Bahrain International Trophy Defence For Lord Glitters

Group 1 winner Lord Glitters (Fr) (Whipper), who won the 2021 edition of the G3 Bahrain International Trophy, will be back to defend his title in November, according to trainer David O'Meara. Successful in the 2021 G1 Jebel Hatta besides his Bahraini exploits, the charismatic grey added the G2 Singspiel S. back at Meydan this February and was most recently fifth in the G3 Brigadier Gerard S. at Sandown on May 26.

O'Meara said, “This time of year is tough for him [Lord Glitters] at his age. He has to give away weight everywhere he goes due to his winter exploits. He won a [G1] Queen Anne [S.] at Royal Ascot when he was in his pomp. I guess we're looking at the [G3] Strensall S. [on Aug. 20] or the [G2] York S. [on July 23] as options for him. He's not getting any younger and there will come a point when his body starts to tell us that he has had enough. Can we do another winter? He's been busy enough the last few but hopefully if we can, the Bahrain International Trophy is number one on the agenda if he's fit and well and is telling us he has the appetite for it.”

He added of his experience in Bahrain last November, “We enjoyed our trip over there. Chris Dixon came over with me and I found it a nice and relaxed atmosphere and it was easy to get around. It was a very pleasant venue to visit. We'll try and send a team over for the Bahrain Turf Series if we can. We've got owners who are making noises about wanting to have runners out there this winter, so it would be great to have a few to send out and have an excuse for a winter holiday.”

“It continues to be an incredibly exciting time for horse racing in Bahrain,” said Rashid Equestrian & Horse Racing Club Executive Director Shaikh Salman bin Rashed al Khalifa. “We have been blown away with the amount of quality trainers, jockeys and horses who have come to race in Bahrain since the first Bahrain International Trophy in 2019. It was fantastic to see dual Group 1 winner Lord Glitters fight out a thrilling finish with four-time Group 1 winner Barney Roy in last year's G3 Bahrain International Trophy and then have so many top trainers competing in the first ever Bahrain Turf Series. We look forward to welcoming trainers, jockeys, and owners back in the Kingdom of Bahrain this winter.”

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Friday Previews: 3-Year-Olds Lock Horns in Dubai

Undefeated Colts Square Off In UAE 2000 Guineas

If Mohammed Khaleel Ahmed's undefeated Bendoog (Gun Runner) takes Friday's 1600-metre G3 UAE 2000 Guineas, the bay colt will become his sire's 10th black-type winner and sixth at the graded/group level. Gun Runner–the Horse of the Year and Three Chimneys stallion who was champion first-season sire in America last year-ran second to Arrogate in the 2017 G1 Dubai World Cup.

One of two in the race for his owner along with Bhupat Seemar stablemate and winner Conglomerate (Ire) (Central Banker), Bendoog faces 13 rivals. One of several legitimate threats is the two-for-two Azure Coast (Street Sense). Trained by Pavel Vashchenko along with Suvorov (Creative Cause) in the colours of Vladimir Kazakov, the $65,000 Keeneland September yearling scored by six lengths in Moscow last September before another success over 1400 metres locally on Dec. 16.

 

Lord Glitters Looks For Singspiel Double

A frequent visitor to the UAE for the Dubai World Cup Carnival, the dual Group 1 winner Lord Glitters (Fr) (Whipper) will be on hand to defend his title in the G2 Singspiel S. Third in the 2019 G1 Dubai Turf, the popular grey's greatest victory at Meydan was in the 2021 G1 Jebel Hatta on the Super Saturday card last March. Geoff and Sandra Turnbull's 9-year-old was fourth in the G2 Al Rashidiya on Jan. 21 after having to steady at the break. “We're happy with his training and we thought he ran well enough the other night in his first run at Meydan this season,” said trainer David O'Meara of the 2019 G1 Queen Anne S. hero.

The Singspiel has drawn plenty of rivals and the Godolphin homebred Zakouski (GB) (Shamardal) from Charlie Appleby's yard is aiming for his third Group 2 ring. Runner-up to Lord Glitters in last year's affair, the 2020 G2 Zabeel Mile victor also won the 2021 G2 Al Rashidiya, but he was a one-paced ninth to Lord Glitters in the G3 Bahrain International Trophy most recently. “We think he'll be better down in trip in the Singspiel as he ran really well in the race last year,” said Appleby.

 

Can Rebel's Romance Get Back On Track?

The 2000-metre Listed Curlin S. is usually a springboard toward both Super Saturday's G1 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 3 and the G1 Dubai World Cup at the end of March. For the sparingly raced Rebel's Romance (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), however, it is a recovery mission. A winner of four of his six starts including last year's G2 UAE Derby, the 4-year-old gelding has only raced once since when a flat eighth in a rated conditions test at Meydan on Jan. 8.

Even if that race knocked some rust off Rebel's Romance, his quest is made more difficult by the presence of Victorious's Salute The Soldier (Ger) (Sepoy {Aus}). A horse that has thrived in the desert since arriving in January of 2020, the Fawzi Nass-trained gelding is capable of winning at the highest level with a win in the 2021 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 3 on his ledger. He was fifth in the Jan. 14 G2 Al Maktoum Challenge Round, and Nass said, “He's in good shape. Hopefully that race [on Jan. 14] has brought him on and he's ready to rock and roll this week in the Curlin S.”

 

Four On The Bounce For Modern News?

A winner in three starts as a juvenile in 2020, Modern News (GB), was on the sidelines for a year thereafter, during which he was gelded. A winner of three in a row since returning to the track last July, Modern News will be contesting his pet distance of 1400 metres on Friday in the Listed Business Bay Challenge S. His trio of wins at Newmarket (July 31), Doncaster (Sept. 9) and Lingfield (Oct. 28) were by a combined 3 1/2 lengths and he leaves from the inside post.

Another horse trying for four-straight victories is Bet Law (Brz) (Universal Law {Brz}) in the G3 Al Shindagha Sprint over 1200 metres for Antonio Cintra Pereira and owner Stud Crespi. The 3-year-old colt soared to a pair of wins in Uruguay and won a track-and-trip conditions stakes by 4 1/4 lengths switched to Meydan on Jan. 14.

Click here for the group fields.

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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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Plenty of Action During Tuesday Track Work at Meydan

Morning action at Meydan continued apace on Tuesday, with several Dubai World Cup night contenders stretching their legs just a few days before the blockbuster nine-race card on Saturday.

Last year's JRA Champion Dirt Horse and G1 Champions Cup hero Chuwa Wizard (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}), who goes for the $12-million Dubai World Cup, galloped over the dirt track on Tuesday morning with regular pilot Keita Tosaki in the irons. He was ninth in the Saudi Cup in February.

“He has trained well so far,” said Tosaki. “The trainer told me to start a slow gallop at the beginning and then in the rest of the work I should decide the way he ran. I asked my horse to run comfortably and drive a bit more strongly towards the end of the stretch. He is more enthusiastic about his job compared to last time in Saudi, and I really understand how he is doing well and how good his condition is. He appears ready to race.”

Japan also fields a strong challenge in the $5-million G1 Longines Dubai Sheema Classic. Chrono Genesis (Jpn) (Bago {Fr}), a three-time winner at the highest level in her native land including the G1 Arima Kinen Grand Prix in late December, galloped over the turf track with pilot Yuichi Kitamura on board.

“I picked up from the third bend and drove her comfortably to bring out her flexibility, without having too strong a breeze in the stretch,” said Kitamura. “It was my first ride on the turf track at Meydan, and the ground seems to be firmer than I expected. I thought it would be more cushioned but the grass itself is in really good condition. The ground won't be her issue anyway. I am very proud of how well she has travelled for the first time with a long flight. She feels really good and is settling in well at the quarantine barn.”

G1 Japanese Oaks heroine Loves Only You (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) worked on the dirt track with jockey Oisin Murphy aboard at 5 a.m.

“I have asked Oisin to get a feel for her and he said she was very fresh and sound,” said trainer Yoshito Yahagi. “I want her to put on a bit more weight as she lost some weight while she was isolated in Japan. But her flight experience last year when she came to Dubai helped her a lot this time. Since she arrived in Dubai, she has settled in well and her appetite has been back, and I hope she keeps improving her condition for Saturday's race. Oisin will give her a gallop either on dirt or turf tomorrow. He can choose whichever he likes.”

Simon and Ed Crisford's $4-million G1 Dubai Turf duo Court House (Ire) (Dawn Approach {Ire}), who was second in the G2 Al Rashidiya in February and G3 Darley S. third Epic Hero (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) breezed 1200 metres on Tuesday morning. Head lad Dan Hutchinson was on Epic Hero and Ryan Powell rode Court House.

“Both worked very well this morning, they are fit and ready and we couldn't be happier with them.” Simon Crisford said. “Court House has run extremely well on the Meydan turf in his last two starts so we are hopeful he can run another consistent race. He's training well and enjoys racing up with the pace.

“Epic Hero has done very well since his first Carnival race and we are hopeful he can run a nice race. Obviously, he will need to improve on his best form, but he deserves to take his chance.”

Last out G1 Jebel Hatta victor Lord Glitters (Fr) (Whipper) who is also targetting the Dubai Turf, was also in action, and breezed a quarter mile on the Meydan grass.

Trainer David O'Meara said, “Lord Glitters did a nice breeze over 400m on the grass this morning. That will be his final piece of fast work before the weekend and he is in good order.”

Trainer Nigel Tinkler's stakes winner Acklam Express (Ire), from the first crop of leading European first-season sire Mehmas (Ire), breeze on turf under rider Rowan Scott. Second and third in the G2 Meydan Sprint and G3 Nad Al Sheba Turf Sprint in February and March, respectively, he is entered for the $1-million G1 Al Quoz Sprint.

Tinkler, who is currently in the UK said, “Acklam Express worked this morning and he worked very nicely as he followed Lord Glitters during his gallop. He has been doing very well in Dubai and seems to like it there.”

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