morning to Bhupat, I pulled him aside and said I'd never ridden a horse with his ability ever. And he'd just done an easy work on his own.

“With the dirt you can't be half-hearted, you have to go forward. If he didn't stay, he didn't stay. We were aware of that. The main thing that won the race, it's easy to say when you win, but I was able to keep filling him up and filling him up.”

Kabirkhan sat a good inside trip, but failed to go on in the lane and finished eighth, beaten over 18 lengths.

“He was beaten a long way out,” commented his jockey Pat Dobbs. “I knew leaving the back straight he wasn't the same horse as before.”

Of the remaining Americans, Newgate (Into Mischief), Crupi (Curlin) and Clapton (Brethren) finished a distant eighth, ninth and 10th, respectively.

Pedigree Notes:

Laurel River is the 20th Grade I winner for Into Mischief and is bred on the same cross over Empire Maker responsible for 'TDN Rising Star' and GI Kentucky Derby winner Mandaloun, while other top-level winners from Fappiano-line mares include champion Covfeve, Gina Romantica, Doppelganger and Atone. Additional stakes winners by Into Mischief out of Empire Maker dams include Grade III scorers Occult and Center Aisle and Juddmonte's late Taraz.

On paper, Laurel River is bred to stay the mile and quarter and perhaps further, as his first two dams are by Belmont S. winners. Juddmonte purchased Laurel River's second dam Soothing Touch for $550,000 at the 2005 Keeneland September sale, and while she didn't work out as a racemare, she's excelled in the breeding shed.

The mare is the dam of six winners from 10 to race, including her first foal Emollient (Empire Maker), victorious in the 2013 GI Central Bank Ashland S. and the Juddmonte-sponsored GI Spinster, and her four winners as a broodmare include G2 Prix de Malleret winner Raclette (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and French listed winner Ardent (Frankel {GB}).  Soothing Touch has also accounted for Hofburg (Tapit), a stakes winner and third in the GI Belmont S; and stakes winner Courtier (Tapit).

The second foal from Soothing Touch, Laurel River has a 2-year-old half-sister by Constitution, a yearling half-brother by that son of Tapit and produced a full-sister to Laurel River four days after his victory in the Burj Nahaar.

Saturday, Meydan, Dubai
DUBAI WORLD CUP SPONSORED BY EMIRATES AIRLINE-G1, AED12,000,000, Meydan, 3-30, 3yo/up, 10f, 2:02.31, fs.
1–LAUREL RIVER, 126, h, 6, by Into Mischief
                1st Dam: Calm Water, by Empire Maker
                2nd Dam: Soothing Touch, by Touch Gold
                3rd Dam: Glia, by A.P. Indy
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O-Juddmonte; B-Juddmonte Farms Inc
(KY); T-Bhupat Seemar; J-Tadhg O'Shea. $6,960,000. Lifetime
Record: GSW-US, 10-6-1-0-1, $7,470,676. Click for the
free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Werk Nick
Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus*. Click for the
eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Ushba Tesoro (Jpn), 126, h, 7, Orfevre (Jpn)–Millefeui Attach
(Jpn), by King Kamehameha (Jpn). (¥25,000,000 Wlg '17
JRHAJUL). O-Ryotokuji Kenji Holdings Co Ltd; B-Chiyoda Farm
Shizunai (JPN); T-Noboru Takagi. $2,400,000.
3–Senor Buscador, 126, h, 6, Mineshaft–Rose's Desert, by
Desert God. O-Sharaf Mohammed Al Hariri & Joe R Peacock Jr;
B-Joe Peacock Sr & Joe Peacock Jr (KY); T-Todd W Fincher.
$1,200,000.
Margins: 8HF, NK, 4 3/4.
Also Ran: Wilson Tesoro (Jpn), Dura Erede (Jpn), Derma Sotogake (Jpn), Defunded, Kabirkhan, Newgate, Crupi, Clapton, Military Law (GB). Click for the ERA chart & video.

WOW! #7 LAUREL RIVER dominates the $12 million Dubai World Cup (G1) in front-running fashion!

The @JuddmonteFarms homebred was perfectly ridden by @OsheaTadhg for trainer Satish Seemar. Congratulations to the connections! pic.twitter.com/NYZEeSYF7m

— TVG (@TVG) March 30, 2024

The post Juddmonte Juggernaut! Laurel River Wins Dubai World Cup By An Imposing Margin appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Tuz won three starts at Pyatigorsk Hippodrome by the better part of 50 lengths was making his fourth straight appearance on World Cup night, finishing well-beaten in the G2 Godolphin Mile in 2021 and 2022 before finishing seventh in last year's Golden Shaheen. Victorious on that occasion was Sibelius (Not This Time), who just outfinished the Bhupat Seemar-trained defending champion Switzerland (Speightstown).

A disappointing 10th to the re-opposing Remake (Jpn) (Lani) when last seen in the G3 Riyadh Dirt Sprint Feb. 24, having previously impressed in the G3 Dubawi S. over course and distance Jan. 5, Tuz bounced well from gate two beneath Tadhg O'Shea and fought out the early fractions with the 1305-pound Japanese monster Don Frankie (Jpn) (Daiwa Major {Jpn}), with Colour Up (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) close in tow.

Somewhat hesitant to take a gap inside of Don Frankie, who set the pace from the two path, Tuz pinned his ears, went through the hole at the fence and powered home to a comprehensive success. Nakatomi (Firing Line), third in last year's GI Breeders' Cup Sprint, was last into the straight, but finished willingly for third ahead of a slow-starting Remake.

“He's got so much natural speed; his weapon is his speed,” said Seemar. “He's always been a fast horse and it's like Switzerland–he ran poorly in Saudi and then won the Shaheen. Sprinters mature and they know what to do. I had some confidence.”

Added O'Shea: Winning jockey Tadhg O'Shea said: “He's very fast. We had a great gate number [two] but we were getting pressured a long way out. He had to be good and tough. There wasn't much room to manoeuvre down the inside, but I had a good, willing partner. He's a big horse. When he straightened up, he went through the eye of a needle. I was a length down off Cristian [Demuro] on the home turn. I gave [Tuz] a squeeze and the response was immediate.”

Pedigree Notes:
With the victory, Tuz becomes the second elite-level winner for his sire, whose GI Pennsylvania Derby-winning son Hot Road Charlie was runner-up to Country Grammer in the 2022 G1 Dubai World Cup.
Bluegrass Hall acquired dam Suede Shoe, a daughter of Grade II winner Grande Melody, for $42,000 carrying to U S Ranger at the 2012 Keeneland November Sale and Tuz, who sold for just $7,000 at Keeneland September in 2018, is one of five winners from seven winners to race from the mare. The third dam Crystal Melody was a half-sister to G1 Fillies' Mile winner Crystal Music (Nureyev).
Suede Shoe is also the dam of the 3-year-old filly Vive La Vie (Demarchelier {GB}) and was most recently covered by Caracaro.

Saturday, Meydan, Dubai
DUBAI GOLDEN SHAHEEN SPONSORED BY NAKHEEL-G1, AED2,000,000, Meydan, 3-30, 3yo/up, 6f, 1:10.19, fs.
1–TUZ, 126, g, 7, by Oxbow
                1st Dam: Suede Shoe, by Pulpit
                2nd Dam: Grande Melody (Ire), by Grand Lodge
                3rd Dam: Crystal Melody (GB), by Nureyev
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. ($7,000 Ylg '18 KEESEP). O-Dakki Stable;
B-Calumet Farm (KY); T-Bhupat Seemar; J-Tadhg O'Shea.
AED1,160,000. Lifetime Record: 19-6-3-4, $1,581,629. Click for
   the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Werk Nick
   Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Don Frankie (Jpn), 126, h, 5, Daiwa Major (Jpn)–
Weemissfrankie, by Sunriver. 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE.
(¥68,000,000 Wlg '19 JRHAJUL). O-Makoto Hayano; B-
Northern Racing (JPN); T-Takashi Saito. $400,000.
3–Nakatomi, 126, g, 5,  Firing Line–Applelicious, by Flatter.
($18,000 Wlg '19 KEENOV; $25,000 Ylg '20 FTKOCT; $205,000
HRA '23 FTKHRA). O-Qatar Racing LLC and Hay, Mrs. Fitriani;
B-Arnold Zetcher LLC & Crestwood Farm (KY); T-Wesley Ward.
$200,000.
Margins: 6HF, 3/4, 1 1/4.
Also Ran: Remake (Jpn), Igniter (Jpn), Leading Spirit (Ire), Run Classic, Mouheeb, Keiai Dorie (Jpn), Bold Journey, Sibelius, Hopkins, Freedom Fighter, Colour Up (Ire).
Click for the ERA chart & video.

A daylight victory for #14 TUZ, who romps home in the $2 million Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1). @OsheaTadhg in the irons for trainer Satish Seemar. pic.twitter.com/4QJgHjX0aO

— TVG (@TVG) March 30, 2024

The post Oxbow’s Tuz Springs the Upset in Dubai Golden Shaheen, Sibelius Off the Board appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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The main event has attracted a field of 15 that is led by its defending champion Ushba Tesoro (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}), one of 24 runners set to ship in from Japan for the meeting. Looking to become the first 7-year-old World Cup winner since Gloria de Campeao (Brz) back in 2010 and just the third overall, the recent G1 Saudi Cup runner-up is joined by three compatriots, including last year's G2 UAE Derby hero Derma Sotogake (Jpn) (Mind Your Biscuits). The American challenge numbers five and is topped by Saudi Cup upsetter Senor Buscador (Mineshaft) and GI Santa Anita H. hero Newgate (Into Mischief) for four-time World Cup winner Bob Baffert, while the exciting Kabirkhan (California Chrome) has been the talking horse of the Dubai International Racing Carnival and the G1 Al Maktoum Challenge victor will have his supporters to become a first World Cup winner for perennial leading trainer Doug Watson. Laurel River (Into Mischief) won the G3 Burj Nahaar over a mile on Super Saturday Mar. 2, but opts for the World Cup over the Godolphin Mile for trainer Bhupat Seemar.

The $6-million G1 Longines Dubai Sheema Classic, won in imperious fashion by Equinox (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}) last March, was the second highest-rated race in the world in 2023, and if the field assembled for this renewal is any indication, it could go one better. A likely field of 12 has been revealed, fully 10 of which have succeeded at Group 1 level, and features a mouth-watering clash between G1 Betfred Derby, G1 Irish Derby and GI Breeders' Cup Turf hero Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) and Japanese Triple Tiara winner Liberty Island (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}). Japan is also represented by 2022 Sheema Classic victor Shahryar (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), while Emily Upjohn (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) is set to make her first appearance beyond the borders of the UK and is one of four on the evening for John and Thady Gosden. Godolphin sends out Rebel's Romance (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), impressive in taking out the Listed HH The Amir Trophy in Qatar last month.

Lord North (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) also represents the Clarehaven operation as he goes in search of an unprecedented fourth victory in a row in the G1 Dubai Turf, where he squares off with G1 Arima Kinen hero Do Deuce (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}), the would-be 2023 favourite who was scratched leading up to the race. Also in the field is Lord North's hard-knocking stable companion Nashwa (GB) (Frankel {GB}); Godolphin's progressive G1 Jebel Hatta winner Measured Time (GB) (Frankel {GB}); treble elite-level scorer Luxembourg (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) for Aidan O'Brien; and Hong Kong's Voyage Bubble (Aus) (Deep Field {Aus}), victorious in this year's G1 Stewards Cup at Sha Tin.

Godolphin's Siskany (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) will look to avenge a tough defeat in the G2 Dubai Gold Cup, where he'll surely face a stiff challenge from recent G3 Longines Red Sea Turf H. winner Tower of London (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and runner-up Enemy (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}); G2 British Champions Long Distance Cup conqueror Trawlerman (Ire) (Golden Horn {GB}); and G2 Yorkshire Cup winner Giavellotto (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {GB}).

Danyah (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) proved a somewhat unlikely winner of the 2023 G1 Al Quoz Sprint for local trainer Musabbeh Al Mheiri and will have to dig deep if he is to defend against the Jamie Osborne-trained veteran Emaraaty Ana (GB) (Shamardal), a recent winner in Qatar; the nails-tough US raider Casa Creed (Jimmy Creed); Annaf (Ire) (Muhaarar {GB}), so game up the rail to scoop the G2 1351 Turf Sprint Feb. 24; Hong Kong's G1 Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup winner California Spangle (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}); and the 3-year-old fillies Star of Mystery (GB) (Kodiac {GB}) and Frost At Dawn (Frosted).

America's Sibelius (Not This Time) will have Ryan Moore back in the saddle as he defends his title in the G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen against the likes of G3 Riyadh Dirt Sprint winner Remake (Jpn) (Lani) and the locally trained Tuz (Oxbow), while Isolate (Mark Valeski) is certain to face a strong challenge from Saudi Cup close third-placegetter Saudi Crown (Always Dreaming), who drops back in trip for the G2 Godolphin Mile.

The G2 UAE Derby features a budding star in the form of the Yoshito Yahagi-conditioned Forever Young (Jpn), a son of 2016 Dubai Turf hero Real Steel (Jpn), whose undefeated run includes a razor-thin victory in the 1600-metre G3 Saudi Derby Feb. 24. G3 UAE 2000 Guineas winner Mendelssohn Bay (Mendelssohn) and Listed Al Bastakiya S. scorer Killer Collect (Collected) front the local challenge, while Ballydoyle is set to be represented by G3 Tyros S. winner Henry Adams (Ire) (No Nay Never). The Derby offers 100 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby.

Click here for the full fields.

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| RACE 03 • ELUSIVE TERRY | Bin Dasmal Group

| Al Wasl Race Day
| 27th January 2024

———#JARC #JebelAliRacecourse #horseracing #the_ultimate_racing_experience #uae #alwasl pic.twitter.com/aS3BgOItTB

— Jebel Ali Racecourse (@jarcOfficial) January 27, 2024

The post Raven’s Pass Colt Two-For-Two At Meydan appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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GUNS AND GLORY

€543,000 @goffs1866 Dubai Sale grad surely gets invited to the G2 UAE Derby after this demolition job. #DWC24

pic.twitter.com/4f5BHXNege

— Laura King لورا كنج 金樂雅 (@LauraKingDXB) March 8, 2024

The post Gun Runner Colt Lights Up Meydan appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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The result represented a complete turnaround from his local debut Jan. 26 when he was an early factor in the G3 Al Shindagha Sprint over 1200 metres, but faded tamely from 2 1/2 furlongs out and finished a distant seventh behind Mouheeb (Flatter).

Drawn wide in 14 for this contest over the mile, the homebred was well into stride and was restrained a bit through the opening exchanges before being allowed to stride into the lead by Tadhg O'Shea after the first 400 metres. Full of run at every stage of the race thereafter, Laurel River had amassed an imposing advantage turning them in and kept on very nicely to take it by eight lengths in good time.

Previously trained by Bob Baffert, the bay won four of his seven starts in the U.S., capped by his 3 3/4-length success in the seven-furlong Pat O'Brien at Del Mar in August 2022. Trainer Bhupat Seemar served as a Baffert assistant for some time.

“He's a high-class horse and, to be fair to him, he hadn't run in 18 months when we ran him over six furlongs,” said O'Shea. “We weren't disappointed the last time, but they're racehorses and not computers; sometimes they just need a run to get back on their A-Game.

“Hats off to Bhupat and the team and to Juddmonte for keeping the faith with him.”

Pedigree Notes

A predominantly breed-to-race operation, Juddmonte purchased Laurel River's second dam Soothing Touch for $550,000 at the 2005 Keeneland September sale, and while she didn't work out as a racemare, she's excelled in the breeding shed.

The mare is the dam of six winners from 10 to race, including her first foal Emollient (Empire Maker), victorious in the 2013 GI Central Bank Ashland S. and the Juddmonte-sponsored GI Spinster, and her four winners as a broodmare include G2 Prix de Malleret winner Raclette (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and French listed winner Ardent (Frankel {GB}). Soothing Touch has also accounted for Hofburg (Tapit), a stakes winner and third in the GI Belmont S; and SW Courtier (Tapit).

The second foal from Soothing Touch, Laurel River has a 2-year-old half-sister by Constitution, a yearling half-brother by the Tapit son and is due to foal a full-sibling to Laurel River this term.

The cross of Into Mischief over Empire Maker mares has resulted in 29 winners from 43 starters and six stakes winners, including GI Kentucky Derby hero Mandaloun, the Grade II winners Occult and Center Aisle and Juddmonte's sadly departed multiple stakes-winning 'TDN Rising Star' Taraz. When extending the cross to Unbridled-line mares, offspring include MGISW champion Covfeve, Grade I winner Gina Romantica and the additional graded scorers Largent and Maximus Mischief.

Saturday, Meydan, Dubai
BURJ NAHAAR SPONSORED BY EMIRATES SKYCARGO-G3, AED1,200,000, Meydan, 3-2, 3yo/up, 8f, 1:36.90, fs.
1–LAUREL RIVER, 126, h, 6, by Into Mischief
                1st Dam: Calm Water, by Empire Maker
                2nd Dam: Soothing Touch, by Touch Gold
                3rd Dam: Glia, by A.P. Indy
O-Juddmonte; B-Juddmonte Farms Inc (KY); T-Bhupat Seemar;
J-Tadhg O'Shea. AED720,000. Lifetime Record: GSW-US, 9-5-1-
0-1, AED1,034,620. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*.
   Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the
   free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Qareeb, 126, h, 6, Speightstown–Flip Flop (Fr), by Zieten.
($360,000 Wlg '18 KEENOV; 50,000gns HRA '21 TATAUT).
O-Abubaker Kadoura; B-Lynch Bages Ltd (KY); T-Musabbeh Al
Mheiri. AED240,000.
3–Everfast, 126, g, 8, Take Charge Indy–Awesome Surprise, by
Awesome Again. ($47,000 Ylg '17 KEEJAN). O-Kildare Stud –
Frankie O'Connor; B-Extern Developments (KY); T-Doug
Watson. AED120,000.
Margins: 6 3/4, 3, 2 1/4.
Also Ran: Al Jaddaf (GB), Swing Vote (GB), Asad Zabeel (GB), Celtic Prince (GB), Justice Protecol (GB), King Ottoman, Thegreatcollection, Quality Humor, Southern Artist, Western Writer (Ire), Vagalame (Ire), Hypothetical (Ire), Royal Mews (Fr). Scratched: Sound Money. Click for the ERA chart and video.

Wow!

Laurel River turns the Burj Nahaar Sponsored By @emirates SkyCargo into an absolute procession for @BhupatSeemar, @OsheaTadhg and @JuddmonteFarms #SuperSaturday | #DubaiCarnival pic.twitter.com/rneJwci27D

— Dubai Racing Club (@RacingDubai) March 2, 2024

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Lovely effort

$150,000 purchase Falcon Of Arabia (Speightstown) makes a winning debut in the We One Presented by DP World@BhupatSeemar | @OsheaTadhg pic.twitter.com/MPcuCmPSGy

— Dubai Racing Club (@RacingDubai) February 9, 2024

The post Speightstown Colt Soars To Debut Win At Meydan appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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At just 23 years of age, Slattery has already amassed a glittering CV, having won big-race prizes for Dermot Weld, Eddie Lynam, Fozzy Stack and his own father Andy, for whom he has built up an excellent partnership with. 

Slattery's decision to swap Dundalk for Dubai, where he rides as number two jockey behind fellow Irishman Tadhg O'Shea for trainer Bhupat Seemar, has worked out well this winter.

In this week's Q&A, Slattery talks about all things riding in Dubai and outlines his hopes for the new domestic season in Ireland.

You have swapped Dundalk for Dubai this winter and it seems to be going very well.

A lot of people advised me to do it and it has been a complete no-brainer. I've had the chance to get on some nice horses, pick up good prize-money and live a very different lifestyle than I would at home. I wouldn't say it's a different quality of life but you are certainly treated a lot differently in Dubai than back home. 

Is this your first trip away as a rider?

I have been to America but I never rode in races over there. I worked with Paddy Gallagher at Santa Anita and rode in a lot of work. It's funny, a lot of what I picked up in America has stood to me in Dubai because a lot of our work out here is done on the clock. Having that clock in your head has been a life saver. Bhupat trains very similarly to how they do it in America and, if I hadn't spent that time in the States, I'd say I would have been lost. There are about 10 or 11 work riders here in the yard and everyone knows their job and what times they have to do each morning. These are top horses in Bhupat's and there is no room for error. It's a very good system he has in place. 

What has been the biggest learning curve for you in Dubai? I'd hazard a guess that riding those big dirt horses is a bit different to riding around Roscommon and Sligo.

They are absolute bulls, they're class and I love riding on the dirt here. Funnily enough, I was joking with Caroline, who is Bhupat's wife and was my neighbour back home in Ireland, that some of these dirt horses look like point-to-pointers. Some of them could be mistaken for our National Hunt horses, they are that big and powerful. But I tell you something, by God they can move. I get some thrill riding on the dirt. The horses are so tough and hardy. The good ones travel and just keep finding and finding. It's all rhythm. It's a different style of riding altogether out in Dubai, though. Say Friday night, for example, you had Christophe Soumillon, Oisin Murphy, Jim Crowley and many of the top riders from all over the world riding at Meydan. Competing against those lads, it makes you raise your own game and you become sharper and a better rider as a result. The one thing I would say is that Ireland is extremely competitive as it is and you don't get anything easy back home. That probably stands to you when you come abroad because you are used to not getting anything easy. 

We saw your cousin Ben Coen flying the flag for Ireland in Australia over the winter as well. That's another case in point for the benefits of going away and getting out of your comfort zone.

Big time. I suppose it is the same with everything, when you go to different places and see how they do things, it can't do you any harm. Stepping outside of your comfort zone, as you say yourself, can only be a good thing and I feel the benefits of it. I came out here on holiday two years ago. I came for a month and just rode out for Charlie Appleby. It was a bit of a working holiday but I really loved it. I had a couple of spins in Arab races and they are quirky but it was a good experience. I'm riding those a bit more frequently but they don't get any easier. Luckily I was given the opportunity to come back this year to ride for Bhupat and it has been going well. 

And how would you look back on last year's season in Ireland?

Things were going great up until when I fractured my vertebrae in a fall riding out. I missed the last couple of months of the season so, all things considered, it was a good year. That injury actually delayed me a little bit when I got out here but, once I got the all clear, it hasn't been a bother. I've had a couple of winners for Bhupat so it's a case of so far so good. 

We all know the prize-money in Ireland can't compete with the likes of Dubai so I'd imagine you have felt those winners a bit more than you would if you had won a nice handicap at home.

That's spot on. The prize-money is very good out here and being able to earn tax free is a big bonus as well. Take riding fees, prize-money etc, none of that is taxed over here so, even if you finish third or fourth in a race, it's a very good payday for a rider. It's not simple to make the game pay back home in Ireland. You have to ride a couple of nice winners every year, definitely. I have been involved in horses outside of the riding and I love the bloodstock side of things so I have been lucky enough in that side of things. If you weren't riding a good few winners or at least bagging one or two big pots a season, you wouldn't exactly be flying it in Ireland. 

We know your father Andy and the rest of the family are excellent horsemen and have had some brilliant horses through their hands. For example, your Dad trained Faugheen to win his point-to-point before selling him to Rich Ricci and Willie Mullins. Do you dip your toe in that side of the business as well?

Big time. I am stuck in five or six young horses and it will be up to Dad if we go racing them or selling them. It's a great interest and Iove that side of the sport. 

You had a great year with your Dad last year riding eight winners for him. Without his backing, it would probably be fair to say it would have been a tough season.

The way Ireland has gone, you only ride for the people who you ride out for or who ride work for as there are only a handful of spare rides up for grabs. We have a family-run yard and I am happy to help out the four or five days a week. I also ride out for Fozzy Stack two days of week and spend an odd Saturday with John O'Donoghue on the Curragh. I rode winners for all of those trainers last season but, the big thing is, you need a stable behind you. I've been lucky enough to have worked for some very good trainers, the likes of Dermot Weld for example, and it's good to be able to bring that sort of experience to the table at home and fire ideas around. Whatever we are doing, it seems to be working well and we are getting some good results. You'd like to think that, if we were to get our hands on some of those nicer horses, we could do the job as well as anyone. It can be tough to get your hands on those horses, though, because we are a selling yard. That can be tough for me as a rider because, as soon as we have one who runs well or wins a maiden, the likelihood is that the horse will be sold. Then you are left searching for the next one and they aren't easy to find. The strength of Irish racing is a major plus when it comes to selling one but sometimes it can come at the detriment of leaving yourself short on ammunition for the track. It's not simple taking on Aidan O'Brian and Ger Lyons and we are operating on a budget but thankfully it's going well.  

What would the hope be for the new year back home in Ireland?

It's the same as every year; try to win as many races as I can and to get on as many nice horses as I can. We've 20 two-year-olds so hopefully some of those can shape up to be nice. It has been nothing to do with me so far, all of the lads have been doing the heavy lifting over the winter, but I have to say I am looking forward to seeing what we have to go to war with this season. I'll be home in the second week of March and Dad tells me we have lovely colts by Mohaather (GB), Blue Point (Ire), Without Parole (GB) and Instilled Regard so hopefully there will be plenty to look forward to this year. 

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