The Nick Zito-trained FLY DOWN (Mineshaft) had another uneventful jog
As Fly Down made his way around the course, Zito assistant Tim Poole
“As far as synthetic courses go, I think Michael’s (Dickinson, who
“Some horses will tend to move more smoothly on the synthetic
Fly Down enters off a fifth-place finish in the Donn H. (G1) at Gulfstream
“We just kept waiting for him to pick it up more,” he said of the 1 1/8-mile
“(Jockey) Julien (Leparoux) is well aware of that,” Poole added. “I think we
Looking every inch the champion that he is in the United States, GIO PONTI
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“I was very happy with him today. As soon as I brought him over to the rail,
he was always on the bridle and did it very well within himself,” said Lorieul,
who has ridden Gio Ponti for his morning exercise for several years.
Gio Ponti was not asked for speed but maintained a fairly steady pace
throughout 1200 meters that extended past the finish line to encourage him to
keep running down the entire stretch.
Lorieul said Gio Ponti apparently is benefiting from having traveled to Dubai
last year, when he was a close fourth in the Dubai World Cup even though a slow
early pace did not suit his closing style. Since there is not as much
construction going on at Meydan this year, the high-energy six-year-old has not
become as nervous has he often is in new surroundings.
Trainer Christophe Clement, who was expected to arrive in Dubai late
Wednesday, will supervise Gio Ponti’s training on Thursday, which could include
a visit to the starting gate or parade ring.
Japanese champion mare BUENA VISTA (Special Week) galloped 1200 meters
Wednesday, covering the last 200 meters in :10.27.
“She was very relaxed in her stable here,” trainer Hiroyoshi Matsuda said. “I
am happy with her galloping today. She is super-fit. Her good run can be
expected on Saturday.”
Japan Cup Dirt (Jpn-G1) winner TRANSCEND (Wild Rush) galloped and ran
steadily especially over the last 200 meters.
“He was galloping on this past Sunday as well, so I wanted to give him a
steady gallop only for the (200 meters),” trainer Takayuki Yasuda said. “As far
as I saw him this morning, he looked great. He eats up very well, and he came
from the cold-weather country to Dubai with the warm climate, which was good for
his condition.
“The surface of all-weather is the first experience for me, and I thought it
would not be slippery more than expected, and horse seemed to get hold the
surface.”
In other Dubai news:
Trainer Richard Mandella took his Dubai Sheema Classic (UAE-G1) contender
CHAMP PEGASUS (Fusaichi Pegasus) to the main track at Meydan Wednesday morning
for a 1600-meter gallop. The Hall of Famer had considered jogging or lightly
galloping Champ Pegasus on his first day back to the track, following a
1000-meter work on Monday, but the recent San Luis Obispo S. (G2) winner needed
more.
“He looked fresh this morning,” Mandella said. “He wanted to do a little more
than I had planned.”
Brian Meehan is eyeing a second win on Dubai World Cup night and is confident
about the chances of DANGEROUS MIDGE (Lion Heart) in the Sheema Classic after
the Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) winner appeared on the track under jockey Martin
Dwyer.
Dangerous Midge cleared quarantine Wednesday morning and worked on the main
track with stablemate MANTOBA (GB) (Noverre), a candidate for the U.A.E. Derby
(UAE-G2).
“He seems to be doing fine and I am very happy with him,” Meehan said. “He is
a fit horse so doesn’t need to do much work and today was more about getting him
acclimatized with the surroundings. I will ask the starter if we can pop him
through the gates later in the week to familiarize him with the stalls. He will
be racing for a lot of money but he steps up every time he runs and he has a
great chance.”
BEAUTY FLASH (Golan [Ire]), the 2010 Honk King Mile (HK-G1) winner, got a bit
of work over the turf in advance of the Dubai Duty Free (UAE-G1).
“He did exactly what I wanted him to do,” trainer Tony Cruz said. “He
probably ran :23 plus a little for his last 400 meters. I didn’t need him to do
much as he had a race in Hong Kong just weeks ago. I just wanted to sharpen him
up a little.”
Trainer Michael Bell arrived in Dubai on Tuesday evening and was at Meydan to
oversee WIGMORE HALL’s (Ire) (High Chaparral [Ire]) exercise. The four-year-old
Duty Free candidate stormed down the center of the track to land the Jebel Hatta
(UAE-G2) on his Dubai debut earlier this month and has thrived since then.
“He seems very happy and well in himself and was squealing on the way back to
the barn and that is what you want in a racehorse,” Bell said. “He had a blowout
in the home straight which shows his wind is clear and he is happy and healthy.
He is squealing and content in himself which is a good sign. We sent him to
Arlington last year and he finished second (in the Secretariat S. [G1]) and that
proved that he can travel.
“The chips are far bigger out here than in the (United Kingdom) so it made
sense to then come here. The Duty Free is a tough race with horses from all over
the world but I left improvement in him so to win his trial was a bonus. He will
run here and then be off to Hong Kong and Singapore.”
The defending champion of the 1200-meter Dubai Golden Shaheen
“We’ll probably jog him tomorrow and that will be it,” he said.
Assessing his chances for a repeat in the $2-million race O’Callaghan said,
A day after he worked 800 meters, U.A.E. Derby candidate SWEET DUCKY (Pulpit)
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“He was quite full of himself this morning,” Brown said, adding that he
expects Sweet Ducky to really improve as he matures. “He’s going to be a good
horse in six months time.”
Trainer Ben Cecil is making two key changes with CROWDED HOUSE (GB) (Rainbow
Quest) as he heads into Saturday’s Godolphin Mile (UAE-G2) — putting the
blinkers back on the horse and changing riders to American-based jockey Joel
Rosario.
“Nothing against Ryan (Moore, the jockey who rode him in his two previous
starts at the Carnival) who didn’t do anything wrong,” Cecil explained. “But
with the horse going back to America after this race, I thought we’d try
something different. I think Joel is an up and coming rider and he’s ridden him
before.”
Drawing post 7 in the 14-horse line-up, Cecil is hopeful his horse will
perform better than his two previous starts at the Carnival — a seventh-place
finish in Round 2 Al Maktoum Challenge (UAE-G3) and a ninth-place finish in the
Burj Nahaar (UAE-G3).
“I would have like to have drawn a little more outside, but I really think
putting the blinkers back on will make a big difference,” Cecil said. “He showed
no interest in his last race. He’s acting better coming up to this race than
either of his last two.”
The Al Quoz Sprint (UAE-G2) will mark the first start for MR GRUFF
(Mr. Greeley) since a third-place finish in the Shoemaker Mile (G1) at
Hollywood Park last May.
“He can’t really put to many races together,” trainer Ron Ellis said
of the gelding. “He has back problems and after two or three starts in a
row, he gets a bit sore. He can be a world-class sprinter when he’s on
his game. He’s fit enough and I like to ship him when he’s fresh. He’s
seven-years-old now, so we can concentrate on pointing him to big races
around the world. Depending how he does here, there’s a race at Ascot in
June we might shoot for.”
Assistant trainer Leandro Mora experienced some deja vu Wednesday
“He reminds me of Big Jag,” Mora said, referring to the 2000 Dubai
A seven-year-old gelding, Quick Enough is coming off a strong win in the
Nunthorpe S. (Eng-G1) winner SOLE POWER (Kyllachy), who has not raced since
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“He has traveled here in good form,” trainer Eddie Lynam said. “He is a very
fresh horse as he has not raced since last August but he is fit and ready for
this race and he goes well fresh.”