Roses in May settles in for Dubai run

Roses in May will try to follow in Pleasantly Perfect's hoofsteps in winning the Dubai World Cup (Joseph DiOrio/Horsephotos.com) Whitney H. (G1) hero ROSES IN MAY (Devil His Due) has settled in to his new home at Nad al Sheba racecourse as he prepares for Saturday's Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1). "He's training great," conditioner Dale Romans said. "He's never been better. I think we'll see a big performance from him." The dark bay five-year-old finished second in the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) in his final start last season and returned to fill that same position in the Donn H. (G1) most recently. From 12 career starts, Roses in May has finished worse than second only once, that coming as a sixth in the 2003 Jerome H. (G2). Romans said his charge will have his final major breeze Monday night under the lights so he can get used to the Dubai World Cup conditions. Trainer Richard Mandella sent out his World Cup hopeful, CONGRATS (A.P. Indy), on Saturday for a 1,200 meter breeze. Though no official time was available, fellow conditioner Paulo Lobo clocked the five-year-old bay in 1:13 3/5. Congrats enters Saturday's event off a closing second in the Santa Anita Derby (G1) while going the World Cup distance of 1 1/4 miles. Gulfstream Park Breeders' Cup H. (G1) winner PRINCE ARCH (Arch) breezed Sunday morning, getting 400 meters on the Nad al Sheba turf in :50 with Hanne Jorgensen in the irons. The bay colt, who is preparing for the Dubai Sheema Classic (UAE-G1), didn't want to stop after the work, though. "He tried to run off after the work," said Jorgensen, assistant to trainer Kenny McPeek. "It took me about six furlongs to pull him up."

Jorgensen was also aboard McPeek's UAE Derby (UAE-G2) hopeful, DURBAN THUNDER

(Brz) (Royal Academy), who breezed 1,000 meters. No time was available.

"He went fast and he came back to the barn great," she said.

Durban Thunder hasn't competed since taking a Group 1 in his native Brazil

last June and was forced to miss his prep for the UAE Derby, the Al Bastakiya,

due to a slight fever. However, Jorgensen said the the colt has fully recovered.

"In the last week, he's turned around and he's like a new horse," she said.

"He's worked twice since then and he's felt great."

Stakes victor TSIGANE (Fr) (Anabaa) was also out on the track Sunday,

breezing 1,000 meters in 1:01 for trainer Julio Canani in advance of the

Godolphin Mile (UAE-G2).

"The horse is kind of lazy," said Daniel Drouet, who is overseeing Canani's

runners until he arrives. "For him, it was a very good breeze on this kind of

track."

Canani has sent horses to Dubai for the past six years, but Tsigane makes the

journey for just the second time. The six-year-old finished sixth in the Dubai

Golden Shaheen (UAE-G1) last year.

In other World Cup news, trainer Marcus Tregoning confirmed that ALKAADHEM

(Green Desert) will go in the Dubai Duty Free (UAE-G1). The five-year-old bay

has turned around since his connections added blinkers, taking the Jebel Hatta

S. (UAE-G2) over the track earlier this month.

"Nad al Sheba is not everyone's track, but Alkaadhem has settled in

beautifully and seems to love the surface," Tregoning said. "There ought to be

plenty of pace on, which will suit us, and I hope we get lucky again."