The following notes detail contenders in Saturday's $12 million Dubai World Cup at Meydan Racecourse, and were provided by members of the Dubai Racing Club media team:
Chuwa Wizard – The sole Japanese contender cantered for half a lap on the dirt track with his regular work rider Kota Kato on board.
“He feels great. I think he can go into the race a fit horse,” Kato said.
“He will put on toe outer rim (shoes) with 2mm spikes for the race, as the 2000m (1 1/4 miles) has two turns, and will get familiarized with them in the trotting ring tomorrow. Everything is all set and fingers crossed.”
Gifts of Gold – Trainer Saeed Bin Suroor said of his Red Sea Turf Handicap winner: “He had a prep run here over 2000m before Saudi. People were asking me why are you running him over 3200m, he's a 2000m horse. But in my mind I knew this was the right thing to do.
“The key to this horse is he has to be close, sitting quietly second or third will make the difference with him. Pat (Cosgrave) knows him well, he rides him in the mornings, he knew what to do. He won well and picked up some nice prize money.
“Now we prepare him for the Dubai World Cup, back over 2000m. It's tough but it's an open race. ”
Regarding the draw in stall 14, Bin Suroor continued: “I never pick a good one, luckily the horses have been good enough to win. It's not ideal but Christophe Soumillon knows the track well and has won the race twice. What's important for the horse is to jump well and get a nice position. The last piece of work was Thursday and he went very well, we can do no more now.”
Great Scot – Cantered one lap of the track and just stretched out over the final 200m of his work this morning.
Saud Alkahtani, speaking on behalf of trainer, Abdullah Mishriff, said: “He's training very good, he likes the track, it's different compared with the Saudi track, here it's sharper in comparison but he loves it.”
Reflecting on the third-placed spot in the Saudi Cup, he continued: “That's what makes us think very highly of this horse's chances tomorrow, he was beaten by two good horses in Charlatan, one of the best in America, and Mishriff – a Group 1 winner in the French Derby and the Saudi Cup now – so I think our horse has a good chance tomorrow.”
Hypothetical – The former John Gosden-trained 4-year-old enjoyed some light exercise this morning at Fazza Stables. Trainer Salem Bin Ghadayer said: “He's as good as he can be, we're happy with the draw and looking forward to tomorrow now.”
Jesus' Team – Continued with an easy gallop on Friday morning, going two steady laps on the dirt track. Former Venezuelan leading trainer Jose Francisco D'Angelo watched his every move and was pleased with what he witnessed.
D'Angelo said: “He went slower than yesterday. When he finishes and you go slow he'll try to jump where the lights are. So I told my rider (Willo Mercado) to keep him going. I'm very, very happy.
“I am ready. A little nervous for sure, but we are ready. I can't express this feeling. Not just to run, but to be running with a chance is amazing for me.
“Today he looked focussed, better than yesterday. The rider said he's 100%. My plan has gone well. We're ready to rock and roll.”
A sizeable Venezuelan contingent has turned up in support of the young trainer, including D'Angelo's wife, mother, sister and friends.
Magny Cours – The Andre Fabre-trained Magny Cours was one of the last foreign raiders to come onto the training track on Friday morning, where he did a slow canter. Richard Lambert, his travelling head lad, said: “We are happy with him. He is handling the heat really well. It is quite late when we come out in the morning, but he has adapted well to the heat.”
Mystic Guide – Godolphin's Mike Stidham-trained leading runner came out to the Meydan dirt track at 7am and had an easy gallop around the track before gate schooling for the second consecutive day.
“He had a nice easy gallop,” Stidham said. “That was the plan and he went well. Yesterday he was a little anxious in the gate, but today was better. He walks right in as soon as they put the strap behind him.”
Lightly raced, the homebred 4-year-old colt makes just his eighth start on Saturday.
“He just has flourished here,” Stidham continued. “Every day I've been watching his weight and seeing if his coat was changing, but he's been perfect. I'm amazed at how well he's taking all of this.”
Salute The Soldier – Trainer Fawzi Nass has completed preparations with his big-race runner and is happy with where he stands.
“As we have said we would have preferred a better draw but the horse is in great shape and his last work was very good indeed. Adrie (de Vries) is a world-class jockey so I will leave tactics to him as the race unfolds,” he said.
Sleepy Eyes Todd – A quiet morning was in store for Grade 2 Charlestown Classic victor Sleepy Eyes Todd, taking a steady turn around the Meydan dirt track. Trainer Miguel Angel Silva watched the grey from his customary spot on the apron.
Silva said: “He went very mildly, stretched his legs. We are ready. Hopefully we will go home with the prize-money. It's been a great learning experience and I love it. I would change nothing about the trip we've had.”
Five weeks ago Sleepy Eyes Todd appeared in Saudi Arabia, a first ever international venture for team Silva.
“He's been running every month. This is the perfect timing to be back running at 100%,” Silva continued.
“It is a dream come true for every trainer. Every person that works in this business is looking for a horse like this. There are only 14 horses in the race so there are very few people that can really come and enjoy this moment. We are really fortunate to be here, to be one of the few.”
Thegreatcollection – Trainer Doug Watson is thrilled but surprised that one of his stable stalwarts finally has a big-race chance.
“This horse owes us nothing; he has been a great servant to us all over four years and this time last year had just won the Silver Jubilee over 1400m at Jebel Ali,” he said. “If you told me then, or even in December when he won the Dubai Creek Mile, he would be running in a Dubai World Cup I would have laughed.
“But he has had a great season and proved he deserves his chance, especially with his second in the second round of the Al Maktoum Challenge. He can be forgiven his lesser effort on Super Saturday because the bit slipped through his mouth and he has never been the easiest horse to ride.
“He has never been a flashy work horse and his last gallop was just typical of him and far from spectacular but that is normal. He saves his efforts for the races so hopefully Saturday is one of his big runs. There should be plenty of pace which will suit and we are really looking forward to it.”
Title Ready – Charles Fipke's homebred Title Ready jogged on Friday morning, getting the minimal amount of exercise and staying loose before his big bout tomorrow evening.
The son of More Than Ready has impressed the media with his appearance in recent days, hinting that he may be ready to step up to Grade 1 company off his Grade 3 victory last out in New Orleans. In November, he was off the board in the Breeders' Cup Classic over this same 2000m distance.
“We ran him in the Breeders' Cup and he ran pretty good, but then I ran him back too fast in the (Grade 1) Clark (Stakes) at Churchill (Downs),” trainer Dallas Stewart said. “He got some time and then won and looked really good at the Fair Grounds (in the G3 Louisiana Stakes). He's bred to be a good horse, by More Than Ready from the family of Personal Ensign. He deserves a shot in this race. He's a grinder and will keep trying.”
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