Denis Savard has sipped from the National Hockey
“This is special because of Rene,” Savard said referring to Rene Douglas, the
“He’s been through a lot and he’s the one who brought us all together,” Savard
“The group we have together is
“For him to have picked two horses of this caliber for our group is amazing,” he
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“We’re all in this for Rene,” added Hilton Gordon, a Chicago-based doctor who
specializes in internal medicine. “That’s how we got started and that’s how
we’re going to finish. We’re for anything that does good to help Rene.”
“I look at it from a different standpoint,” interjected Joseph Casciato, a
former judge as well as a former member of the Illinois Racing Board. “A win
here would be a little bit of justice for Rene — for racing to give back
something to Rene; to help his mind. To tell the truth, racing hasn’t done much
for Rene (since his injury.)”
Private Zone jogged a lap around Meydan’s all-weather Tapeta on Wednesday.
According to Leandro Mora, assistant to trainer Doug O’Neill, the four-year-old
son of Macho Uno and stablemate He’s had Enough, who’s entered in the Group 2
U.A.E. Derby, were doing well.
“I just got in at around 10 (p.m. Dubai time) last night,” Mora said
Wednesday morning. “I just went over to see them (Private
Zone and He’s Had Enough) for the first time this morning. They ate everything
up and they both seemed happy. We’ll just take it easy the next three days.
“The race is only three-quarters of a mile,” he continued. “He did all his
endurance works in California. His last two workouts were like mini races, so
he’s fit.”
Trainer Shivananda Parbhoo kept champion sprinter Trinniberg in the quarantine barn area for the second
consecutive day on Wednesday as the four-year-old colt jogged about eight laps
around a small trotting ring.
Although Parbhoo had planned to give Trinniberg
some schooling in the Meydan starting gate ahead of Saturday’s Shaheen, he opted to delay that session until
Thursday morning since the dark bay had gone through a saddling paddock and parade
ring schooling session on Tuesday night with his fellow American runners.
“He
went around there nice and easy and didn’t get in any trouble or sweat very
much,” Parbhoo said of the prelude to race night conditions. “He’s doing very
well.”
In other news, Eagle Regiment could be out of the Group 1 Al Quoz Sprint.
“He’s very sensitive on his near fore
hoof after a small injury there. It’s nothing serious and he’s been treated but
we don’t know if he will make the race,” trainer Manfred Man explained. “It’s a time
factor. If the race was on Sunday or Monday he would be fine but Saturday makes
it harder. We’ll know more tomorrow morning (Thursday).”
Grade 3 scorer Great Attack cantered 2400 meters Wednesday
morning at Meydan in preparation for the Al Quoz Sprint, with Mora keeping an eye on things for trainer
Wesley Ward, who was scheduled to arrive in Dubai Wednesday evening.
Varsity, who had Great Attack back in third when taking the Gulfstream Park
Turf Sprint in early February, repeated his training regimen of the past two
days when galloping about 2000 meters around the all-weather track on Wednesday.
The bay gelding has had an ideal
preparation, according to Christophe Lorieul, assistant to trainer Christophe Clement.
“He’s good, he’s happy. He has not had a bad day since he has been in Dubai,” Lorieul
said. “He looks like he’s been here his whole life.”
“We have not done much with him this week,
and so far so good,” Lorieul added. “We never work him very much at home either.”
On Tuesday evening, Varsity earned top grades during a schooling session in the Meydan saddling paddock and walking ring.
“He was perfect,” Lorieul said.
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