dubai | Horse Racing Free Tips

Munnings Half-Sister To Lookin At Lucky Becomes ‘Rising Star’

by Alan Carasso

Shahama (Munnings), who bolted up by nine lengths on her 1400-metre debut at Meydan Dec. 9, endured a much more troubled passage in Saturday's UAE 1000 Guineas Trial, a conditions event over the same course and distance, but exhibited her considerable class in the final stages to score by 2 1/2 lengths en route to 'TDN Rising Star'-dom. She is the eighth 'Rising Star' for her sire.

Off slowly and ridden along from gate five racing over a rare sloppy main track in this jurisdiction, the $425,000 OBS April graduate (:21 flat) was forced to sit in behind the contested pace, but traveled well a handful of lengths behind. Shaken up with a bit more than a quarter-mile to travel, the half-sister to multiple champion Lookin At Lucky (Smart Strike), Ch. 2yo & 3yo Colt, MGISW, $3,307,278, hit the gap hard one off the fence at the 300-metre marker and galloped home a much-the-best winner.

“Seven furlongs is the minimum for her, she's got a big stride,” said winning rider Adrie de Vries. “I was never in trouble, I was following William Buick's horse, I was in a pocket, but she learned a lot today. Today she did it the hard way. I thought today when she hit the front, she was waiting. I was a bit afraid for the conditions, as the ground gets firm with the rain. A mile and even further will be better for her.”

Shahama, also a half-sister to Kensei (Mr. Greeley), MGSW, $751,364, is a logical candidate for the $150,000 Listed UAE 1000 Guineas over 1600 metres Jan. 28. SF Bloodstock acquired Shahama's dam–a foal of 1999–for $40,000 with this filly in utero at the 2018 Keeneland November Sale. Private Feeling did not produce a foal in 2020, but her now-yearling son of Catalina Cruiser fetched $200,000 from First Finds at last year's November Sale and she was most recently covered by Smart Strike's Grade I-winning son Tom's d'Etat.

5th-Meydan, UAE 1000 Guineas Trial (Cond.), AED183,650, 3yo, f, 1400m, 1:25.93, sy.
SHAHAMA, f, 3, by Munnings
1st Dam: Private Feeling, by Belong To Me
2nd Dam: Regal Feeling, by Clever Trick
3rd Dam: Sharp Belle, by Native Charger
Sales history: $425,000 2yo '21 OBSAPR. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $43,483. Click for the Emirates Racing.com chart. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
O-KHK Racing; B-SF Bloodstock LLC (KY); T-Fawzi Nass.

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‘When You Compete Against The Best It Makes You Better’: Uruguayan Star Aero Trem Targets Saudi Cup

South American superstar Aero Trem is on course to fly the flag for Uruguay in The Saudi Cup next year.

The winner of the Group 1 Gran Premio Latinoamericano, South America's most prestigious prize, has been shipped to Dubai to continue his preparation for the world's most valuable race.

It will be a remarkable achievement just to line up in the $20 million showpiece, set to be run as a Group 1 for the first time, at King Abdulaziz Racetrack in Riyadh on Saturday, Feb. 26.

The 6-year-old nearly died when struck down by a serious bout of colic after winning the first two legs of Uruguay's Triple Crown three years ago.

He has since developed into South America's best horse and his ambitious trainer Antonio Cintra is keen to test his stable star against some of the world's top performers.

Assistant trainer Julio Olascoaga is overseeing Aero Trem's preparation in Dubai and said: “Aero Trem arrived on Monday. He travelled for two days to get to Dubai. He went from Uruguay to Germany and from Germany to Dubai. Horses usually lose weight in transit but, for him, it was like nothing had happened.

“He's arrived in fantastic condition. I took some blood and that was amazing. He can take all these things very well. I'm very happy with him – he looks great. He will start training at the end of the week.

“We're just waiting for an invitation to The Saudi Cup and then we'll work towards that. He's very highly-rated so I don't think he will have a problem getting in.”

Aero Trem won Uruguay's most important race over 1600m (one mile), the Gran Premio Pedro Pineyrua at Maronas, for the second successive year in January before landing the Gran Premio Latinoamericano in October.

It was only the second time in 38 years that a horse trained in Uruguay had landed South America's greatest race, run this year at Maronas.

The field contained the best horses from across the continent and Aero Trem was successful in course-record time. He led home a one-two for Brazilian Cintra – four-times Champion Trainer in Uruguay – with Atletico El Culano finishing runner-up in the 2000m (1 1/4-mile) dirt-track contest.

The victory came less than three years after Aero Trem had come dangerously close to losing his life to colic.

Olascoaga explained: “He had huge surgery and it was amazing work from the vets. He lost 150kg and it took a lot of time for him to recover.

“He's a horse that impresses you – when you think he might get beaten he just appears. In the Group 1s he has the extra power, he's amazing.

“Antonio has a dream to get his horses into the biggest races so we're working towards The Saudi Cup. It's a dream, a dream that might come true. It's unbelievable where this horse can take us.

“It's not just important for us – it's important for Uruguay and South America. We are testing how far we can go and how good the horses are. It's about measuring our horses on the world stage to see where we are.

“When you compete against the best it makes you better. If you're always competing at the same level you will never improve. If you raise the bar you have to push yourself to be better.

“That's even more important than the prize money. Money is important but it's not everything.

“We've never been to Saudi but we've heard about the track from people we know. They say the track will suit the Uruguayan horses much better than Dubai as it has a longer straight. The Uruguayan tracks generally have long straights so it's pretty similar.

“A fast pace will suit him, the distance will suit him, the track will suit him.”

Big-race jockey Vagner Leal, a Brazilian based in Uruguay, is expected to arrive in Dubai later this week. He will help with the preparation of Cintra's team and will take the ride on Aero Trem, who races in the colors of Brazilian owners Haras Old Friends, if he makes it in to The Saudi Cup field.

The trainer's horses based in Dubai include last year's Uruguay Derby hero El Patriota, a winner in Dubai in February, and talented 3-year-old Perfect Love. They will both be entered in the Saudi International Handicap run on the opening day of The Saudi Cup meeting on Friday, Feb. 25.

The Uruguayan runners at the glittering Saudi Cup meeting will have at least one famous supporter. Manchester United footballer Edison Cavani owns horses trained by Cintra and he has been keeping a close eye on the progress of the potential Saudi raiders.

Olascoaga added: “He's a very nice guy. He came to play for Uruguay in a World Cup qualifier and he came straight from the airport to the races. Everyone was going crazy.

“He loves horses and he's supportive of racing. It's very good for the industry, he brings the fans in.”

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Munnings Firster Highly Impressive at Meydan

SHAHAMA (f, 2, Munnings–Private Feeling, by Belong to Me), a half-sister to two-time Eclipse Award winner and five-time Grade I-winning Coolmore stallion Lookin At Lucky, ran them off their feet to break her maiden in exceptionally impressive fashion Thursday at Meydan. Drawn out in gate nine, Shahama was away fairly beneath Adrie de Vries, but slowly made her way forward and raced right on the pace while four wide in the breeze down the backstretch. Forced to cover ground on the turn and into the stretch, the baldy-faced bay responded when popped the question about 400 meters from home and she finished full of run to score by nine lengths. Shahama cost $425,000 at this year's OBS April sale after breezing a quarter-mile in :21 flat. Sales history: $425,000 2yo '21 OBSAPR. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0. O-KHK Racing; B-SF Bloodstock LLC (KY); T-Fawzi Nass.

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Strong Euro Presence as DWCC Invitees Announced

A host of international Group or Grade 1 winners have been extended invites to the upcoming Dubai World Cup Carnival, including Lord Glitters (Fr) (Whipper), who enjoyed a pair of group victories during last year's event. The popular grey gelding captured the G1 Jebel Hatta and more recently added the G3 Bahrain International Trophy to his haul from the David O'Meara yard, who has also received an invite for Escobar (Ire) (Famous Name {GB}).

A strong Irish challenge will be led by dual G1 Irish St Leger heroine Search For A Song (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) for trainer Dermot Weld, and Joseph O'Brien sends the pair of G1 Cox Plate scorer State Of Rest (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) and G1 National S. winner Thunder Moon (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}). Ado McGuinness is represented by G1 Prix de l'Abbaye winner A Case Of You (Ire) (Hot Streak {Ire}), as well as Group 2 winner Pierre Lapin (Ire) (Cappella Sansevero {GB}) and 10-time scorer Harry's Bar (GB) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}).

Crack sprinter and G1 Sprint Cup S. victor Emaraaty Ana (GB) (Shamardal) represents Kevin Ryan. George Boughey has the option to send the progressive Group 3 winner and G1 Prix Marcel Boussac third Oscula (Ire) (Galileo Gold {GB}), while G1 Sun Chariot S. victress Saffron Beach (Ire) (New Bay {GB}) is one of four possible for Jane Chapple-Hyam.

William Haggas sends G1 Champion S. second Dubai Honour (Ire) (Pride Of Dubai {Aus}), besides G1 Juddmonte International runner-up Alenquer (Fr) (Adlerflug {Ger}) and Shadwell's Mohaafeth (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), who won the G3 Hampton Court S. at Royal Ascot. Another Shadwell runner invited to the DWCC is the Group 3 winner Hukum (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) for Owen Burrows.

American trainer Doug O'Neill is sending a string for the DWCC, and his Grade I winner Hot Rod Charlie (Oxbow) has punched his ticket, while 2020 G3 UAE Guineas winner Fore Left (Twirling Candy) also returns to Meydan.

Entries were also received from Sweden, Norway, Singapore, Greece, Turkey, Australia, Argentina, Chile and Uruguay, as well as Carnival regulars France and Bahrain, bringing the total countries represented to 17. The Dubai World Cup Carnival runs from Jan. 13 to Super Saturday, Mar. 5. There is $7.5 million in prizemoney across eight weeks of racing, and the $30.5 million Dubai World Cup meeting will be held on Mar. 26. Please click here to view the full list of invitees.

“We are delighted to have such high-class entries from so many different countries for the 2022 running of the Dubai World Cup Carnival,” said Stephanie Cooley, International Liaison for Dubai Racing Club. “It will be fantastic to welcome back some real crowd favourites in Lord Glitters, Equilateral and

Fore Left, while Hot Rod Charlie was a star of the 3-year-old division in the States last year and it will be fascinating to see him develop as a 4-year-old.

“It will also be superb to see some countries back at the Carnival after missing a few years due to travel restrictions. We look forward to welcoming back runners from Australia and Singapore after a few years' absence.”

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