Trackwork Notes from Dubai Racing Club’s team of journalists, with updates on and build-up to Dubai World Cup Day. Photos from Meydan by Erika Rasmussen.
Group 1 US$10m Dubai World Cup sponsored by Emirates Airline – 2000m (Dirt)
Gun Runner (USA) — Continues to impress in the mornings for trainer Steve Asmussen. Left the quarantine facility and arrived at the main track at 5.05 am. He went on to gallop one circuit under exercise rider Carlos Rosas and then walked went back to his barn.
Assistant trainer Scott Blasi, on horseback, escorted him to and from the racetrack.
Gold Dream (JPN) – Joao Moreira rode the colt for a light canter around the main track and he was schooled in the gate. Trainer Osamu Hirata said: “We don’t want him to run too far back in the Dubai World Cup, so we want him just off the pace.”
Moreira said: “He is in good shape and is 100 per cent fit. If the horse is not in good form, he cannot compete against the American horses in this tough race. The horses in front have more of an advantage over this dirt course so he will need to run closer to the leaders than what he usually does in Japan. I hope he can bring his best.”
Apollo Kentucky (USA) – Walked to the track and did some schooling before going back to the quarantine area. Assistant trainer Jun Tomioka said: “He is in good form. He really didn’t need any real serious work this week.”
Arrogate (USA) – Made his way to the main track at 5am.
“We try to keep him as quiet as we can. He knows that, with the way we’ve been bringing him along, that he’s getting close to a race, and he thought maybe he was going to work today,” trainer Bob Baffert said.
“If he could talk to me and tell me, ‘Bob you might want to do this, it would be a lot of help,’ that would be one thing, but he can’t, so it’s up to me and my team, Jimmy and Dana Barnes, who helped me get this horse here.”
Looking forward to Saturday’s Dubai World Cup, Baffert added: “It’s a huge challenge; I don’t think it’s going to be easy. There are some really nice horses here, and you’ve got horses from Japan and everywhere and you just don’t know who is going to do what in the race. There is a lot of speed and all that, but (the winner will be) whoever shows up that night.
“I do believe I have the best horse. My job is to make sure that I give him that chance (to win). The pressure comes from making sure that I do everything in my will to let him be at the top of his game.”
Also watching Arrogate train on Friday were Juddmonte’s American and European racing managers, Garrett O’Rourke and Teddy Grimthorpe, respectively.
“This is the reason we come into this sport – these are the great moments. To see him looking so good and to see him standing there with that sort of look of eagles – isn’t this exciting? It really is,” Grimthorpe said.
Hoppertunity (USA)— Galloped energetically around the main track under the direction of exercise rider Dana Barnes.
“He really seemed to be having fun,” said Barnes’s husband, Jimmy, who oversaw the move after 7am for trainer Bob Baffert.
“He’s an older horse now and he’s shipped all over the place,” Baffert said of the six-year-old. “For him to come here, he thinks he’s going to camp. He really enjoys it.”
“You never know,” Baffert mused about the possibility that Hoppertunity could upset his stablemate Arrogate. “Hoppertunity still has to move up about three or four lengths (to threaten Arrogate). But I really think he’s going to be competitive if he gets his trip.”
Keen Ice (USA) — Went out for a smooth, leisurely gallop around the main track before the 7am training session.
“He went around there nice and easy. I tried to keep him as relaxed as possible so he could save all his energy for tomorrow,” said exercise rider Nick Bush.
“He came back (to the quarantine barn area) rearing, he was so fresh,” said Bush.
Trainer Todd Pletcher’s assistant Ginny DePasquale handled the three-horse contingent, and she said on Friday morning that the trio continue to appear in outstanding health.
“I think happy horses run well and they’re all happy, so we’re looking forward to tomorrow night,” DePasquale said.
Neolithic (USA)—Galloped around 5am to get more experience with the racetrack while the floodlights were on, as they will be on Saturday evening.
“He is feeling great and looking great,” said exercise rider Nick Bush. “The lights won’t bother him tomorrow and I think he’s going to run well.”
Neolithic galloped about 2200m, following the same pattern that Pletcher has designed for all three of his runners on each day this week.
Awardee (JPN) and Lani (USA) – Cantered for two laps on the main track.
Trainer Mikio Matsunaga said: “I am so happy with the way the two horses have been coming along. They are pretty fit. As we had some discussions with the stewards, and we appreciate their willingness to work with us on dealing with Lani’s temperament, he will leave the saddling area earlier than the others, going to the main track through the unsaddling area. He will not walk in the paddock.”
Race Card: Dubai World Cup, Saturday 25 March. 12.45 Scandinavian time.
