Seth Benzel is a trainer with some big Dubai plans. The American had his first Dubai World Cup Carnival winner
in 2013 when Dux Scholar landed a 1400-meter handicap and that triumph has given him
a taste for more victory in the desert.
Benzel who has served as an assistant to top American
trainers, Bill Mott (1997-2003) and Todd Pletcher (2003 -08), only has one horse
in Dubai this season — Group 1 Dubai Golden Shaheen challenger, Zee Bros. Yet if
Benzel has his way, that is set to change and he is to become a familiar face
during the Dubai racing season.
“Right now Godolphin and Mike de Kock are the dominant forces at the
Dubai World Cup Carnival,” Benzel said. “We’ve put together a
five-year plan with a goal of getting to that level.”
Benzel explained the reasons behind his focus on Dubai.
“Four years in, my career lacked creativity and pessimism crept in,”
Benzel said. “I
promised myself I wasn’t going to wait for something to happen. I was young
enough to go after it and create a different future. In life, the ball is in
your court.
“I had my head down for 15 years working for Bill, Todd and myself. Racing is
becoming more and more international. I had done a little bit of traveling, but
longed for more.”
In what he describes as an “international calling,” Benzel
plotted a course that led him to the 2013 Dubai World Cup Carnival with five
horses.
“Outside of the Breeders’ Cup, there are very few racing
events in the U.S. that attract international horses,” Benzel said. “In Dubai,
you have a chance to live that life every day. With a good plan and hard work,
there is no reason to think I can’t be successful at this.”
At the 2013 Dubai World Cup Carnival, Benzel met his
fiancé, Joanna Patejuk, who joined the mission.
“She has international racing experience,” Benzel said. “We’re teammates now
and are on this journey together.”
His runner on Saturday, Zee Bros, is owned by Ahmed Zayat.
“Ahmed Zayat and his son Justin supported my plan the
moment they heard about it and I’m happy to have a legitimate contender in Zee
Bros representing them on Dubai World Cup Night,” Benzel said. “This is the
first phase of the project. When you do something radically different, you have
to get accustomed to the lay of the land and understand what it takes to be
successful. Like any project, there is a learning process you need to go
through.
“Running well would mean a lot to us. It
would verify all the hard work we’ve done and reward the Zayat family for their
support of our program. We feel a big effort from Zee Bros would also help
inspire future clients.”
In his final preparation, the four-year-old son of Brother Derek galloped over the
training track without incident on Friday morning.
“We’re pleased,” Benzel said. “Tomorrow morning he’ll just go out to the
(jogging) track near quarantine to stretch his legs.”
Win lose or draw, Zee Bros is scheduled to return to the United States on an April 3 flight.
“He’ll get a brief break at Fair Hill and
point for a summer and fall campaign against top sprinters,” Benzel explained. “We’ll
keep him at six furlongs and campaign based on the races that fit into
the schedule. His return to the (Dubai World Cup) Carnival next year would be a
strong possibility.”
Among those Zee Bros must face are defending Golden Shaheen champion Reynaldothewizard
and Hong Kong’s Rich Tapestry, winner of the last Meydan prep, the Mahab al
Shimaal.
Richard Mullen, Reynaldothewizard’s jockey, commented on his program leading
up to the Golden Shaheen.
“It was always the plan for this to be his
third start as his third start last season, (when he won the 2013 Mahab Al Shimaal on
Super Saturday), was his best we thought,” Mullen said. “He needed his first run badly but ran
very well Super Saturday this year.
“Obviously he won this last year and it would be great to win it again.”
Rich Tapestry’s trainer, Michael Chang, believes that he’s moved forward off
his local debut.
“His condition is very good, it couldn’t be better,” Chang said. “I’d
say he has improved physically since when he won here on Super Saturday three
weeks ago. He would need to be at his best to win again tomorrow, though,
especially from gate 12 and with the other horses probably having some more
improvement, too.
“He drew gate 5 when he won his prep and (jockey) Olivier (Doleuze) was under instructions to try and save
a little bit for the big race and he carried it out perfectly.
“Olivier flew back from Hong Kong especially to ride him in
a track gallop here last Saturday and that went well. Everything has gone to
plan.
“Considering the wide gate, I think Olivier will ride him American style,
just let him roll forward and not break his momentum. He has already done well
in winning the Group 3 but it would be amazing to win the big one.”
Hong Kong speedster Amber Sky is ready for the turf dash, the Group 1 Al Quoz
Sprint.
“He’s just so relaxed
and strong,” trainer Ricky Yiu said. “He put on 60 pounds in bodyweight in the past year in just muscle and
he’s been a different horse this season. This race has been at the back of my
mind for a long time and it’s great that we go into it with a good chance.”
The American-based Al Quoz hope, Berlino di Tiger, jogged over the quarantine
path Friday morning, according to head lad Caue
Caramori.
“My dad (trainer Eduardo) just wanted to get a look at how
he was moving, ” the younger Caramori said. “We hope he runs his race, if he
does, we’re confident that he’ll be right there. Winning would be incredible.”
Like Zee Bros, Berlino di Tiger plans to fly home on an April 3 flight.
“We’re based in Kentucky and there are some nice races for
him there,” Caramori said. “If he runs really well (in the Al Quoz Sprint), a
trip to Royal Ascot is not out of the question.”
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