3/2/09
Last updated: 3/1/09 3:06 PM
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Youmzain could show up on Thursday
(Neville Hopwood/Dubai Racing Club) |
With the Super Thursday meeting, the dress rehearsal for Dubai World
Cup night, coming up next week it was not surprising that Nad al Sheba
was a lot quieter than normal on Saturday morning.
Those who did drag themselves out of bed were able to see Richard
Hills put Dubai Sheema Classic (UAE-G1) hopeful YOUMZAIN (Sinndar)
through his paces on the turf. The multiple Group 1 winner was third in
the 2007 Sheema and fifth in last year’s edition, and has also been
second in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (Fr-G1) for the past two
seasons. Youmzain may run on Thursday.
Japanese Horse of the Year and $5 million Dubai Duty Free (UAE-G1)
aspirant VODKA (Tanino Gimlet) was also spotted on the track Saturday.
Fourth in the about nine-furlong Dubai Duty Free last year and recently
third in the Japan Cup (Jpn-G1), she could have a prep race on Super
Thursday.
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VALEDICTUM (Umatilla), with a 2009 Dubai International Racing Carnival win to
his name already, could fly the Australian flag both on Thursday and the big
night in the Duty Free. Saudi Arabia’s Group 3 victor BIG CITY MAN (Northern
Afleet) is another who could be seen on both nights. Both were out for exercise.
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Asiatic Boy will try the Dubai World Cup again
(Neville Hopwood/Dubai Racing Club) |
Apart from that handful, it was mainly horses from the stables of
South African trainers Mike de Kock and Herman Brown in action. Johnny
Murtagh was on de Kock’s ASIATIC BOY (Not for Sale), who
will bid to go one better than his second in last year’s Dubai World Cup
(UAE-G1). The winner of the Dubai Triple Crown in 2007, he was most recently seen finishing third in the Maktoum
Challenge Round 2 (UAE-G3).
Murtagh also rode HONOUR DEVIL (Honour and Glory), last year’s U.A.E.
Derby (UAE-G2) hero and another Dubai World Cup hopeful, as well as Duty
Free and Godolphin Mile (UAE-G2) candidate IMBONGI (Russian Revival),
who worked with Dubai Sheema Classic probable EAGLE MOUNTAIN (GB) (Rock
of Gibraltar [Ire]) on the turf. Runner-up in the Breeders’ Cup Turf
(G1), Eagle Mountain concluded 2008 with a stylish victory in the Hong
Kong Cup (HK-G1).
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Ryan Moore handled Brown’s KING’S GAMBIT (Silvano [Ger]), who also utilized
the grass in advance of either the Duty Free or Sheema, while the same trainer’s
REDDING COLLIERY (Mineshaft), a U.A.E. Derby contender, worked well on the
dirt. Redding Colliery appears to be thriving at the right time, finishing third
last out in the U.A.E. Two Thousand Guineas (UAE-G3).
