Albertus Maximus takes to track in Dubai

Albertus Maximus will try to live up to his name in the World Cup (Courtesy of Dubai Racing Club)

Donn H. (G1) hero ALBERTUS MAXIMUS (Albert the Great) was among the squadron
of 12 American shippers who made an appearance at Nad al Sheba Sunday, one day
after clearing quarantine in Dubai. The likely favorite for Saturday’s $6
million Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1) jogged three furlongs and galloped a mile
beneath exercise rider Rob Massey, presenting a more relaxed attitude in his
second morning of activity on the track.

“He loved it,” assistant Trish McLaughlin, the sister-in-law of trainer
Kiaran McLaughlin, told drcnewswire.com. “Rob said he felt great, and he’s just
doing fabulous.”

While Albertus Maximus was enjoying his routine exercise, the French-based
Kachgai (Kaldouneeves [Fr]) got loose and ran off, but thankfully never posed a
danger and was soon apprehended.

Arlington Million runner-up Archipenko has his sights set on the Duty Free (Courtesy of Dubai Racing Club)

Grade 1 winner WELL ARMED (Tiznow), who is looking to improve on his
third-place finish in the 2008 World Cup, turned in a strong but controlled
gallop as Alexander Thompson worked to keep him from doing too much. Conditioner
Eoin Harty was delighted with his charge.

“Absolutely,” Harty declared when asked if he liked what he saw.

“Gee, he is a machine!” Thompson yelled to Harty as they returned to the
backstretch gap. “He is so powerful. Unbelievable!”

Plans call for Well Armed to breeze a half-mile Monday morning, with jockey
Aaron Gryder expected to be in the irons.

Kip Deville will line up in the Duty Free (Courtesy of Dubai Racing Club)

“He liked the track; there’s no problem with that at all — he gets over it
real well,” exercise rider Eddie Cruz said.

World Cup hopeful ARSON SQUAD (Brahms), who will try to avenge his
fourth-place effort in the Donn, and top American miler KIP DEVILLE (Kipling), a
contender in the $5 million Dubai Duty Free (UAE-G1), each galloped about 1 1/4
miles. Trainer Richard Dutrow’s assistant, Michelle Nevin, was in the saddle for
both, with Arson Squad going out early and Kip Deville the last American on the
track.

Nevin was pleased with what she described as just “easy and uneventful”
strolls.

Also tuning up for the Duty Free, Citation H. (G1) star HYPERBARIC (Sky
Classic) jogged for the second day, covering about 1 1/4 miles.

Indian Blessing will make her first start versus males in the Golden Shaheen (Courtesy of Dubai Racing Club)

Two-time champion INDIAN BLESSING (Indian Charlie) galloped 1 3/8 miles as
she builds up to her clash with males in the $2 million Dubai Golden Shaheen
(UAE-G1). Horseman Bob Baffert, at home in Southern California, monitored the
exercise by way of his cell phone. Assistant Jimmy Barnes provided him with all
the details, live and direct, as Indian Blessing toured the track.

“She was very comfortable on the track and she was very relaxed out there —
it was just what we were looking for,” Barnes said later.

Indian Blessing is scheduled to breeze a half-mile on Monday morning.

Her compatriots and Golden Shaheen rivals, Vosburgh S. (G1) winner BLACK
SEVENTEEN (Is It True) and MACHISMO (Trippi), likewise galloped.

Red Rocks will look to rebound in the Sheema Classic (Courtesy of Dubai Racing Club)

Red Rocks, whose signature victories have come in the 2006 Breeders’ Cup Turf
(G1) and last year’s Man o’ War S. (G1), galloped a mile after jogging three
furlongs. Trish McLaughlin is caring for the six-year-old until trainer Mark
Hennig arrives later in the week.

“He’s settled in well and he’s doing everything right,” McLaughlin said.

Canadian International (Can-G1) upsetter Marsh Side took a tour of Nad al
Sheba’s turf course for the second consecutive day.

Rounding out the American contingent was $1 million Godolphin Mile (UAE-G2)
contender INFORMED (Tiznow), who was even more aggressive than he was on
Saturday, pulling away from assistant trainer Leandro Mora and leaping into the
air under rider Tony Romero as he began his exercise.