The 12-horse team from the United States were released from quarantine Saturday
morning, in time to take a first tour of the Nad al Sheba track. Champion INDIAN
BLESSING (Indian Charlie), pointing to the Dubai Golden Shaheen (UAE-G1), jogged and
cantered on the surface, and all reports were that she handled it well.
“She
loved the track,” said Janell Gruss, exercise rider for trainer Bob Baffert.
“She’s a dirt specialist and it was perfect. I couldn’t have asked for anything
better.”
The four-year-old filly is scheduled to breeze a half-mile Monday
morning.
Third in the Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1) last year, WELL ARMED (Tiznow) is now a
veteran of the overseas journey.
“He looked healthier after flying than he did
before he got on the plane,” said Oliver Costello, assistant to trainer Eoin
Harty. “He just blossoms when he’s here.”
Connections believe that the six-year-old
gelding is even better as he takes a second tilt at the World Cup.
“He is
definitely a better horse now than he was last year,” Costello said. “He’s
100 percent fit right now. He’ll run the best race he can on World Cup night,
and then it’s all about whether he’s good enough or not to win.”
Michelle Nevin, assistant to trainer Richard Dutrow, also issued a positive
report on World Cup hopeful ARSON SQUAD (Brahms) and Dubai Duty
Free (UAE-G1) contender KIP DEVILLE (Kipling).
“After two days of walking, they were glad to go out and stretch their legs,”
said Nevin, who rode Kip Deville first and then returned to the track shortly
afterward aboard Arson Squad. “They both have shipped really well. Kip is very
easy going and he settled in quickly, and Arson Squad has been pretty good.”
With both runners having turned in six-furlong workouts on March 17, the day
they left Gulfstream Park in Hallandale, Florida, Nevin said they are slated to
mainly gallop up to their Dubai races, although each will be asked for some
speed in a “basic blowout,” probably on Tuesday.
Dubai Duty
Free candidate HYPERBARIC (Sky Classic), who will be making his 2009 debut
next Saturday, also stretched his legs Saturday morning.
“He traveled very well; the
trip was like nothing for him,” said trainer Julio Canani’s representative
Daniel Drouet. “He likes the track, and we’re hoping that this year we brought
the right horse. I know it’s a tough race, but he is really doing well.”
The
gelding reeled off four straight wins to end his 2008 campaign, capping the
streak with a three-quarter length score in the November 28 Citation H. (G1).