Ishizaka: Gentildonna’s better than last year

Gentildonna looks to go one better than her second to St Nicholas Abbey in the 2013 Sheema Classic (Dubai Racing Club) Two-time Japan Cup heroine Gentildonna is better going into Saturday’s Group 1 Dubai Sheema Classic than she was a year ago, when she finished second to the ill-fated St Nicholas Abbey, according to trainer Sei Ishizaka. “Compared to her condition last year, she is in a better form and worked more powerfully,” Ishizaka said. “She showed dramatic change with her condition from last year when she was in Dubai. She also showed the good sign that she got ready for the race. “I will go into the race with a confidence. She is a very important prospective mare. Hopefully she runs well and brings a good result in her final career year.” Denim and Ruby, near-miss runner-up to Gentildonna in the Japan Cup in her latest, is also on song. “She is in really good form,” trainer Katsuhiko Sumii said. “There is no issue about her condition at the moment. She is eating up well. I wanted to get the feel of her condition after the gallop yesterday. She had a quick response only with gee-up. Everything has gone well so far and we are all set for tomorrow.” Cirrus des Aigles, who edged St Nicholas Abbey in the 2012 Sheema, is raring to regain the title. Trainer Corine Barande-Barbe was wishing the race was Friday rather than Saturday after her stable star cantered around the all-weather track.

“The plan was for him to go a bit slower this morning but
he had other ideas!” Barande-Barbe said. “He is getting better every day out
here and is so well this morning that I wish the race was tonight. My heart is
full of joy.”

Hong Kong representative Dominant hopes to upset the apple cart.

“He’s in terrific order,” trainer John Moore said. “He probably
traveled the best of my three (including Group 1 Dubai World Cup contender
Military Attack and Group 1 Dubai Golden Shaheen runner Sterling City). The wide gate is maybe a concern but he will be
taken back anyway. I’m told the pace should be OK, so I hope that gives him a
chance to finish off strongly like when he won the Hong Kong Vase in December.”

Trainer Mike de Kock is optimistic about Mars, a new recruit who hasn’t quite
stepped up to the plate this Carnival.

“We have a nice low draw and he is
better than he has shown in his two starts this year,” de Kock said. “The blinkers were probably
a mistake last time. I think he has a big run in him on Saturday.”

Twilight Eclipse, the American hope in the Sheema Classic, stayed in the
quarantine area Friday morning and did some light jogging the day before he
faces his biggest test.

A win or otherwise strong performance by the five-year-old gelded son
of Purim would put owners West Point Thoroughbreds in a whole new stratosphere.
The U.S.-based syndicate has had its share of graded stakes wins America, but
nothing on the level of a race such as this.

“As much as you can think it would mean — it would probably
mean a little more than that,” said West Point President Terry Finley, who heads
a group of more than two dozen partners and family members from all over the
United States on hand for Saturday’s big race. “They’re all excited to be here
and are having a great time. It’s good to be part of what could be a once in a
lifetime experience.

“One of the things we’ve talked about from a strategy standpoint is that it’s
time for us to win one of the ‘big ones’ — one of the (U.S.) Triple Crown
races, one of the other really big races like the
Travers, a Breeders’ Cup race and/or a World Cup (card) race,” he said.

“From a
strategy standpoint, (a win here) would really put us on another plane. It’s not
an easy business to get a horse like this and the majority of the people I know
realize this and cherish the time they have with horse.”

Although there are no American-based horses in the Group 1 Dubai Duty Free,
two distaffers well known to U.S. fans — champion turf female Dank and The
Fugue — are taking on males in the about nine-furlong turf test.

Dank was restricted to light exercise on the turf track with regular work-rider Maria
Doe, having completed her preparation with a workout on Wednesday.

“It was just a quiet
stroll in the sunshine,” trainer Sir Michael Stoute said. “Dank traveled here well but she’s probably not at her
peak, because it’s early in the season for her, but it’s a very important race
and I’m expecting a good solid performance from her.”

After Thursday’s very early start under the floodlights, The Fugue
was back to a later start-time on Friday morning, and stretched out nicely in a
blow-out up the turf-track straight.

As he has all week, Duty Free entrant Trade Storm
exercised on his own and looked in rude health when completing a gentle stretch
over the all-weather track.

“He is happy in his own company, very comfortable with it,” trainer David Simcock
said. “It’s a tougher race than it was last year
(when Trade Storm finished fourth). There are two standout horses in The Fugue
and Just a Way, but I feel that the better the quality of race, the better it
will suit my horse. He likes to take a tow and come late.”

De Kock has two Duty Free chances, unbeaten Vercingetorix as well as
Anaerobio.

“Anaerobio, realistically, has a bit to find but at least he has a good
draw,” the trainer said.

“We will finally find out just how good Vercingetorix is;
he has won all six starts reasonably easily but never does more than he has to
— just like his work in the morning when he is lazy. He is exciting, but the
draw could have been kinder.”

Bet Horseracing Free Online at TwinSpires.com