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Curlin posts 'perfect' half-mile in advance of World Cup

Curlin pleased Scott Blasi and the Nad al Sheba spectators (Dubai Racing Club Photo) At Nad al Sheba on Monday, Horse of the Year CURLIN (Smart Strike) traveled a half-mile in :50.16, dazzling onlookers with a show of contained power in his final work for Saturday's Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1). Exercise rider Carlos Rosas sat motionless in the saddle throughout the move, and Curlin galloped out five furlongs in 1:06.18. "Perfect," summed up Scott Blasi, who has been overseeing Curlin's preparations in Dubai for trainer Steve Asmussen. "He's physically ready to do what we are going to ask him to do on Saturday," Blasi declared. WELL ARMED (Tiznow) also turned in his final timed work for the World Cup, breezing a half-mile in :48.00 under exercise rider Iggy Puglisi. Trainer Eoin Harty said that the workout went according to plan.

"I just wanted him to go an easy half-mile, which he did," Harty noted. "He galloped out strong. He's very fit and he's sound, so it was just a routine maintenance work.

"It's pretty much all done and dusted," he said of the pre-race preparations. "Some light galloping, a trip to the starting gate and that will be it."

Making his first appearance on the main track after exercising lightly on Saturday and Sunday at the training track, A. P. ARROW (A.P. Indy) was full of energy as he alertly took in the surroundings. He returned from a mile jog followed by an enthusiastic gallop under exercise rider Eddie King with some lather on his neck.

Ginny De Pasquale, an assistant to trainer Todd Pletcher, said the chestnut horse "always enjoys his training."

A. P. Arrow will visit the starting gate on Tuesday and then just gallop up to the Dubai World Cup with no timed workouts, she said. Pletcher plans to fly to Dubai on Saturday to saddle the horse and then return to America shortly after the race.

Also glimpsed on Monday morning was GREAT HUNTER (Aptitude), who underwent a light canter for Tony Romero, an exercise rider for trainer Doug O'Neill.  Romero said he backed J. Paul Reddam's four-year-old colt up to the 1 1/4-mile mark and had him gallop once around the track.

"He felt perfect," Romero said, adding that Great Hunter had made a smooth transition to Dubai after shipping in from California.

"He's pretty happy," said the exercise rider. "He's acting pretty good."

Resident trainer Mike de Kock also made an appearance, opting to work his World Cup aspirants LUCKY FIND (Rich Man's Gold) and ASIATIC BOY (Not for Sale) on the Nad al Sheba turf. Winner of the U.A.E. Triple Crown last year, Asiatic Boy suffered his first Nad al Sheba defeat in the Burj Nahaar (UAE-G3) on the March 6 Super Thursday card, but his handler is confident of a much bolder showing on Saturday.

"I was too easy on him in the build-up to Super Thursday," de Kock said, "but as you can see he is far tighter now, and hopefully will be at his peak on Saturday.

"We ran him over a mile to progress to the 10 furlongs gradually, and we will find out about his stamina on Saturday."

Earlier, Lucky Find had worked with Dubai Duty Free (UAE-G1) candidate ARCHIPENKO (Kingmambo), and both moved nicely.

"Stamina is an obvious concern with Lucky Find," de Kock admitted.

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