For the third consecutive edition of the $12 million Dubai World Cup (G1), prominent North American owner Charles Fipke and his go-to trainer Dallas Stewart will take a swing at the world's second-richest race. This round is slightly different for the affable team, as they do not bring a known champion like Forever Unbridled (2018) or a Breeders' Cup- and Pegasus World Cup-placed runner like Seeking the Soul (2019). Instead, an improving sort getting very good at the right time will head to Dubai in the form of an appropriately named Title Ready.
A homebred like the aforementioned, the son of More Than Ready is from the immediate family of Seeking the Soul and is a grandson of one of the greatest race-mares of all time, undefeated Breeders' Cup-winning champion Personal Ensign. Title Ready exits a smart victory for Stewart in the Louisiana Stakes (G3) on Jan. 16 at New Orleans' Fair Grounds over G2 winner Wells Bayou, a culmination of six starts focused on refining the dark bay since he was received in the spring of 2020.
After competing 19 times for Steve Asmussen, he was switched to Stewart, resulting in a pair of good-looking wins, an excellent third to Mr Freeze in the Fayette (G2) and unplaced efforts in the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) and Clark Stakes (G1).
“Chuck is excited to come and I am too,” Stewart said. “We ran him in the Breeders' Cup and there wasn't enough pace, so he really ran pretty good that day. I probably ran him back a little quick in the Clark at Churchill, but I think he's good enough for those, so I gave him a little time after that and took him down to the Fair Grounds. Then he won in New Orleans and he looked really good that day. He's just doing great and he looks awesome.
“He's a beautiful horse with a great pedigree, by More Than Ready and with Personal Ensign on the bottom side, and is related to Seeking the Soul. That whole family is so strong. ” Stewart continued. “He's training great and is a wonderful horse to have in the barn, so I really wanted to give him a shot in this race.”
Blunt and charismatic, as always, Stewart knows he is diving once again into deep waters with the good-looking 6-year-old, but that has not stopped him from taking home a big check before. His proficiency with aiming toward a big race and placing with long-odds runners has been document ad nauseam, so his eagerness to send Title Ready should be noted.
Stewart: “He doesn't look six, that's for sure. He's a young-looking dude. He's a true grinder and really just keeps coming and keeps trying. He's a real happy horse and trains well.
“I think we got outrun the two times we were there so far, but I believe the approach we have is solid. We just have to get there and run the race. It's $12 million, it's a mile and a quarter, we're hoping he will be better at that distance and we're game to try.
“It's the only way I know to approach races. You have to be game to do it, train for it and then you go for it. We really want to thank Sheikh Mohammed for having the race and allowing us back to run. We really appreciate it.”
The post Stewart Taking Another Shot At Dubai World Cup With ‘True Grinder’ Title Ready appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
“I'll never forget Personal Ensign's Breeders' Cup (the 1988 Distaff at Churchill Downs). It was pure heart.”
“I'm going to say 
“Arazi in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (1991 at Churchill Downs). He was pretty far behind on the backstretch, and when he made his move…they use this phrase a lot, 'he sprouted wings.' It was like he sprouted wings. I've never seen a horse run past horses as fast as he did. He literally ran past them like they were standing still.”
“When Animal Kingdom was second to Wise Dan in the Breeders' Cup Mile. He had no room, the hole finally opened up, and if he had two more strides, he was a Breeders' Cup winner. That was an explosive turn of foot.”
“Uni in last year's Breeders' Cup Mile. How her and Got Stormy just kicked away from the boys at the top of the lane, went neck and neck, and really dug in was just something really special to watch.”
“Midnight Lute's Breeders' Cup Sprint (2007 at Monmouth Park). He came from out of the clouds. It was a sloppy track, the horse was on the lead, and when they straightened out, he just turned it on, and he was out in front in the blink of an eye.”