Well Armed to aim for BC Classic; Albertus has inflamed
tendon
WELL ARMED (Tiznow) came out of his record-breaking victory in Saturday’s
Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1) in “fantastic” condition, according to assistant
trainer Oliver Costello.
“He had about 20 minutes of walking this morning and then about 10 minutes of
picking at grass and everything was good,” Costello said on a rainy Sunday in
Dubai. “It was just such an amazing night.”
Before catching a plane back to California, trainer Eoin Harty said he will
give Well Armed a vacation and then aim to follow nearly same schedule with the
six-year-old gelding as he did last year, beginning with the San Diego H. (G2)
and the Pacific Classic S. (G1), both at Del Mar, followed by the Goodwood S.
(G1) at Santa Anita Park.
This year, however, after proving himself at the Dubai World Cup’s about 1
1/4-mile distance, Well Armed’s principal target at year’s end will be the
Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) rather than the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile.
Harty has promised Sheikh Mohammed al Maktoum that he will be at Meydan next
year, trying to win the first Dubai World Cup at the new racecourse.
“Meydan is my number one goal,” Harty said. “I owe His Highness Sheikh
Mohammed so much, and I would love to bring back Well Armed or Colonel John (Tiznow)
and attempt to pull off the big one again. I will take home a lot of special
memories from Nad al Sheba, but let us hope we can carry on where we left off at
Meydan next year.”
Dubai World Cup contender ALBERTUS MAXIMUS (Albert the Great), who finished
sixth, emerged from the race with an inflamed right front tendon, trainer Kiaran
McLaughlin said on Sunday.
Although the five-year-old owned by Sheikh Hamdan was sound while walking in
the quarantine barn area, McLaughlin said the tendon problem clearly affected
Albertus Maximus in the race.
“He was not the same horse we have learned to love and to train,” he said.
“He was trying to get out with (jockey) Alan (Garcia) the whole time in the
race. He was just not himself last night.”
Albertus Maximus will be shipped back to New York and then sent to Lexington,
Kentucky, for a thorough veterinary examination before a decision is made on
what course of action should be followed for treatment, McLaughlin said.
“This is a tough one to take,” he said.
World Cup runners ARSON SQUAD (Brahms) and ANAK NAKAL (Victory Gallop), who
finished 11th and 14th, respectively, were both doing fine on Sunday morning,
their connections reported.
Arson Squad, who jockey Edgar Prado said had a rough trip, will be sent to
New York and given a rest before plans for a next race are determined, said
Ruben Lopez, an assistant to trainer Richard Dutrow. Lopez also said that
Dutrow’s Dubai Duty Free (UAE-G1) runner KIP DEVILLE (Kipling), who finished
10th, came out of the race in good condition.
Eddie Cruz, the exercise rider with Anak Nakal, said trainer Nick Zito will
evaluate that colt once he gets back to New York and then pinpoint some possible
targets.