Sporting his standard duds, including a ball cap, creased jeans and shades, Fincher has his modular phone slung on his belt, ready to be drawn from its holster.

“Busy,” replies the New-Mexico based trainer when asked about how it's all going. “It's just been such a non-stop crazy time, but coming back to Sunland Park, this is my bread and butter.”

Fincher returned only a week ago from his second Middle East junket which capped Senor Buscador's (Mineshaft) successful two-race sojourn to that part of the world. Unless you have resided under an igneous rock, then you know that Joey Peacock's 6-year-old stalwart won the G1 Saudi Cup and then finished third in the G1 Dubai World Cup.

“The experience was great and even though the result in Dubai wasn't what we wanted, everyone was incredibly welcoming,” he said. “Even in a race as big as that one was, I don't get disappointed because at least 75 percent of the time you are going to lose in racing, so getting down like I used to serves no purpose whatsoever.”

Don't misinterpret Fincher's words because he wanted Buscador to win the World Cup. He wants to win them all and badly. Feigning disappointment is his prosaic outlook shining through. You have to have this kind of attitude, which hails from a special place inside and comes from a host of life experiences.

Like a character out of an Ace Reid Cowpoke cartoon, the horseman has a thin build which is a reminder that he used to ride for a living. The mental toughness he developed in the saddle while breaking young horses and as a New Mexico jockey some 30 years ago has served him well, especially in a business like conditioning.

Todd Fincher (left) with Only One America in the Island Fashion S. | Coady Photography

“I'd win three races riding and think I was on top,” he said. “And then that would dry up and I would get really, really down on myself, so you can't do that. It's a humbling sport with so many factors out of your control. You always have to be thankful for wins like Buscador delivered and he is not done yet, we hope.”

Fincher confirmed that Senor Buscador has arrived safely at Peacefield Farm in Temecula, California and will be given several weeks off before a new training cycle could start.

“Just like always, we are going to let him tell us,” he said. “I think the GII Pat O'Brien S. could be possible, we'll see, and then long term, the GI Breeders' Cup Classic.” Two years ago at Del Mar, Buscador finished third in the O'Brien to Laurel River (Into Mischief), who ran away with this year's Dubai World Cup.

While the Saudi Cup champ gets a break, his trainer will be doing nothing of the sort. With Sunland complete, Fincher's stable shifts to SunRay Park up in Farmington, New Mexico, but he loaded up a trailer bound for Hot Springs, Arkansas to start this week.

“We have a couple that I am taking to Oaklawn and I will be there all week,” he said. “I don't like hauling them this far, but it is going to be good to run against competition like this.”

Fincher is entering Perfect Dude (Majesticperfection)–who shifted from Vann Belvoir over to him in February–in Saturday's GIII Count Fleet S. It's a race which will feature Skelly (Practical Joke), who is making his first U.S. start since the gelding ran second in the G3 Riyadh Dirt Sprint in Saudi Arabia.

Making the some 900-mile trip to Oaklawn for the GI Apple Blossom S. is Flying Connection (Nyquist). Last year, the filly won the Island Fashion S. and then netted the Sunland Park Oaks, which earned her a spot in the starting gate for the GI Kentucky Oaks. She ran a game sixth in defeat that Friday.

“Perfect Dude is a fairly new acquisition, but I can tell he has a ton of talent and he is really quick out of the gate,” said Fincher. “I think Flying Connection has developed a real tactical advantage and she has really come far since last year when she just went straight to the front all the time.”

Flying Connection is co-owned by Brad King, Randy Andrews, Chris Coleman, Jim Cone, Suzanne Kirby and Lee Lewis, which is the same group who invested in another Fincher-trained runner, Olivia Twist (Mshawish). Incidentally, King, Andrews, Cone and Lewis are a part of MSW Candy Aisle (Gun Runner), who was ninth in Oaklawn's GII Fantasy S. Mar. 30, and who Fincher will possibly send to the Valley of the Vapors S. Apr. 20.

A half-sister to MGSW/MGISP Skippylongstocking (Exaggerator), Olivia Twist already made the trip to Hot Springs to join Candy Aisle and put in a six-panel work over the weekend. According to her trainer, the 4-year-old could be ready for the April 27 running of the Dig A Diamond S., but for now Fincher is taking a wait-and-see approach when it comes to her next start.

Olivia Twist working with Cristian Torres aboard at Oaklawn | courtesy of Robert Yates

“She raced a ton starting as a 2-year-old,” he said. “I really think she needed a good rest and got it during the second half of last year. I really like the way she carries her weight and she's developed over the winter, she has continued to be aggressive in the mornings, so we'll see if that continues to translate to the afternoons.”

Olivia Twist started eight times from when she broke her maiden at Remington Park late in her juvenile year through last summer at Del Mar. The biggest puzzle for Fincher is to figure out what distance she wants.

“That will come,” he said.

In the interim, Todd Fincher has plenty more puzzles to solve as Saudi Arabia and Dubai are now firmly in the rearview mirror. The road to Oaklawn beckons, and that means it is an opportunity to develop some more bread and butter.

The post Fincher Back To ‘Bread & Butter’ After Dubai, Oaklawn Road Beckons appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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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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DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES — Meydan Racecourse is the centre of the racing universe Saturday, as it stages the 28th renewal of the G1 Dubai World Cup. The dozen horses that have been entered represent ownership interests from Japan, America, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kazakhstan and even Libya, putting the 'World' in World Cup.

Ushba Tesoro (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}) is back to defend the title he grabbed in 2023 and will attempt to join Thunder Snow (Ire) (Helmet {Aus}) as two-time World Cup winners. The 7-year-old has made a tremendous impression as one of the first horses to grace the Meydan dirt track each morning, his bright yellow tack announcing his arrival. The only difference between this year and last is that he is a known commodity this time around.

He was mugged on the wire by Senor Buscador (Mineshaft) in last month's G1 Saudi Cup, but Saturday's two-turn configuration in addition to the added distance could tip the scales in his favour. He will sit a trip worse than midfield and will come after them late beneath Yuga Kawada.

“The gate doesn't matter for him as he will race from behind anyway,” said trainer Noboru Takagi. “He has recovered well from the Saudi Cup and is in good form.”

Senor Buscador is the main American chance as he tries to become the first to complete the Saudi Cup/World Cup double. A hard-charging second in the GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational in January prior to his Saudi Cup surprise, the 6-year-old will also save his best for last and hope there is ample pace up ahead. Senor Buscador breaks from gate 10 with Junior Alvarado back in the saddle.

“Very happy,” said owner Joe Peacock Jnr after Wednesday's barrier draw. “We wanted outside and we got outside.”

Kazakh-owned Kabirkhan is the spitting image of his sire California Chrome, who won this in 2016, and has been the story in world horse racing in 2024. Eight for nine at home and subsequently in Russia, the $12,000 Keeneland September yearling dominated his rivals in two starts at the Carnival, including the G1 Al Maktoum Challenge Jan. 26.

“He's got to step it up, but we think he can,” said trainer Doug Watson. “He has shown that he likes the track. He stays the trip, but he has the pace to keep him competitive in the race early and hopefully he can finish it off.”

Last year's G2 UAE Derby winner Derma Sotogake (Jpn), a son of dual G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen hero Mind Your Biscuits, was runner-up in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic off a five-month absence, but got a World Cup tightener when a sound fifth in the Saudi Cup. Look for him to be positively ridden by Christophe Lemaire and in position to get the first crack at them when push comes to shove.

Two sons of the mighty Into Mischief line up for the World Cup. GI Santa Anita H. winner Newgate can give both trainer Bob Baffert and jockey Frankie Dettori their fifth World Cups, while towering last-out G3 Burj Nahaar (1600m) winner Laurel River will see how far he can carry his speed from gate 12 in this first go at the 2000 metres. –Alan Carasso

Stars Align For Dubai Sheema Classic

The $6-million G1 Longines Dubai Sheema Classic was undoubtedly one of the strongest races run on the international stage in 2023. Not only did it produce an outstanding winner in Equinox (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn})–later named the Longines World's Best Racehorse–but those who chased the Japanese champion home were a decorated bunch in their own right, including Juddmonte's G1 Irish Derby winner Westover (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and Shadwell's Mostahdaf (GB) (Frankel), who later won the G1 Prince Of Wales's S. and G1 Juddmonte International back on home soil.

Among those finished down the field were the 2022 hero Shahryar (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) and Godolphin's 2022 GI Breeders' Cup Turf winner Rebel's Romance (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), both of whom are back for more on Saturday. However, if their connections were hoping for a soft touch this year, then they're likely to be disappointed as the Dubai Sheema Classic has once again brought together a collection of the finest thoroughbreds on the planet, featuring no fewer than 10 individual top-level winners.

Hideaki Fujiwara's Shahryar is one of four Japanese-trained runners in the field, with the others including last year's Triple Tiara heroine Liberty Island (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}), who was last seen filling the runner-up spot behind Equinox in the G1 Japan Cup at Tokyo in November. Like Shahryar, Liberty Island sports the familiar colours of Sunday Racing Co. Ltd., the ownership group which memorably won this race with Gentildonna (Jpn) (Deep Impact) in 2014.

Japanese champion jockey Yuga Kawada, who takes the mount on Liberty Island, said of Mitsumasa Nakauchida's filly, “This is her first time travelling internationally and all has gone well so far. It is an honour to represent Japan with a filly like her and I hope she can show fans all over the world just how good she is.”

Stars On Earth (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}) and Justin Palace (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) complete the Japanese contingent as they return after finishing second and fourth, respectively, behind G1 Dubai Turf contender Do Deuce (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) in the G1 Arima Kinen at Nakayama in December. Stars On Earth had previously won the first two legs of the Triple Tiara in 2022 and finished just a length behind Liberty Island when third in the latest running of the Japan Cup, while Justin Palace gained the sole Group 1 success of his career thus far when winning the Tenno Sho (Spring) at Kyoto last April.

“We believe that the flat track at Meydan will suit him,” said Justin Palace's trainer Haruki Sugiyama. “Hopefully, this might be the first step on a journey around the world this year.”

Rebel's Romance is as well travelled as any horse in the field and he had three runners from the Far East immediately behind him when winning last month's $2.5-million G3 H.H. The Amir Trophy in Qatar.

However, perhaps the biggest threat to the Japanese team in this contest is the horse who claimed Rebel's Romance's Breeders' Cup Turf crown at Santa Anita in November, namely Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), the blue-blooded colt from Ballydoyle who also won the G1 Derby, G1 Irish Derby and G1 Irish Champion S. in an exceptional three-year-old campaign. Incidentally, this will be the first time that two winners of the Breeders' Cup Turf have clashed since Highland Reel (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Talismanic (GB) (Medaglia d'Oro) both ran in the G1 Hong Kong Vase at Sha Tin in 2017.

Trainer Aidan O'Brien said of Auguste Rodin, “We feel he has matured well from three to four and it goes without saying that we are very excited to get him going again. The horse did all his own talking on the track last year, but we really do think that he is a very important horse for the thoroughbred breed. It is a huge thrill to have him back and we can't wait to see him race.”

Andre Fabre's Junko (GB) (Intello {Ger}) won the latest edition of the Hong Kong Vase in December and is better judged on that form having been beaten at short odds in a conditions event on the all-weather at Chantilly last time, while British raiders Emily Upjohn (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) and Spirit Dancer (GB) (Frankel {GB}) both merit consideration, too.

G2 Bahrain International Trophy and G2 Neom Turf Cup winner Spirit Dancer has race fitness on his side following a productive winter in the Middle East for Richard Fahey and owner/breeder Sir Alex Ferguson, the former Manchester United manager. Emily Upjohn, on the other hand, has an eight-month absence to contend with, but she's in good hands with John and Thady Gosden and her class isn't in question if she returns in the same sort of form she was in when winning last year's G1 Coronation Cup at Epsom.

The first two from the G1 Grosser Preis von Berlin at Hoppegarten last August, Simca Mille (Ire) (Tamayuz {GB}) and Sisfahan (Fr) (Isfahan {Ger}), complete the field together with Auguste Rodin's stablemate Point Lonsdale (Ire) (Australia {GB}). Former Stephane Wattel trainee Simca Mille is now based in Qatar with Alban de Mieulle and was last seen finishing sixth in the H.H. The Amir Trophy where Point Lonsdale was last of the 11 runners. –Adam Houghton

Shahryar | Horsephotos

Lord North Goes for Historic Four-Peat, but Plenty of Obstacles in His Path

Remarkably, the three-time defending winner of the $5-million G1 Dubai Turf–the venerable Lord North (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire})–is not the sole story going in to the 1800-metre event this year. In a testament to the quality attracted by this race and Dubai's World Cup card overall, the John and Thady Gosden trainee is one of several who will fetch the attention of punters the world over in the Turf. The 8-year-old bay gelding has annually made the trip to Dubai, enjoyed the spoils of the desert, and returned to England with mixed results back home. Between his 2021 and 2022 Turf wins, Lord North had only one start–a runner-up finish in the G3 Winter Derby over Lingfield's all-weather surface, a pattern he has repeated to the letter coming in to Saturday's race: a 2023 Dubai Turf win and a second in the Feb. 24 Winter Derby, this time at Southwell. A win in any race four years running is nearly unheard of; if Lord North is able to do it in this storied Group 1 event, he will surely go down in racing's annuls as a legend. His usual Meydan partner Frankie Dettori will be aboard.

“After his win in the race last year we decided to give him a proper break, so he went to Godolphin and had a lovely time in a paddock,” said John Gosden. “He's training well and we're confident he'll put up a very bold show.”

However, Lord North does not have an easy task, starting with his own barn. Three-time Group 1 winner and 'TDN Rising Star' Nashwa (GB) (Frankel {GB}) has given her own gender all they could handle and has switched to facing the boys, where she held her own against the likes of superstar Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), in her last three starts to close out 2023. She gets a five-pound break in the weights here.

Japanese horses, so often in starring roles internationally over the last few years, will be tough here, led by last-out G1 Arima Kinen Grand Prix victor Do Deuce (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}). Trainer Yasuo Tomomichi thinks enough of his charge–who defeated the aforementioned Equinox in the G1 Japanese Derby two years back–that they tackled the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in 2022 only to run into soft ground, a handicap that won't be a risk in Dubai.

Charlie Appleby sends five-for-six Measured Time (GB) (Frankel {GB}), a half-brother to Breeders' Cup winner Rebel's Romance (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) who has been part of his Meydan string over the winter and flourished with wins over this surface including the G1 Jebel Hatta Jan. 26, while American conditioner Michael Stidham has shipped over last-out GI Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational third Catnip (Kitten's Joy), a longshot here who has caught the eye during morning training. Hong Kong is also well represented with two-back G1 Stewards' Cup winner Voyage Bubble (Aus) (Deep Field {Aus}), a Sha Tin specialist who has honed his talent against the best in that locality. –Jill Williams

Sibelius Follows Tried And True Path To Shaheen

Jun Park and Delia Nash's Sibelius (Not This Time) has looked very much at home at Meydan this week, and the popular chestnut has charted the identical course into the G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen as he did when sneaking through at the fence to score in 2023.

The chestnut went off form after returning home last summer, but it appears that it is at this time of the year that he comes good. Like last year, Sibelius won the GIII Mr. Prospector S. at Gulfstream Park in December and followed that up with a hard-fought and wide-trip victory in the Feb. 10 Pelican S. at Tampa Bay Downs. Ryan Moore has the call once again.

“If anything, I'm more confident coming in this year as we know he handles things here,” said trainer Jerry O'Dwyer. “We've tried to keep things like last year as much as possible.”

Remake (Jpn) is another of Saturday's entrants produced by a World Cup night-winning stallion, in this case the 2016 G2 UAE Derby scorer Lani. A homebred for the Maeda family's North Hills Farm, the chestnut was a slow-starting, but fast-finishing fifth in this last year and bounced back from a defeat at the hooves of Igniter (Jpn) (Espoir City {Jpn}) in the Listed JBC Sprint in November to take out last month's G3 Riyadh Dirt Sprint with a fair bit of authority. Successful though they have been at this meeting and in Saudi, Japan has never gone home with the Golden Shaheen hardware.

American-based sprinters number five in this year's Golden Shaheen, and Run Classic (Runhappy) is in with longshot claims. A three-time winner from 11 starts for trainer Bret Calhoun, the $475,000 OBS March breezer was first-up for over nine months in the Feb. 24 Gulfstream Park Sprint and he produced a terrific late kick down the centre of the track to win in his first run for trainer Jose D'Angelo. Also representing the U.S. are Hopkins (Quality Road), a pacesetting fourth last year; and Nakatomi (Firing Line), third in the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint before finishing a troubled third in the Pelican.

The local challenge includes G3 Al Shindagha Sprint romper Mouheeb (Flatter) and Leading Spirit (Ire) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}), who beat Freedom Fighter (Violence) in the G3 Mahab al Shimaal on Super Saturday. —Alan Carasso

Hong Kong's Spangle To Add Al Quoz To Haul?

Versatile sprinters are not a rare commodity in Hong Kong, and California Spangle (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) is aiming to become the first winner of the $1.5-million 1200-metre G1 Al Quoz Sprint from that locality since Amber Sky (Aus) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}) set a still-standing record of :56.21 when the Al Quoz Sprint was held over the minimum trip back in 2014.

Trained by Tony Cruz, the gelding proved triumphant in the G1 Hong Kong Mile back in 2022, and doubled his top-level tally with a one-length win in the G1 Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup at Sha Tin earlier this month.

“I believe this horse is a sprinter-miler, I believe he can run the 1200 metres,” said Cruz of California Spangle, who will break from stall five. “We've been lucky at a mile many times, because that's where the big races are in Hong Kong, but I think with a strong pace he can do the 1200 metres here.”

American Hall of Famer Bill Mott will saddle four-time Grade I winner Casa Creed (Jimmy Creed), who is also cutting back in trip after a third in the 2024 GI Breeders' Cup Mile. A two-time winner of the GI Jaipur S. over this trip, the 7-year-old entire will be ridden by Luis Saez and leave from gate six in the 12-horse field.

No horse has ever won the Al Quoz twice, regardless of the distance, and the 2023 victor, Danyah (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), shocked the field at 33-1, with Sight Success (Aus) (Magnus {Aus}) fourth. Now seven, the Shadwell gelding has been specially prepared with this race in mind and enters off a third-place finish in the G2 Al Fahidi Fort over 1400 metres on Jan. 26.

“This has been the aim all season and we have brought him on slowly with this in mind,” trainer Musabbeh Al Mheiri said. “He surprised everyone last season and I think he has a good chance of repeating last year's success.”

A pair of 3-year-old fillies take on males and receive a 13-pound pull in the weights in Abdulla Al Mansoori's Frost At Dawn (Frosted), successful with a record-breaking effort in the G3 Nad Al Sheba Turf Sprint over 1000 metres on Super Saturday, and her Turf Sprint runner-up, Godolphin's Star Of Mystery (GB) (Kodiac {GB}). The latter, who was second in the G2 Duchess Of Cambridge S. last July, won the G2 Blue Point Sprint, defeating Czechoslovakian Horse of the Year Ponntos (Ire) (Power {GB}), for trainer Charlie Appleby in January.

William Knight, who trains Frost At Dawn, said, “To go into a Group 1 with a real chance is quite exciting. Her win on Super Saturday was no fluke and that she broke the track record gives me a bit of confidence. Mickael [Barzalona] is going to ride her, which is great, as they obviously get on well.” –Heather Anderson

California Spangle | HKJC

Japan's Forever Young the Horse to Beat in UAE Derby

The lone GI Kentucky Derby prep race off U.S. shores worth 100 points to the winner–essentially guaranteeing a spot in the starting gate on the first Saturday in May–the G2 UAE Derby has an overwhelming favorite this year in Susumu Fujita's Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}). All eyes will be on the undefeated Yoshito Yahagi trainee, who blew through three Japanese dirt starts by open daylight last fall before bursting onto the world stage with a dramatic last-stride head win over Book 'em Danno (Bucchero) in the G3 Saudi Derby on Feb. 24 in his sophomore debut. Yahagi indicated after the Saudi Derby that the Kentucky Derby was very much on the 2022 JRHA yearling sale graduate's dance card. On a race day loaded with top Japanese threats, Forever Young–on paper, anyway–looks to have the easiest assignment of his countrymen.

Forever Young will have to get by America's Pandagate (Arrogate), who shipped to Dubai after a blowout win against New York-breds Feb. 25 in Aqueduct's Gander S. The grey has turned heads this week as the spitting image of his sire, whose own performance in Dubai in 2017 remains the stuff of legends. Christophe Clement aims to become only the second U.S-based trainer to use a Meydan win for an American horse's launching pad to Kentucky following Brendan Walsh's victory with Plus Que Parfait (Point of Entry) in 2019.

Mendelssohn Bay (Mendelssohn) from the Bhupat Seemar barn has to rank as the top local hope with a keen win in the G3 UAE 2000 Guineas over this surface Jan. 26, while his stablemate Guns And Glory (Gun Runner) may not yet be as accomplished, but is in sharp form with a geared-down 12-length blowout Mar. 8 over this surface.

Earlier this week, Seemar called Guns And Glory “a bit of a playboy, [but] he is a very-high class horse.” He also said the two months since Mendelssohn Bay's last start has benefitted that runner.

“I think it was a very good decision to miss Super Saturday and come directly to the Derby. He has filled out and he looks different with a nice coat on him. He has got plenty of stamina in his pedigree. We don't know how good he is but we'll find out on Saturday.”

Aidan O'Brien looks to win the UAE Derby for the fourth time since 2012 and brings Irish Group 3 winner Henry Adams (Ire) (No Nay Never), who will be making his first start since October and will have his first go on the dirt.

“Henry Adams is a lovely, big, uncomplicated horse,” said O'Brien. “He's a No Nay Never horse so he could be interesting on the dirt. We will be guided by how he goes there in Dubai as to what he does afterwards.”

O'Brien will also saddle Navy Seal (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}). –Jill Williams

Saudi Crown Clashes with Isolate in Godolphin Mile

A pair of 2024 G1 Saudi Cup runners will lock horns once again in the $1-million G2 Godolphin Mile to kickstart the Thoroughbred action at Meydan on Saturday. FMQ Stables' Saudi Crown (Always Dreaming), just got caught in the final few jumps when third after setting the pace in that February affair over 1800 metres in Riyadh, and will be cutting back to the metric mile for the first time since running second in the GIII Dwyer S. in July of 2023. He leaves from stall nine and Florent Geroux is at the controls.

“He's doing very well, he arrived on Feb. 26, settled in, and he's had three works over the track,” said trainer Brad Cox of the grey. “He ran well [in Saudi], but I love the way he's bounced out of it and he continues to improve.”

Defending champion and G2 Al Maktoum Mile winner Isolate (Mark Valeski) is one of five 2023 winners returning to attempt and retain their DWC crowns, and UAE multiple champion trainer Doug Watson has the 6-year-old primed for this assignment. Sixth in the Saudi Cup to G1 Dubai World Cup entrant Senor Buscador (Mineshaft), he is paired with Luis Saez and they will leave from gate 11.

“He came off the track on his hind legs this morning, so we were all excited about that,” said Watson. “The draw isn't great but Saudi Crown is stall nine and they're the true speed in the race. The others might try to go but I think from out there it will be those two vying for the lead. He's in great form and he loves this track.”

Rabbah Racing's Swing Vote (GB) (Shamardal), who landed the G3 Jebel Ali Mile on Feb. 10, is booked in gate five. The gelding turned in a strong piece of work on Tuesday, and was last seen running fifth to Laurel River (Into Mischief) and Qareeb (Speightstown) in the G3 Burj Nahaar on Super Saturday.

“He's doing well. He looked great on the track and Ross [Atkinson, work rider] was very happy with him,” said co-trainer Ed Crisford. “That should put him spot on for Saturday.”

–Heather Anderson

Saudi Crown | Dubai Racing Club/Liesl King

Riyadh Rematch In Dubai Gold Cup

The $1-million G2 Dubai Gold Cup Sponsored By Al Tayer Motors is the first of four races run on the turf track on World Cup night and it features a rematch between the three horses who dominated last month's G3 Red Sea Turf H. in Riyadh.

Tower Of London (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) was the narrow victor on that occasion, staying on strongly under a never-say-die ride from Ryan Moore to beat Enemy (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}) by a head, with Giavellotto (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire})–who was conceding weight to that pair–not far behind in third. The British-based trainers of the placed horses, Ian Williams and Marco Botti, respectively, will be optimistic of reversing the form with the winner, though the four-year-old Tower Of London remains relatively unexposed at the 3200-metre distance and could have more to offer for Aidan O'Brien.

Trawlerman (Ire) (Golden Horn {GB}), who took the scalp of O'Brien's star stayer Kyprios (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) when winning the G2 British Champions Long Distance Cup at Ascot in October, is another leading contender from Britain for John and Thady Gosden. He carries the first colours of Godolphin, with the white cap being sported by Charlie Appleby's Siskany (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), last year's runner-up who won the G3 Nad Al Sheba Trophy for the second year in succession on his most recent outing.

The Andrew Balding-trained Coltrane (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) finished down the field behind Trawlerman when making his final start of last season in the Long Distance Cup, but he'd been a model of consistency prior to that with wins in the G3 Sagaro S. and G2 Lonsdale Cup–plus a runner-up finish in the G1 Gold Cup–to show for his efforts. A below-par seventh in the Gold Cup was Eldar Eldarov (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), but he bounced back later in the campaign when landing the G1 Irish St Leger at the Curragh, his second Classic success having also won the English equivalent in 2022.

Further international interest is provided by three runners from France and two from Japan. Multiple Group 2 winner Sober (Fr) (Camelot {GB}) leads a two-pronged attack for Andre Fabre, while Japanese raider Libyan Glass (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}) represents the Yoshito Yahagi stable that won this race with Stay Foolish (Jpn) (Stay Gold {Jpn}) in 2022. –Adam Houghton

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The banner wasn't there. That's because jockey Junior Alvarado was sporting royal blue and white aboard the eventual winner.

Despite reporting by several Middle Eastern news outlets–namely Arab News and the Saudi Gazette–which either listed Peacock secondarily as the owner, or in the case of latter, totally omitted his name, rest assured, said the San Antonio-based breeder and owner, he is still firmly in control.

“I think it was a misunderstanding and probably due to not fully comprehending the nature of the business agreement,” said Peacock, when he was reached by phone on Monday afternoon. “This is a two-race lease for a minority interest in Senor Buscador, and he is, and always will be ours.”

It is true that after Senor Buscador arrived for the Saudi Cup under the care of trainer Todd Fincher, Peacock did forge a racing license agreement just before the race on Friday with Saudi businessman Sharaf Mohammed S. Al-Hariri.

Peacock says that the terms pertain only to Senor Buscador's time in the Middle East and have nothing to do with breeding rights. The arrangement includes competing in the Saudi Cup and then the opportunity to run in next month's G1 Dubai World Cup at Meydan Racecourse.

In exchange for an undisclosed amount, but one which Peacock confirmed was significant, Al-Hariri's stake is strictly based on the horse's winnings.

The other portion of the deal gave Al-Harari the right to have his silks borne by jockey Junior Alvarado in both races.

“I started to receive all kinds of offers for Buscador when we were invited to go to the Saudi Cup,” the owner explained. “The answer was always 'no thank you' but I understood how important it was to them over there to have their silks in the race, so I thought from a business standpoint, it would be good to mitigate our own risks, hedge our bets, and offer a short-term lease.

Owner Joe Peacock Jr. | Horsephotos

“I think Sharaf took a gamble, a major risk, and I applaud him for that effort. I am happy that it worked out for him.”

After the 6-year-old won on Saturday in Riyadh, there was confusion over why Peacock and his contingent were not allowed to take part in the official trophy presentation.

The owner and his supporters were denied access by the Royal Guard to the area where the Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman, conducted the ceremony. Al-Hariri instead received the Saudi Cup trophy.

“I was very disappointed,” admitted Peacock. “I told them I owned the horse, but it wasn't until later that they brought the trophies to us during the press conference. That is the way it goes.”

When asked about the news stories put out by the press in Saudi Arabia, he said, “I'm really over it and not going to spend time thinking about it because I know who we are and what it took to get our horse into this position.”

As of Monday morning, Senor Buscador arrived safe and sound in Dubai after he was joined by a contingent of other Saudi Cup card participants for the two-hour flight. The logistics were organized shortly after the invitation to come to Saudi Arabia was extended, according to Peacock.

Over the next month, Senor Buscador will be housed at Meydan with Fincher assistant Oscar Rojero, who traveled with the horse to Saudi Arabia. Regular workouts will take place, with Fincher making all of the decisions concerning the tab–just as he always does–added the owner.

Dubai World Cup Night is scheduled for Saturday, Mar. 30 with Senor Buscador attempting to become the first dual winner of the Saudi Cup and Dubai World Cup.

Hi, SENOR BUSCADOR!

⁦@thesaudicup⁩ winner has arrived in #Dubai! We can't wait to see him at #DWC24 pic.twitter.com/N34FGzgtRY

— Dubai Racing Club (@RacingDubai) February 26, 2024

The post Senor Buscador’s Peacock Added Investor Before Saudi Cup, Two-Race Lease In Place Through Dubai World Cup appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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The story was first reported by the Daily Racing Form's Mike Welsch.

Prince Faisal is the owner who lured trainer Jimmy Jerkens to Saudi Arabia to train a string of his horses.

“Winning the Saudi Cup is very important to them,” Mark Cornett said. “It's in his backyard and he'll be representing his country in an international race. You're going to have four or five Japanese horses, horses from all over the world. It's very important to them that they represent the Saudi people.”

Cornett said the deal has been in the works for about four weeks.

“We've been working on this for about a month,” he said. “They've flown over a couple of times to watch the horse breeze. Their vet has come over twice from France to do his due diligence. They ended up pulling the trigger on it and we consummated the deal this week. They're going to be great partners for us and we will be great partners to them. We look forward to doing additional things with them in the future.”

White Abarrio | Benoit

White Abarrio has remained at Santa Anita since winning the Breeders' Cup Classic there. Cornett said the gray will board a plane from LAX to Miami Feb. 13. From there, he will be joined by South Florida-based horses who will also be running on the Saudi Cup card before heading straight to Riyadh.

Though the owners have not committed to any races beyond the Saudi Cup, Cornett said the G1 Dubai World Cup Mar. 30 is definitely a possibility.

“The Dubai World Cup is definitely on our list of races,” he said. “He'll have to run the right way in the Saudi Cup and come out the race the right way. All the stars are going to have to line up. If that happens, we'll go in the Dubai World Cup. If not, we'll bring him back to New York and take a look at the Met Mile.”

White Abarrio worked four furlongs (:47.60, 6/73) on Friday morning at Santa Anita.

“The horse is doing better than he's ever done,” Cornett said. “I talked to (trainer) Rick (Dutrow) this morning. He breezed a half in :47 3/5 as good as he ever has and came out of the work great. The horse is definitely on his game.”

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A multiple Group winner in Meydan in addition to his second-place finish to multiple Group 1 winner Ushba Tesoro (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}), he'd last been seen in Canada on Oct. 7, missing victory in Woodbine's GIII Durham Cup S. by half-a-length. A horse for Dubai's dirt courses, his first Group triumph came in 2022 when he took the G3 Jebel Ali Mile Sponsored by Shadwell and he won both rounds of the G2 Al Maktoum Challenge series as the lead up to that World Cup attempt. His career concludes with seven victories and lifetime earnings of over $3-million.

“Unfortunately, Algiers is not showing the same sparkle in his work and we have decided to retire him,” said co-conditioner Simon Crisford in that statement on X through the Gainsborough Thoroughbreds account. “He was a very consistent horse who loved Meydan. He showed his brilliance in Rounds 1 and 2 of the Maktoum Challenge before running a close second in the Dubai World Cup.”

“He will now enjoy a happy retirement and I would like to thank his owners Sultan Ali and Hamdan bin Sultan Ali Alsabousi for their support.”

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“He just looked very effective over a mile and a mile-and-one at Meydan and he has a lot of speed,” explained Ed Crisford.

“I'm not saying he doesn't stay the 10 furlongs, it's just that we felt at Santa Anita a mile may play to his strengths more.”

An impressive winner going a mile in the G2 Al Maktoum Challenge R1 in January, the 6-year-old stretched out successfully to take Meydan's main World Cup prep in February before finishing runner-up in the 1 1/4-mile marquee test for route horses. Given time off following that effort, he returned to be second in the 8 1/2-furlong GIII Durham Cup over Woodbine's Tapeta surface Oct. 7.

Having bounced out of his North American debut, the Rabbah Bloodstock-owned runner will have one final piece of work before departing for California.

“It was like a racecourse gallop to be honest, but he has come out of it super well,” reflected Crisford. “He's had that run now and has come out of it fresh and well and looks great. He is going to have a good gallop under James Doyle before he leaves and hopefully, that will be him set for the race next weekend.

“James knows him and what he can do and what is under the bonnet. He rides the American tracks really well and it should be perfect.”

According to Crisford, G2 Rockfel S. winner Carla's Way (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) will accompany Algiers on the trip Stateside. The juvenile filly is expected to start in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf.

“She is in good form and won well at Newmarket,” added Crisford. “She can quicken off a quick pace which is what you need in America and that track should suit her well, a two-turn mile on quick ground.”

“We opted not to go for the Fillies' Mile because that mile at Newmarket on soft ground wouldn't really be for her, but she's got a lot of ability and is progressing with each run and looks like a filly who could be a lot of fun for the future.”

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The turf wordsmith revealed his intent in the Preface when he said, “I shall show that, owing to want of popular support, racing had fallen so low, and so infrequent, as to excite little or no interest.”

What he was talking about was a sport in crisis, as progressive forces in America drove racing to the edge of extinction. With renewed governmental support from states and a bit of luck from private sources in the 1920s, everything began to turn around. Investment coupled with excitement, revived American competition.

It's a cycle of precipices Thoroughbred racing has continued to weather to this day.

In the current era, one of the sport's greatest innovations, the Breeders' Cup World Championships, is set for its 40th edition in November. As we celebrate the final month of the Challenge Series, here's a preview of all the weekend graded activity which will leave the station at Churchill Downs, Santa Anita, and Aqueduct.

Next Stop, Churchill

Chugging into Louisville, the Saturday action lands under the Twin Spires for the GIII Ack Ack S. going a mile around one turn. With a trip to the GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile up for grabs, GII Louisiana Derby runner-up and 'TDN Rising Star' Zozos (Munnings) will serve as the 6-5 morning-line favorite. The Brad Cox trainee was last seen running fourth in the GIII Philip Iselin S. Aug. 19 at Monmouth Park.

Zozos | Horsephotos

The 4-year-old colt will face a number of challengers which includes MGSP O Besos (Orb), the last out winner of the GII John Nerud S. at Belmont Park Three Technique (Mr Speaker) and come from behind hero Aug. 13 of the R.A. Cowboy Jones S. at Ellis Park in 'TDN Rising Star' Stage Raider (Pioneerof the Nile).

Also scheduled is the nine-furlong GII Lukas Classic which pits GISP Rattle N Roll (Connect) against GI Cigar Mile champ Americanrevolution (Constitution). Shortleaf homebred Whelan Springs (Street Sense), who incidentally won the Iselin S., will look to upset both for trainer Lindsay Schultz.

Santa Anita, The Place To Be

The whistle stop tour of graded events doesn't stop there because Santa Anita Park begins its Autumn Meet with a number of key Saturday and Sunday races.

The GI Awesome Again S., which the TDN previewed and highlighted in a special edition of Friday's paper, will lead a packed weekend at 'The Great Race Place', as nine will face one another for the chance to line up in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic.

Three Grade II races compliment the Saturday card and it is going to be quite a duel in the GII Santa Anita Sprint Championship S. between former winner Dr. Schivel (Violence) and GI Woody Stephens S. hero and 'TDN Rising Star' Arabian Lion (Justify).

Heading to the Downhill Turf Course, a competitive group of grass specialists will cross paths with one other led by MGSW Bran (Fr) (Muhaarar {GB}) from John Sadler's stable. The dark bay gelding will line up along the inside next to MGSP Sumter (War Front), who goes with the blinkers for Richard Mandella.

Staying on the grass, the GII City of Hope Mile S. wraps up the evening with a route as local favorite MGSW Hong Kong Harry (Ire) (Es Que Love {Ire}) returns to a course where he has captured three wins in five attempts.

Arabian Lion | Sarah Andrew

The Sunday Santa Anita slate has its share of graded action as the GII Zenyatta S. marks the return of Michael Lund Petersen's Adare Manor (Uncle Mo), who comes in riding a four-race win streak. Also featured will be the GIII Tokyo City Cup S. and the GII John Henry Turf Championship S.

Sunday's BAQ Forecast, Brighter Days Ahead

Speaking of the Jockey Club's New York historian and handicapper, William Vosburgh received a nod from the New York Racing Association when they named a race after him. Now moved to Sunday because of a deluge, the GII Vosburgh S. continues to be a mainstay on the NYRA stakes schedule and, with the Belmont Park construction, returned to Aqueduct last year for the first time since 1986. The seven-furlong event offers paid entry into the GI Qatar Racing Breeders' Cup Sprint.

Last year's GI Breeders' Cup Big Ass Fans Dirt Mile champ Cody's Wish (Curlin) certainly impressed when the 5-year-old took home both the GI Churchill Downs S. and Belmont Park's GI Met Mile earlier this summer. Even though the stretch out in the GI Whitney H. at Saratoga did not yield a win, his ability is unmatched even over a wet surface against five others here.

“One turn and seven [furlongs] to a mile is good for him,” said Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott. “We wanted to see if he could win the Whitney–it's a very important race and if he could win the Met Mile and the Whitney, those are two very big races.”

The Sunday BAQ card also sports three other graded races. Heavy morning-line favorite Caramel Swirl (Union Rags), who was a runner-up in last year's GI Ballerina at Saratoga, finished fourth this time around to MGISW Echo Zulu (Gun Runner). The 5-year-old mare will look to get back on track in the GII Gallant Bloom S. when she faces five others.

A soggy turf course at Aqueduct will not deter runners for the GI Joe Hirsch Turf Classic S. Going the distance will be MGISW War Like Goddess (English Channel), who faces the boys once again after she missed by just a neck against older females in the GII Glens Falls S. Aug. 3 at Saratoga. Also headed to the post will be GI Breeders' Cup Turf victor Rebel's Romance (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), who last lost his rider in the GII Bowling Green S. July 30 at Saratoga. The dark bay gelding will not only have to contend with War Like Goddess but also MGISP Soldier Rising (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and MGISP Stone Age (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}).

Algiers | Dubai Racing Club

Finally, a can't miss on this Sunday card is the GII Woodward S. 'TDN Rising Star' Charge It (Tapit), winner of the GII Suburban S. July 8 at Belmont, and GISW Zandon (Upstart), who will head to stud duty at Spendthrift Farm next year, will take on G1 Dubai World Cup runner-up Algiers (Ire) (Shamardal). The Simon Crisford trainee is making his first U.S. start after taking the summer off.

“It is a fact-finding mission,” said Ed Crisford, who shares a license with his father. “We want to see if he can handle the American dirt because it is different than Meydan. I do think the New York tracks are more similar to Meydan than some of the other tracks. We want to see what he can do against top American dirt horses. If he goes well, wins or runs very well, we can justify going to the Breeders' Cup. If not, we'll probably just take him back to Dubai. It all depends on what happens on the weekend.”

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The new minimum purse of AED165,000 will be for non-stakes races, while all Group 1 races will be increased to a purse of at least AED1 million. The prize-money of $30.5 million on Dubai World Cup night will remain unchanged. In addition, all Meydan cards will feature nine races except for the first two.

Other changes revealed by the DRC include two new feature race nights: Festive Friday on Dec. 22 and Fashion Friday on Jan. 26, while Super Saturday will be held on Mar. 2, and Dubai World Cup night is set for Mar. 30. Racing at Meydan begins on Friday, Nov. 10.

“The DRC management and board have decided to reshape racing in Dubai, to improve sustainability in line with what is happening in the region,” said Major General Dr. Mohammed Essa Al Adhab, Executive Director of Dubai Racing Club. “Today, many countries are going along with Dubai and the UAE by using racing to showcase their development, a journey which Dubai started much earlier.

“The Dubai Racing Carnival has now become the whole season. Horses can now come to Dubai from the start of the season until the Dubai World Cup.”

Stephanie Cooley, International Manager for DRC, added, “From an international perspective, we still have our quarantine facilities, plus trainers also have the option of shifting over to a local stable. It's a more condensed season but we have retained all of the feature races and aligned them more with some of the bigger races in the region.”

British horses will also now have more travel options when visiting the Middle East.

“Horses trained in the UK have the option of 90 days temporary import, with the option of going in and out,” said Erwan Charpy, Advisor to the DRC. “They can also come on a permanent import and go back with a 30-day quarantine or go back as temporary import. There are discussions to get England to line up with the regulations in the European Union, as since Brexit there is almost no problem with horses going back to the EU without quarantine on a permanent import.

“The import certificate was previously just for the Dubai Racing Club, but now it is for the Middle East, which allows for more freedom of movement.”

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It was just a couple years prior that he had received one heck of a proposal though and it wasn't something he could pass up. So going all-in, as they say, was the plan. Not to put too fine a point on it, when opportunity knocks or in this case, arrives via Instagram, then you must be ready to parlay.

“It was at the 2022 Dubai World Cup and we had poured everything into the business and we needed a win,” Chamberlin said. “There's a time to be disciplined and just go for base hits, but there's also a moment to be bold.”

The series of conversations that spawned from that Instagram message sent by his fellow Western Michigan alum Brian Doxtator concerned the seed of a new company–Commonwealth, also known as CMNWLTH–which the pair agreed early on was going to be about one thing, and one thing only, the members. Yes, the thrill of victory was involved and all that, but it would be about putting together a series of experiences around microsharing and sports. The engine behind it all and the driving force was a sense of belonging.

“Our model is about the journey,” Chamberlin explained. “This is about sharing a belief because we realize that sports like horse racing are based on faith and if you don't build that through trust, then it is difficult to attract new customers.”

As co-founders, Chamberlin who serves as the company's head of racing and Doxtator, who as CEO comes from a diverse tech background, envisaged a world of microsharing where investors could own an affordable piece of a Thoroughbred. They made some well-documented wise calls, like in that aforementioned Dickensian moment in 2022 when Country Grammar (Tonalist) claimed victory in the G1 Dubai World Cup. Other hinge points have followed with We The People (Constitution) going off as the favorite in the GI Belmont S., and of course, when the 382 members that bought shares in Mage (Good Magic) watched that chestnut colt roll late to pick up the GI Kentucky Derby.

Mage during workout at Pimlico | Jim McCue

“We didn't plan to win the [Kentucky] Derby this soon, but we knew that our program and our partnerships would put us in a position to compete at the highest levels because we have a great team and they know how to pick great horses.”

For Chamberlin, taking a chance on joining Doxtator in starting Commonwealth was full of risk, but he was confident that it was the right move. His competitive nature in business that was honed at college comes directly from the equestrian world. When he was four years old growing up near Kalamazoo, Michigan, his mother who worked in a hair salon and his father in a paper mill, stoked his budding love of horses by enrolling him in riding programs. It took him down a path from hunters and jumpers to becoming a multi-national champion in which he showed horses from half-Arabians to Quarter Horses around the world.

“They didn't have any connection to anything equine-related, but they made sacrifices and that stoked my passion,” he said. “Over time, I encountered all of these different breeds, people connected to them with their wonderful stories and it just created this obsession.”

Then, he started to think about Thoroughbreds.

“I remember always hearing that showing was a hobby that wanted be a business, while racing was a business that always wanted to be a hobby,” Chamberlin said. “I could maybe be away from horses for six months and then I would find a way to get right back to them.”

Melding that love for all things equine with the mission of Commonwealth was linked by Chamberlin's last position as head of growth at Epipheo, a Cincinnati-based company that has assisted the likes of Walmart, Google, SAP and even the U.S. Air Force with brand awareness campaigns through what is called a video-first strategy. In other words, they explain stuff, succinctly and in a way that is palatable.

“Strategies through these explainer videos were built on education and we know through research that if you confuse people, you'll lose them,” he said. “So, you want members to soak up these complicated ideas because if they don't care, then the moment's gone. It's the old curse of knowledge. What we are doing with horse racing and Commonwealth is similar.”

Chase Chamberlin and Brian Doxtator at Pimlico during Preakness Week | Sara Gordon

Working with bloodstock agents like Marette Farrell, and WinStar Farm's Elliott Walden and David Hanley has brought Chamberlin to the immersive waters of the sales ring and he has learned the language of Thoroughbreds. From breeding to racing, it continues to be an ongoing curve for him. There is a fair amount of torque that he has experienced, but the “vernacular” as he calls it, isn't that far off from the one he once knew.

“David [Hanley] was an Olympic-level show jumper, so when we talk horse flesh we have a certain understanding between us and that has only helped my education, which is all about being a sponge,” Chamberlin said. “This complex and dizzying world has brought us into contact with some amazing partners who are about integrity first and then talent, not the other way around.”

No matter what happens this weekend at the GI Preakness S., Commonwealth has wind in its sails. But Chamberlin is quick to remind anyone that will listen that this isn't just about victories. You can't have win after win in a business like this, no matter how blessed or brilliant you might be.

“Our focus here is to spread the word and not be drained by these moments of euphoria because we know they don't last in the way that our minds think they should,” he said. “So, what you do as a company is be grateful for them, relish it, file it away, but you can temper the downswing you will inevitably feel, if you enjoy that journey along the way.”

Finding the next Mage will not be easy, but remember Chamberlin's origin story as an equestrian, his sponge-like approach to knowledge and his ability to explain complexities are all built assets. As horse racing continues to try and solve their own Rubik's Cube when it comes to bringing new, younger faces into its fold, in just four years has Chase Chamberlin and Team Commonwealth found an answer?

With the sports betting revolution drawing in more diverse customers, in a similar way, Commonwealth is poised to expand their digital platform space into golf. The future looks bright for this unique business model. Affordable investing through a set of experiences which crossover to other sports? That sounds like quite a parlay coupled with a strong sense of belonging. Now, that might be an explainer video worth watching.

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