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HANDICAPPING INSIGHTS MARCH 2, 2007 by Dick Powell Haven't we seen this before? Last year, Horse of the Year INVASOR (Arg) (Candy Stripes) came to Dubai off a campaign in South America after being purchased by a member of the ruling Maktoum family. This year, Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa al Maktoum purchased ASIATIC BOY (Not for Sale) off a campaign in Argentina, where he just missed winning the Gran Criterium (Arg-G1) at San Isidro in his last start of the season in South America. Now trained by South African Mike de Kock, he dominated a seven-furlong conditions race over the fibresand of Nad al Sheba's main track on the opening night of the Dubai International Racing Carnival. Next out was the U.A.E. Two Thousand Guineas (UAE-G3) going a mile and Asiatic Boy romped again, this time by 4 1/2 lengths in good time. It was a measured win, indicating nine furlongs (or 1,800 meters) would be no problem. In Thursday's Al Bastakiya S., essentially a $150,000 stakes run under allowance conditions, Asiatic Boy was assigned 132 pounds since he is a Southern Hemisphere three-year-old and is about six months older than his Northern Hemisphere competition. His main rival was Day Pass (Five Star Day), who was undefeated in two starts last year including the Nashua S. (G3) at Aqueduct going a mile. Day Pass showed high speed when wiring the field in the Nashua but was outgunned for the lead by Weichong Marwing aboard Asiatic Boy on Thursday. The 1-2 favorite took the early lead but did it without getting keyed up as Marwing had a handful of horse beneath him. Frankie Dettori tracked him with Day Pass and tried to go up after Asiatic Boy with a half-mile to go to make a race of it. Marwing and Asiatic Boy would have nothing of it, cruising away to a clear lead turning for home, and the only drama would be how far would he win by, how fast would he run and who would finish second. Without any urging from Marwing, Asiatic Boy won the 1,800-meter event by seven easy lengths. His final time of 1:48.27 was excellent -- far faster than the last two runnings of the Al Bastakiya -- and a tick faster than Discreet Cat's (Forestry) U.A.E. Derby (UAE-G2) last year at the same distance. Victory Tetsuni (Gone West) was able to get up for second after rallying from far back in his first race outside Japan. In the Mahab al Shimaal S. (UAE-G3), a six-furlong sprint down the straightaway at Nad al Sheba, Sheikh Rashid bin Mohammed al Maktoum won it with an American shipper, but not the one that you might have expected. Last year, Sheikh Rashid purchased champion and Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) winner Thor's Echo (Swiss Yodeler) with the Dubai Golden Shaheen (UAE-G1) in mind on the Dubai World Cup card. The Mahab al Shimaal was supposed to be Thor's Echo's prep for the Golden Shaheen, but nobody told Sheikh Rashid's other entrant, TERRIFIC CHALLENGE (Royal Academy), who rallied from far back to win going away by 1 1/4 lengths over the Doug Watson-trained Bounty Quest (Fasliyev). Thor's Echo, sent off at 3-5, broke well, settled behind the two pacesetters, but had no closing kick when Richard Mullen asked him to go. He finished sixth, beaten about four lengths, but as far as prep races go, it should have accomplished what he needed for the Golden Shaheen. Don't dismiss him just yet. Terrific Challenge raced in North America last year for Stanley Hough, mostly in turf sprints, before being purchased by Sheikh Rashid. He was ridden to victory by Ryan Moore, who timed his late rally perfectly. Terrific Challenge, sent off at odds of 23-1, covered the six furlongs in 1:09.66. German-bred QUIJANO (Acatenango) has had a terrific Carnival and now has won three races going 1 1/2 miles on the turf. Winner of his prior seven starts in Germany, he now has a 10-race winning streak; the latest being the $200,000 Dubai City of Gold S. (UAE-G3). He'll go next to the $5 million Dubai Sheema Classic (UAE-G1) over a course that he clearly loves, but he will face killer competition What should have been Discreet Cat's final prep race for his upcoming epic battle with Invasor turned out to be a major disappointment as the undefeated colt had to be scratched because of a slight fever that he was running on the morning of the race. "He was a bit quiet this morning and we found he had a bit of a temperature," trainer Saeed bin Suroor said. "It's a real shame as he was working well and in good condition. He is looking much better already and we will see how he is in the next couple of days." At the moment, the $6 million Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1) is still on the agenda and we can only keep our fingers crossed that he is able to make it to the race in top form as he will take on Invasor and PREMIUM TAP (Pleasant Tap). Still, 15 other runners contested the $200,000 Burj Nahaar S. (UAE-G3) at 1,600 meters (about a mile) on the fibresand. Watson, who upset the Mahab al Shimaal, won again with a longshot when the 24-1 BOSTON LODGE (Grand Lodge) rallied to win going away. A just reward for entering a race in which Discreet Cat was supposed to run. This year's Dubai World Cup card will be held on March 31 -- a week later than in the past. Also, the United States will be going to Daylight Savings Time on March 11, so the races will be seen over here an hour later than what we are used to. This means that the Dubai World Cup will be run at 1:30 p.m. (EDT), which will enable more racing fans in more time zones to follow the entire World Cup card. With the strength of all the races looking to be at an all-time high, it should be a great day of racing.
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