3/26/09
Last updated: 3/25/09 7:15 PM
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Kip Deville has been galloping enthusiastically
(Dubai Racing Club) |
The two turf events on Dubai World Cup night, the $5 million Dubai Duty Free
(UAE-G1) and the $5 million Dubai Sheema Classic (UAE-G1), feature top
performers from around the globe.
In the nearly nine-furlong Duty Free, America’s premier miler KIP DEVILLE
(Kipling) is among a full and contentious field of 16. The winner of the 2007
Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) and runner-up to Goldikova (Ire) (Anabaa) as the
defending champion, the Richard Dutrow charge is coming off a driving score in
the Gulfstream Park Turf H. (G1). Regular rider Cornelio Velasquez will be in
the saddle and the pair will break from post 7.
Also flying the flag for the United States from post 5 will be HYPERBARIC (Sky Classic), who
will be making his seasonal reappearance in this ultra-tough spot. The Julio
Canani trainee was in the form of his life at the end of last season, capping a
four-race winning streak in the Citation H. (G1). Tyler Baze, who was aboard for
the Citation, will renew their partnership here.
South Africa’s own JAY PEG (Camden Park), the winner of the 2008 Duty Free in
a tight finish, is back to defend his crown. Like last year, the six-year-old
bay has been steadily rounding into form for Herman Brown. Jay Peg kicked off
his campaign with a distant fourth to GLADIATORUS (Silic [Fr]) in a handicap,
but progressed to finish a dead-heat second to the late-charging BALIUS (Mujahid)
in the Jebel Hatta (UAE-G2) at this course and distance. Weichong Marwing gets
the return call aboard Jay Peg, who will be loaded in post 15.
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The Mike de Kock-trained ARCHIPENKO (Kingmambo) was a close third in last
season’s Duty Free, but he has improved quite a bit in the interim. The royally
bred bay, who will break from post 10, conquered the Queen Elizabeth II Cup (HK-G1) at Sha Tin, defeating
Balius, and added the Summer Mile (Eng-G2) at Ascot to his lengthening resume.
Runner-up after a less than perfect trip in the Arlington Million (G1) in
August, Archipenko returned to action with a smart victory in the Zabeel Mile
(UAE-G3) beneath Kevin Shea. De Kock will also saddle the useful BANKABLE (Medicean),
a convincing handicap winner in his first start for the yard who will start from
post 1.
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Vodka shown flying home in the Yasuda Kinen last June
(Japan Racing Association) |
“I must
be born
lucky, none of mine have drawn really badly,” De Kock said, speaking generally
of all his runners on the night.
“Things haven’t gone our way for
the last
month or so then boom!” Shea stated. “Everything just goes perfect tonight. I’m delighted with
a wider
draw for Archipenko in the Dubai Duty Free because of the speed. They’re gonna
go
mad, trust me. I promise you the best horse will win the Dubai Duty Free and I
think I’m
on the best horse.”
Japan’s Horse of the Year VODKA (Tanino Gimlet) will try to improve on her
fourth-place effort in the 2008 Duty Free. The nearly black mare, who drew post
3, garnered the
prestigious Yasuda Kinen (Jpn-G1) and Tenno Sho Autumn (Jpn-G1) during her
championship campaign, but suffered significant traffic trouble en route to a
frustrating fifth in the Jebel Hatta. Yutaka Take will hope for a smoother
passage Saturday.
“The position is a little inside what
I hoped for,
but Gladiatorus might go forward so I am hoping she could follow him,” said Vodka’s trainer, Katsuo Sumii.
“The track
condition on turf is good and Vodka always starts well so she can get a good
position.”
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Godolphin is represented by CREACHADOIR (King’s Best), who has been sidelined
by injury since taking the Lockinge S. (Eng-G1) in May; ALEXANDROS (Kingmambo),
a dual handicap winner at the Dubai Carnival; and new recruit LADY MARIAN (Nayef),
last seen landing the Prix de l’Opera (Fr-G1). Godolphin’s top rider Frankie
Dettori sides with Lady Marian in post 12, leaving Ted Durcan to pick up the mount on
Creachadoir in post 6 and Mick Kinane to guide Alexandros from post 9.
Great Britain fields three contenders — PACO BOY (Desert Style) (post 13), a smashing
victor of the Prix de la Foret (Fr-G1) who has reportedly been training sharply
in advance of his seasonal reappearance; CHARLIE FARNSBARNS (Cape Cross [Ire])
(14),
who beat Bankable in the Darley S. (Eng-G3); and the up-and-coming PRESVIS (Sakhee)
(16),
who has won his past three handicaps in grand style for Luca Cumani, two of them
at Nad al Sheba.
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Australia’s star mare Tuesday Joy will embark upon a European campaign
(Dubai Racing Club) |
“The one place I did not want to be is on
the outside so having drawn 13 I am tempted to get the next plane home!”
exclaimed Richard Hannon, trainer of Paco Boy.
Australia sends the formidable duo of TUESDAY JOY (Carnegie [Ire]) and
NICONERO (Danzero), both of them multiple Group 1 winners at home. The mare
Tuesday Joy is two-for-two in 2009, having captured the Apollo S. (Aus-G2) and
Chipping Norton S. (Aus-G1), and will break from post 11. Master trainer Gai Waterhouse is eyeing an
assault on the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (Fr-G1) in October.
Niconero
disappointed in the 2008 Duty Free, checking in 11th, but comes off rallying
scores in the Futurity S. (Aus-G1) and Australian Cup (Aus-G1). Horseman David
Hayes revealed that Niconero was adversely affected by being in isolation here
last year. This time, Niconero should be in better spirits with fellow Aussie
Tuesday Joy as a traveling companion. He drew post 4.
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In the about 1 1/2-mile Sheema Classic, YOUMZAIN (Sinndar [Ire]) hopes that
the third time’s the charm. Third in the 2007 edition and fifth last year, the
Mick Channon veteran boasts world-class form in Europe. The multiple Group 1
hero has placed in the past two runnings of the King George VI and Queen
Elizabeth S. (Eng-G1), and even better, has finished runner-up in the past two
renewals of the Arc. Richard Hills, who got acquainted with Youmzain at
Longchamp, stays with him here in post 6.
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Doctor Dino (center) and Purple Moon (left) will renew rivalry in the Sheema
(Hong Kong Jockey Club) |
The globetrotting DOCTOR DINO (Fr) (Muhtathir [GB]), third in the 2008 Sheema
Classic, is exiting his second straight score in the Hong Kong Vase (HK-G1),
where he just denied PURPLE MOON (Galileo [Ire]).
The seven-year-old will be loaded in gate 13, while Purple Moon drew
post 7.
“We had a wide draw last year when he
ran well
to finish third, so I’m not too worried about the 13 box,” trainer Richard
Gibson said of Doctor Dino. “He loves the heat and
we hope he
will run another great race.”
The ubiquitous de Kock, who won last year’s running with the mare Sun
Classique, has no fewer than four chances to repeat. His filly FRONT HOUSE
(Sadler’s Wells) (post 1) defeated the old Sheema hand QUIJANO (Ger) (Acatenango)
(post 10), her
stablemate KING OF ROME (Montjeu [Ire]) (post 5), Purple Moon, multiple South African
Group 1 victor KINGS GAMBIT (Silvano [Ger]) (post 11) and another de Kock runner,
MACARTHUR (Montjeu [Ire]) (post 15), in the Dubai City of Gold (UAE-G2) at this course and
distance.
In addition to his three coming out of the City of Gold, de Kock has RUSSIAN
SAGE (Jallad) (post 3), who steps up in trip for the Sheema. A multiple Group 1 scorer in
South Africa, Russian Sage dead-heated for second with Duty Free champion Jay
Peg in the nearly nine-furlong Jebel Hatta.
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Godolphin’s contender, KIRKLEES (Jade Robbery), outclassed his rivals in a
turf handicap two back. Fourth to World Cup (UAE-G1) hopeful Asiatic Boy (Not
for Sale) when trying the dirt last time out, Kirklees figures to enjoy
reverting to the grass while breaking from post 14.
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Front House will bid to emulate her stablemate Sun Classique
(Dubai Racing Club/Andrew Watkins) |
Two entrants have shipped in from the United States — RED ROCKS (Ire)
(Galileo [Ire]) and MARSH SIDE (Gone West). Red Rocks racked up his two
major victories, the 2006 Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) and the 2008 Man o’
War S. (G1), for former trainer Brian Meehan. The dark bay contracted a
hock infection after joining Mark Hennig, and he has consequently run
below form when 10th in the Breeders’ Cup Turf and eighth to Kip Deville
in the Gulfstream Park Turf. Red Rocks did not perform well in his only
previous attempt at the Sheema, winding up ninth in 2007, but his back
class still entitles him to some respect. Javier Castellano, who
engineered his defeat of Curlin in the Man o’ War, sticks with him in
post 12.
Marsh Side, who drew post 8, upset the Canadian International
(Can-G1) at 29-1 for Neil Drysdale, who believes that the long stretch
at Nad al Sheba should suit him well. The six-year-old has raced only
once since his Woodbine coup, finishing seventh in the San Marcos S.
(G2). Edgar Prado picks up the mount.
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“I talked to Neil and he said the horse will be lazy in the first part of the
race and that I
should put him into the race,” Prado said. “I don’t think the post will be a problem, it’s a
little ways to
the first turn and it’s a mile and half race.”
Completing the field are multiple stakes scorer SPANISH MOON (El Prado
[Ire]) (post 4), a Juddmonte Farms homebred trained by Sir Michael Stoute; the Saudi
filly DEEM (Dalakhani) (post 9), who captured the Cape Verdi S. (UAE-G3) but retreated to
fifth in the Balanchine S. (UAE-G3) among her own division; and the well-bred
EASTERN ANTHEM (Singspiel [Ire]) (post 2), currently two-for-two since transferring from
Godolphin to Mubarak bin Shafya.
“Four is grand, but it is never that important in a mile
and a half
race,” Racing Manager
Teddy Grimthorpe said concerning Spanish Moon. “I’d like to think we’ll finish in the first four, but if you come hoping
for fourth
you’ll end up seventh, so we’re here to try and win.”
