Dubai World Cup Night Entries Released

Defending G1 Dubai World Cup winner Ushba Tesoro (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}) features among 868 individual horses from 19 countries nominated to run at the $30.5-million Dubai World Cup meeting on Saturday, March 30.

In total, more than 1,400 entries have been received across the nine races and Ushba Tesoro is one of 200 from Japan as he tries to become only the second dual winner of the $12-million Dubai World Cup (Sponsored by Emirates Airline) after Thunder Snow (Ire) (Helmet {Aus}) in 2018 and 2019. Incidentally, Thunder Snow also won the G2 UAE Derby in 2017 and last year's winner of that race, Derma Sotogake (Jpn) (Mind Your Biscuits), is another of the Japanese contingent entered in the showpiece event having ended 2023 with an excellent second in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic.

White Abarrio (Race Day), who was gaining the third Grade I victory of his career when beating Derma Sotogake at Santa Anita, is another star name among the Dubai World Cup entries, along with GI Preakness S. and GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational S. winner National Treasure (Quality Road) and local hope Kabirkhan (California Chrome), the recent winner of the G1 Al Maktoum Challenge which gained him an automatic entry.

Aidan O'Brien's multiple Group 1 winner Luxembourg (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) has also been nominated for the Dubai World Cup, though he's unproven on the dirt and perhaps more likely to take up his entry in the G1 Longines Dubai Sheema Classic. That tees up the prospect of another clash with stablemate Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), the dual Derby and GI Breeders' Cup Turf hero who had Luxembourg back in second when also winning the G1 Irish Champion S. at Leopardstown.

Emily Upjohn (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), an impressive winner of the G1 Coronation Cup in 2023, is another notable European-based entry, while Liberty Island (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}) also brings star quality to the table having won the Japanese Triple Tiara before chasing home the great Equinox (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn})–a breathtaking winner of last year's Dubai Sheema Classic–in the G1 Japan Cup at Tokyo on her final start of 2023.

Do Deuce (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) finished a good fourth in the Japan Cup and went on to win the G1 Arima Kinen at Nakayama, identifying him as a leading contender for the G1 Dubai Turf (sponsored by DP World). Voyage Bubble (Aus) (Deep Field {Aus}), a Group 1 performer in Hong Kong, is another to look out for from the Far East, while Charlie Appleby holds a strong hand with GI Breeders' Cup Mile winner Master Of The Seas (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Measured Time (GB) (Frankel {GB}), a rapidly progressive four-year-old who took the step up in grade in his stride with a decisive success in the G1 Jebel Hatta last time.

Appleby is still seeking a first victory in the Dubai Turf and standing in his way once again will be John and Thady Gosden's stable stalwart Lord North (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), who will be bidding for an unprecedented fourth win in the race. Already just the second horse after Thunder Snow to win three times on Dubai World Cup night, Lord North will certainly be one of the most popular winners on the card should he prevail again in 2024, while Danyah (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) and Sibelius (Not This Time) will also have their supporters as they try to repeat their 2023 victories in the G1 Al Quoz Sprint (Sponsored by Azizi Developments) and G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen (Sponsored by Nakheel) respectively.

The full list of entries for all nine races is available here.

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Equinox Primed For Tenno Sho Autumn Defence

Perched atop the Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings at 129 pounds for much of the year after his sensational 3 1/2-length victory in the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic in Dubai this March, the formidable Equinox (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}) will attempt to become only the third horse to claim the ¥421,420,000 G1 Tenno Sho (Autumn) in back-to-back years at Tokyo on Sunday.

The reigning Japanese Horse of the Year has never finished worse than second in eight starts, and landed the G1 Takarazuka Kinen at Hanshin over 2200 metres–200 metres farther than Sunday's trip–at the end of June. Ridden by Christophe Lemaire, just like fellow Silk Racing colourbearer, Japanese Horse of the Year and dual Tenno Sho (Autumn) heroine Almond Eye (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) (2019/2020), the Tetsuya Kimura trainee's task will not be an easy one.

“Christophe Lemaire rode work last week and it was the usual work we do a week out,” said Kimura of his charge, who worked well at his Miho base last week. “Things were very routine. This week, the training was quite orthodox. In some ways the main concern was making sure everything went as usual amid all the attention. I don't think there's any problem with him.”

Of the 10 rivals that oppose the 8-5 favourite the greatest danger looks to be 14-5 shot Do Deuce (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}), a winner of both the G1 Asahi Hai Futurity S. in 2021 and the 2022 G1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby). He defeated Equinox by a neck in the latter contest, and also earned a Group 2 victory in the Kyoto Kinen in February. Part of the numerous Japanese challengers for the Dubai World Cup night, he was forced to scratch after coming up lame before the big dance, but is reportedly working well since recovering.

Said trainer Yasuo Tomomichi, “His fast work was on the hill course this week. His time was fast, but we didn't overdo it. I think he's in excellent shape. Jockey Yutaka Take rode him last week, and the horse was switched on mentally this week the same. After work, he was bothering the other horses, that's how full of energy he was. His breathing was good too. I'll leave the race strategy up to the jockey.”

The progressive Prognosis (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) holds all the ingredients to upset the big two, and the Mitsumasa Nakauchida charge was second in the Aug. 20 G2 Sapporo Kinen after taking the G2 Kinko Sho at Chukyo in March. In between those starts was another runner-up performance in the G1 QEII Cup at Sha Tin to the classy Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}).

“He won the Sapporo Kinen strongly and I could see that he had matured considerably,” said trainer Mitsumasa Nakauchida. “The ground that day wasn't the best, but still he ran well. I think he has gotten stronger both mentally and physically. Even from before the Sapporo Kinen, I'd been thinking of sending him here.

“Last week, I had Yuga Kawada ride trackwork and the horse was more switched on than I'd thought he would. So this week, an assistant breezed him and we focused on keeping the horse relaxed and well balanced. He's in really good shape.

“As expected, the lineup is a very strong one, with horses that have proven their ability, so we'll just have to see how well Prognosis can do up against them. He has no problem racing to the left, and he's raced over 2,000 meters a number of times so the distance and course are not concerns. He won handily last start and his prep has gone well, so I think he'll be able to race to his best here.”

Former Hong Kong champion jockey Joao 'Magic Man' Moreira will be on hand to pilot Group 3 winner Danon Beluga (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}). Fourth in both the 2022 G1 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) and the Japanese Derby behind both Do Deuce and Equinox, the 4-year-old was third to the last-named horse in the Tenno Sho (Autumn) last year, and was second to Lord North (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the G1 Dubai Turf on Dubai World cup night later in his career. The Noriyuki Hori-trained colt was fourth most recently in the Sapporo Kinen and his morning line odds are currently 13-1.

“It was hard before and after the Sapporo Kinen to get a reading on his condition,” said Hori. “To be honest, his fast work two weeks ago seemed slow, but from last week he started to look stronger. I don't think he's quite up to his overall best though. I think he can do better if he can show off his ability.”

Third to Equinox in the Takarazuka Kinen in June is Masahiro Miki's Justin Palace (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), who prevailed in the 3200-metre G1 Tenno Sho (Spring) in April. Handed stall six, he is one to the inside of Equinox. Another Group 1 winner partaking in the Tenno Sho is Osaka Hai victor Jack d'Or (Jpn) (Maurice {Jpn}). He was sixth in the wake of Prognosis in the Sapporo Kinen, and departs from stall 10.

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Golden Sixty The Golden Child Of The Longines WBRR

Dual Hong Kong Horse of the Year Golden Sixty (Aus) (Medaglia d'Oro) has been given a mark of 125 to top the latest version of the Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings.

The gelding ran out a one-length winner of the G1 Stewards' Cup, defeating Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) (123), with California Spangle (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) (122) in third. Golden Sixty then padded his record with a head tally over Romantic Warrior in the G1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup.

GI Pegasus World Cup hero Art Collector (Bernardini) has been ranked at 121, equal to G3 Neom Turf Cup hero Mostahdaf (Ire) (Frankel {GB}). Four horses share a mark of 120 including Elite Power (Curlin), who won the G3 Riyadh Dirt Sprint; Panthalassa (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}), successful in the G1 Saudi Cup defeating Country Grammer (Tonalist) (119), Café Pharoah (American Pharoah) (118) and Geoglyph (Jpn) (Drefong) (118); crack Australian sprinter Anamoe (Aus) (Street Boss) (120), and Do Deuce (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) (120).

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Champion Do Deuce Punches Ticket to Dubai

Despite running a forgettable 19th when last seen in the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe last October, last season's G1 Japanese Derby scorer Do Deuce (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) launched the 2023 season the right way, coming from far off the pace to take Sunday's G2 Kyoto Kinen at Hanshin. Named Japan's 2021 juvenile champion following an undefeated season that included a victory in Hanshin's G1 Futurity S., the 4-year-old is expected to make his next start in the G1 Dubai Turf at Meydan Mar. 25.

Unhurried near the back early, the bay gradually closed the gap from his outside perch through the opening mile, began to narrow the gap on front-running Pradaria (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) rounding the final turn and blew by that rival midstretch en route to a geared-down 3 1/2-length victory over Mantenro Leo (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}). Japanese Horse of the Year Efforia (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}) was pulled up and was later determined to have suffered from atrial fibrillation.

Pedigree Notes:
A winner of six starts, including the GII Gallant Bloom H. and GIII Sugar Swirl S. and runner up in the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint, Dust and Diamonds realized $1 million when offered at the 2016 Keeneland November sale after producing black-type performer Much Better (Pioneerof the Nile) earlier that season. In Japan, she dropped full-brother named Fulleren (Jpn), an earner of $699,654, before producing a 2018 Deep Impact colt of modest success. A May foal in 2019, Do Deuce is the sole black-type winner for his dam.

Sunday, Hanshin, Japan
KYOTO KINEN-G2, ¥119,800,000, Hanshin, 2-12, 4yo/up, 2200mT, 2:10.90, fm.
1–DO DEUCE (JPN), 128, c, 4, by Heart's Cry (Jpn)
1st Dam: Dust and Diamonds (MGSW & GISP, $496,260), by Vindication
2nd Dam: Majestically, by Gone West
3rd Dam: Darling Dame, by Lyphard
O-Kieffers Inc.; B-Northern Farm; T-Yasuo Tomomichi;
J-Yutaka Take; ¥62,910,00. Lifetime Record: Ch. 2yo Colt-Jpn,
MG1SW-Jpn, 9-5-1-1. *1/2 to Much Better (Pioneerof the
Nile), MGSP, $313,571. Werk Nick Rating: C. Click for the
   eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Matenro Leo (Jpn), 123, c, 4, by Heart's Cry (Jpn)–Saratoga
Venus (Jpn), by Brian's Time. O-Chiyono Terada; B-Inoke Farm;
¥25,260,000.
3–Pradaria (Jpn), 126, c, 4, Deep Impact (Jpn)-Chasse' Roll (Jpn),
by Kurofune. O-Nagoya Yuho Inc.; B-Orient Farm; ¥16,130,000.
Margins: 3 1/2, NK, 1 1/2; Odds: 1.50, 14.20, 7.80.
Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Click for the JRA chart and video.

 

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