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:
Ajuste Fiscal – Uruguay's 2019 horse of the year stayed inside quarantine on Tuesday morning but is expected back on the Meydan dirt track alongside his UAE Derby-bound stablemate, El Patriota, at 5am on Wednesday.
Capezzano and Hypothetical – The two Salem Bin Ghadayer-trained Dubai World Cup charges stayed inside their trainer's base at Fazza Stables in Nad Al Sheba on Tuesday morning. Both horses completed their final bits of fast work on Saturday and are just ticking over until the big race.
Capezzano, the 2020 Group 3 Firebreak Stakes and 2019 Group 1 Al Maktoum Challenge R3 winner, started the year by finishing out of the money in the 1600m first round of the Al Maktoum Challenge and followed up with a fourth in Round 2 over 1900m.
Speaking about Capezzano, a 7-year-old son of Bernadini, Bin Ghadayer said: “The horse wasn't quite right in January. He was wrong in his coat and just wasn't himself which he showed in a couple of races where he didn't perform as expected.
“But now he's back in good health and really impressed us in his last pieces of work on Saturday over four furlongs (800m). We could have run him in the [Godolphin] Mile but with him being so well in himself and showing that the old Capezzano is back, we decided to take the chance in the big race.”
Chuwa Wizard – Japan's flagship for the race was given a gallop under his regular jockey Keita Tosaki in the first lot on the dirt track. He is the 2020 Japan Racing Association's champion dirt horse after winning the Grade 1 Champions Cup, the key race on the surface in his home country. His consistency is certainly his top selling point and before running ninth in the Saudi Cup, last month, he had never missed the board in 18 starts at home – being unplaced only once.
“He has trained well so far. 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,” said his jockey Keita Tosaki. “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.
“Obviously it was not like he wasn't in good form when he ran last time, but he is definitely sharpening up mentally this time. Stretching out the distance back to 2000m with two turns in the race gives me a lot of expectations.”
Gifts Of Gold – Continues his preparation at his home base of Al Quoz. “He's as good as he can be and we're looking forward to Saturday night,” said trainer Saeed Bin Suroor.
Great Scot – Had some light exercise this morning within the quarantine facility and will train on the main dirt track tomorrow morning.
Trainer Abdullah Mishriff said: “Similar to the other Prince Faisal-owned horse, we moved our breezing day for Great Scot as we wanted to work him at home before shipping. He's come out of the breeze very well and all is going to plan. We're hoping for a good draw tomorrow.”
Jesus' Team – It was an important morning for Jesus' Team, as he was allowed to stretch his legs in the final 600m of the Meydan straight. Venezuelan trainer Jose Francisco D'Angelo couldn't have been more pleased as he watched his charge stride along.
D'Angelo said: “He trained perfectly today. I spoke with the rider and asked him to let him run along in the last 2 to 3 furlongs (400 to 600m). He did this spectacularly in '26, like I wanted. I liked what I saw today, we are ready.”
Jesus' Team hadn't breezed since his 1400m move at Palm Meadows nine days ago.
“He needed this, this gallop. He breezed like it was nothing,” D'Angelo continued. “This is my first experience in a big race outside of the USA. He represents a big promise to the owner, to my country, to [the] USA, to perform well in this race.”
Magny Cours – The 6-year-old Magny Cours spent a second morning on the training track in Dubai after leaving quarantine on Monday.
Richard Lambert, the travelling head lad who looks after the André Fabre-trained son of Medaglia d'Oro, said: “Just like yesterday he came onto the training track, where he did a little canter. We won't be doing much between now and the Dubai World Cup. Magny Cours has adapted really well and seems to really like it here.”
Military Law – This 6yo gelded son of Dubawi has grown to love conditions in the UAE and shown an affinity for Meydan's dirt track over the past two seasons despite having to deal with some truly heavyweight names.
Second in the Group 2 Al Maktoum Challenge R2 over 1900m behind Benbatl and the 2000m Group 1 Al Maktoum Challenge R3 after his victory in The Entisar, Military Law brought his form forward into the new season and made his seasonal bow in the Group 2 Al Maktoum Challenge R1, which he won by a length and a quarter from Thegreatcollection in January.
He was then dispatched to Riyadh and took on a host of top dirt runners from around the world in the Saudi Cup, where he placed a distant sixth behind eventual winner Mishriff over a 1900m trip.
Trainer Musabbeh Al Mheiri said conditions at Riyadh did not suit Military Law, who needed time to recover after the race, but seems back to his pre-Saudi self now after reacclimatising at Meydan. Military Law hit the Meydan dirt track for an easy canter on Tuesday and will do his last piece of work Thursday with Al Mheiri admitting he will demand a bit more then.
“He came back in good shape from Saudi but the race and all the travelling took a bit out of him. The surface was deeper on the day and he came back a little bit tired but he's bounced back to normal. He was rested on Monday, cantered today and will get a bit of a breeze Thursday morning,” Al Mheiri said.
Al Mheiri's assistant Maria Ritchie, who has also been overseeing his conditioning, added: “He had his final gallop on Saturday and Musabbeh and Antonio, who has been riding him every day, are both happy with his work. He's put in good times and worked very well and we are happy with his times.”
Mystic Guide – Godolphin's Mike Stidham-trained Mystic Guide had an easy day at Meydan, jogging one circuit of the dirt track clockwise with a pony, sticking to the perimeter. Stidham and assistant Hilary Pridham arrived the previous evening from New Orleans and were on hand.
“Everything has been fantastic and the horse was very happy and relaxed in his jog,” Stidham said. “We'll school (in the saddling enclosure and parade ring) this evening. He seems to be taking everything really well.”
Having breezed Sunday and walked Monday, Mystic Guide will likely have an easy canter on Wednesday before the late-morning post position draw.
Stidham said that he would prefer “somewhere in the middle” as far as post position. Mystic Guide is the veteran conditioner's first runner outside of America or Canada. Jockey Luis Saez has the assignment on Saturday in what will be his first Dubai World Cup night ride. His agent, former trainer Kiaran McLaughlin, won the 2007 Dubai World Cup with Invasor and is a former UAE champion trainer.
Salute The Soldier – The in-form performer is having a quiet week at the Fawzi Nass stable. The trainer reported: “He has completed all his major work and will just tick over between now and Saturday, including a scheduled visit to Meydan. It is just great to be representing Bahrain in such a prestigious race, especially to be going there with a horse who has, we hope, a genuine chance. The draw is going to be crucial in that race.”
Sleepy Eyes Todd – Frequent traveller Sleepy Eyes Todd walked in the quarantine barn today, after putting in his final breeze over 1600m the day before. Trainer Miguel Angel Silva reported the grey to have pulled up well and he will appear on the dirt track again tomorrow.
Thegreatcollection – Trainer Doug Watson said: “We are delighted with him; he did his final piece of work yesterday, went very well and looks great. We then trotted him out in the afternoon and he was fine so we cannot get to Saturday quick enough and are really looking forward to it!”
Title Ready – Charles Fipke's homebred Title Ready exited his 800m Monday breeze in top order for trainer Dallas Stewart, who arrived on Monday evening. The Grade 3 winner will be ridden by Ryan Moore on Saturday.
“He's come out of his work really good,” Stewart said. “We're happy. No problems at all.” Stewart also reported that he would prefer a post that is “a little outside”.
Moore is winless in the Dubai World Cup so far but has finished third twice with Planteur (2012, 2013).
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