The Mike de Kock-trained Bold Silvano was honored as Horse of the Year in
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Gitano Hernando, a sneaky-good sixth after a troubled trip in the 2010 World
Cup, is taking a different route to the $10 million prize this time. Last year,
the Marco Botti trainee stayed in England and prepped with a facile score in the
Winter Derby Trial S. at Lingfield, only to see Dubai-based runners dominate the
finish of the World Cup. This season, Gitano Hernando gets an earlier start to
his Dubai campaign in hopes that history will repeat itself, and the World Cup
advantage will lie with those already on the premises. The well-regarded
chestnut, whose biggest career victory came in the 2009 Goodwood S. (G1) at
Santa Anita, was last seen closing for fourth in a steadily-run Champion S.
(Eng-G1) on October 16 at Newmarket.
Crowded House invades for Ben Cecil, but he is no stranger to Meydan, for the
flashy chestnut was based here last winter when trained by Brian Meehan.
Moreover, he turned in his best Dubai effort in this very race, finishing a
barnstorming second, beaten a half-length, by eventual World Cup third Allybar
(King’s Best). While Crowded House remains winless since his sparkling success
in the 2008 Racing Post Trophy (Eng-G1), he is capable of a big race on
occasion, as evidenced by his runner-up performance to Richard’s Kid (Lemon Drop
Kid) in last summer’s Pacific Classic. That was an encouraging first run for
Cecil, but he ended the year on an off note when trailing in the October 2
Goodwood. Crowded House aims to run better fresh off a four-month layoff in this
spot.
Al Shemali, from the local yard of top trainer Ali Rashid al Raihe, sprang a
surprise in the 2010 Dubai Duty Free on turf. Yet he proved that was no fluke
when coming back to place a solid third in the May 16 Singapore Airlines
International Cup (Sin-G1), yielding only to Lizard’s Desire and Gloria de
Campeao (Brz), who had previously finished in the reverse order in the World Cup
itself. Those formlines imply that Al Shemali could make his presence felt in
the main event. The seven-year-old has not raced since, but owns a win over the
Tapeta here last winter.
Godolphin has three possible contestants, pending the final declarations on
Tuesday. Last year’s Deutsches Derby (Ger-G1) hero BUZZWORD (GB) (Pivotal) could
switch to synthetic for Mahmood al Zarooni, but he is cross-entered to a pair of
turf handicaps on the same card. Saeed bin Suroor is responsible for the other
Godolphin entrants, Irish Group 1 victor KINGSFORT (War Chant) and synthetic
specialist SPRING OF FAME (Grand Slam), a good-looking handicap winner at this
trip on January 20.
Pascal Bary, who trained Gloria de Campeao, is back with another South
American, Argentinean Horse of the Year INTERACTION (Easing Along). His
projected European campaign did not pan out as hoped last year, but he is poised
to make amends in Dubai. Interaction has two potential objectives on March 26,
either the World Cup or the Sheema Classic on turf, and he also has a pair of
choices on Thursday: he could either audition for the World Cup in the Maktoum
Challenge, or stay on turf to run in an about 10-furlong handicap instead.
Spanish champion SILVERSIDE (Pleasantly Perfect) is likewise cross-entered to
an about seven-furlong turf handicap, whose other notable entrants include Grade
2 hero FERNELEY (Ire) (Ishiguru). A stablemate of Crowded House, the Cecil
trainee raced only once in 2010, winding up an uncharacteristic last in the July
28 Wickerr S. at Del Mar, and looks to restart his career in this spot.
The $200,000 Al Shindagha Sprint (UAE-G3), a course-and-distance stepping
stone to the March 26 Dubai Golden Shaheen (UAE-G1), is headlined by multiple
South African Group 1 veteran OUR GIANT (Giant’s Causeway). Yet another leading
light from the de Kock stable, he comes off a successful reappearance in a
January 13 conditions race at this about six-furlong trip. BANK MERGER
(Consolidator), last seen landing the October 9 Gallant Bob H. for Kiaran
McLaughlin, and former Bob Baffert pupil SANGAREE (Awesome Again) both make
their Godolphin premieres for bin Suroor. Providing further international
intrigue is Hong Kong shipper DYNAMIC BLITZ (Elusive Quality), who has left slim
pickings at home to capitalize on his all-weather prowess abroad.
Also on Thursday, de Kock’s MAHBOOBA (Galileo [Ire]) looms as the filly to
beat in the $250,000 U.A.E. One Thousand Guineas going a metric mile on the
Tapeta. Last year’s South African champion two-year-old filly was upstaged by
her less-fancied stablemate Reem (Galileo [Ire]) last time out in the January 13
Guineas trial, but should find a better set-up in their rematch. Mahbooba was
spotting the loose-on-the-lead Reem seven pounds, and still fell just a
half-length shy of catching her in that about seven-furlong prep. Level weights
for all Southern Hemisphere-breds, and an extra furlong, ought to suit Mahbooba
to a tee.
The respective third through seventh-place finishers from the Guineas trial
are all trying their luck again — Godolphin’s ABTASAAMAH (Distorted Humor),
CHOCOLICIOUS (Kahal [GB]), EMPIRE ROSE (Sunray Spirit), QUICK VAL (Val Royal
[Fr]) and CRYING LIGHTENING (Holy Roman Emperor). The Herman Brown-trained
Chocolicious has the most upside, as a South African Group 1 heroine who had too
much work to do from the rear last time.
Empire Rose is cross-entered to the Meydan Classic Trial versus males on
turf. The about seven-furlong event has also lured Brazilian Group 2 victor
CALLING ELVIS (Romarin [Brz]); his compatriot ENERGIA CARIOCA (Thignon Lafre [Brz]),
who just defeated Group 1 star Paulinho (Equal Stripes) in a conditions race on
Tapeta; Godophin’s multiple Group 2-placed ROAYH (Speightstown); and SPLASH
POINT (Street Cry [Ire]), runner-up to the respected Zanzamar (Fort Wood) in the
U.A.E. Two Thousand Guineas Trial.