2013 Dubai World Cup Workouts

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2013 Dubai World Cup Workouts

Animal Kingdom (World Cup) during Tuesday morning training at Meydan.

Date: 03/27/2013

On Monday and Tuesday in Dubai, entrants for the $10 million Dubai World Cup (G1) and its rich undercard were at Meydan Racecourse on both the main Tapeta track and the turf course for some final work before the big night on Saturday. Conditions were excellent during training hours both days, with mostly sunny skies and temperatures in the 70's. Post positions for the main event were drawn on Wednesday, and the races will be run Saturday evening (Saturday morning in North America), with the World Cup going to post at 10:05pm local time (2:05pm ET). In North America the card will be broadcast live on TVG in the U.S. and HPI-TV in Canada, as well as at most simulcast locations.

2013 Dubai World Cup entries
2012 Dubai World Cup results and photos

Here are photos and comments for 43 horses that galloped Monday through Wednesday. Please click the smaller photos to see a larger version.

Royal Delta (World Cup) galloped once around Meydan on Monday and visited the starting gate as part of the typical routine trainer Bill Mott follows with his runners before a race. The two-time American champion stood quietly in the gate as assistant starters patted her neck. "Everything is good so far," said Mott's assistant Rodolphe Brisset, who also serves as Royal Delta's exercise rider. "She just flew over this track."

Animal Kingdom (World Cup) galloped approximately 1 1/2 miles and appeared more relaxed than he had in his first two days of training at Meydan. The 2011 Kentucky Derby winner and American champion "is settling into the routine now," said Alice Clapham, assistant to trainer Graham Motion and exercise rider. "He was very happy this morning. He galloped great, and we're very happy with him."

Dullahan (World Cup) jogged a lap around Meydan with Tammy Fox in the saddle Tuesday morning as trainer Dale Romans watched while surrounded by international media. "He's feeling good," Romans said of the towering chestnut who came off the track with a playful flourish, rearing several times as camera shutters whirred. "I think he's ready."

Planteur (World Cup) emerged from quarantine Tuesday to complete one lap of the main track at a gentle canter under trainer Marco Botti's wife Lucie. "We are very happy with him," she said. "We think he is in better form than last year (finished third behind Monterosso)."

Meandre (World Cup) arrived like all of the French-trained horses on Saturday and made his first contact with the track he will encounter in the Dubai World Cup on Monday morning. Travelling head lad, Richard Lambert said, "We went to the track this morning where he trotted and then cantered 3/4 mile. This is what he will be doing for the rest of the week. He travelled well and looks in good form."

Red Cadeaux (World Cup) exercised 1 1/8 miles on the Tapeta track. The globetrotting 7-year-old will be having his first start in Dubai on World Cup night and boasts excellent International form having finished a nose second in the 2011 Melbourne Cup. Dunlop's travelling head lad Robin Trevor-Jones said, "He seems in good form and his rider said that today was the best he has felt since he arrived on Sunday last week. He did a canter today and the plan may be to exercise him on grass on Wednesday or Thursday." Red Cadeaux will again be ridden by his Hong Kong-winning pilot Gerald Mosse.

Side Glance (World Cup) was out for a gallop on Monday morning. Assistant trainer Anna-Lisa Balding said, "It's a tight track and we didn't want to be caught out wide or up against the rail as he can be keen. Hopefully from stall 6 we can settle him in fourth or fifth in the early part of the race."

Gentildonna (Sheema Classic) worked on the all-weather for a lap under exercise rider, Tahei Inoue. Trainer Sei Ishizaka commented after he supervised the Japanese Horse of the Year, "The only concern about her was the transportation, however she has not received any damage from the long flight at all. She will breeze on Wednesday. Tomorrow, she will have a piece of work on turf."

Dunaden (Sheema Classic) joined his compatriots on the Meydan track for the first time Monday morning. Aymerec Caldas who looks after him said, "he did what he also does in France. He trotted, then did a light canter. He has travelled well, he is used to it. He is in good form"

Shareta (Sheema Classic) came onto the track on Monday morning, following two days in the quarantine yard. Serge Renee, travelling head lad for Alain de Royer Dupre said, "The first day when the horses got here to Dubai we just walked them. We then rode them on the training track in the quarantine yard and this morning they made their first contact with the Meydan track. They just did a light canter around the track, well actually not even the whole way round. They are all in good form."

Trailblazer (Sheema Classic) galloped on the Tapeta on Monday morning. Trainer Yasutoshi Ikee who has just arrived in Dubai, mentioned that he missed seeing the horse's work, however as he looked at his form after the trackwork, he thought the horse was in good shape and has firm muscles. "As for the turf condition at Meydan, it is cushioned well, which needs more power to handle. But the all-weather track has not suited him, so I have decided to change him to run on turf again," said the trainer. " The fields will be strong enough to compete with, but I think the preparation race was a big effect for Saturday.

Royal Diamond (Sheema Classic) galloped on the main track on Monday morning. John Murtagh gets the call on Saturday for trainer Tom Carmody and owner Andrew Tinkler, and he will break from post 2.

Ocean Park (Duty Free) looked in fine shape during light exercise Monday morning. Ridden by his track jockey Kate Hercock, who was carrying some extra gear in the form of a helmet cam, Ocean Park had an easy canter on the Tapeta track and Hercock said she felt terrific, "he seems to have settled in very well, in fact we all have," she said referring trainer Gary Hennessy and his wife. She said they had first tried the helmet cam on the track on Sunday "but it didn't work." Hennessy said Ocean Park would have a "good breeze-up" on Wednesday in what will be his last serious work before Saturday.

Giofra (Duty Free) galloped in company on Monday. Serge Renee, travelling head lad for Alain de Royer Dupre said, "The first day when the horses got here to Dubai we just walked them. We then rode them on the training track in the quarantine yard and this morning they made their first contact with the Meydan track. They just did a light canter around the track, well actually not even the whole way round. They are all in good form."

Little Mike (Duty Free) galloped 1 1/2 miles on the main track on Wednesday morning under assistant trainer Tammy Fox.� Trainer Dale Romans said he will ask new jockey Gary Stevens to send him to the lead. "I�m expecting him to go wire to wire. He can run fast early and keep going. If they want to chase him early, fine, but they won�t finish if they do. He looked really good.� He's ready to go."

I'm a Dreamer (Duty Free) was out for a gallop Tuesday morning after clearing quarantine. Jennie Simcock, wife of trainer David, said, "I'm A Dreamer went round quietly once and will probably do the same tomorrow, before she stretches out on Thursday." Simcock reported that I'm A Dreamer worked seven furlongs with two lead horses on the Polytrack surface at Kempton last week, ridden by big-race jockey Hayley Turner.

Trade Storm (Duty Free) breezed galloped in company with stablemate I'm a Dreamer on Tuesday morning. He has been progressive in three runs at the Dubai World Cup Carnival, winning the last two.

French Fifteen (Duty Free) followed Dunaden and Meandre onto the track on Monday, but his work rider kept him to the back and let him do his canter on his own. Trained by Nicholas Clement, French Fifteen, who finished a close second to Camelot in the Newmarket 2000 Guineas last year, seems in good form and his rider Mario Battung confirmed, "He travelled over really well and was relaxed during his canter this morning." Adem Matassem, his travelling head lad, said: "He did a good canter and everything is ok. He travelled well and is eating up."

Wigmore Hall (Duty Free) emerged from quarantine Tuesday to complete a hack canter round the all-weather track. Trainer Michael Bell said, "He's travelled well and I'm very happy with him. We have deliberately brought him out late because he usually runs well straight off the plane." Former British champion jockey Ryan Moore will ride Wigmore Hall for the first time on Saturday, having been in the saddle in a workout at Lingfield last Wednesday. Bell said, "He worked nine furlongs on the Polytrack at Lingfield and quickened up well near the finish. He needed the trip to the races to lighten him up, and hopefully it will have put the edge on him. Ryan said he was very happy with him."

Penitent (Mile) galloped on the main track Tuesday after clearing quarantine. Trainer David O'Meara said, "This is his first day on the track. He has just done a canter and he felt good. The plan is to breeze him tomorrow or Thursday. He was a good second on Arc weekend and his owners, Middleham Park Racing, thought he deserved a crack at this race on the back of that run. He feels good on the surface � he is really a soft-ground horse but he felt good on the Tapeta this morning."

Sarkiyla (Mile) galloped in company on Monday. Serge Renee, travelling head lad for Alain de Royer Dupre said, "The first day when the horses got here to Dubai we just walked them. We then rode them on the training track in the quarantine yard and this morning they made their first contact with the Meydan track. They just did a light canter around the track, well actually not even the whole way round. They are all in good form."

Red Jazz (Mile) had an easy gallop over Meydan's Tapeta surface on Monday morning ahead of his start in Saturday's Godolphin Mile. The Charlie Hills-trained son of Johannesberg, who ran third in each of the previous two editions of the 1600-metre event, was not asked to do a major piece of work this morning but appeared to handle the course well. Unlike his previous two tries in the Mile each of which were coming off significant layoffs, Red Jazz prepped here on Super Saturday where he finished a well-beaten 10th in the Group 3 Burj Nahaar over the same 1600-metre course he will be asked to navigate Saturday night.

Mufarrh (Mile) galloped in company withstablemate Haatheq on Tuesday. Trainer Ali Rashid Al Raihe said, "they are two nice horses who go well under these conditions. Mufarrh was second in this race two years ago before missing a season but he bounced back to winning ways last time. They should both be competitive as they are pleasing us in the mornings."

Krypton Factor (Golden Shaheen) schooled in the starting gate before cantering 1 lap under jockey Kieren Fallon. Trainer Fawzi Nass said of the defending champion, "For a sprinter he's so laid back, and he doesn't use himself much without jumping from the stalls."

Trinniberg (Golden Shaheen) turned in an approximately 3/8 mile breeze down the Meydan stretch Monday under exercise rider Ray Ganpath. "He looks good. I like how he travels, he's very light on this surface and his action is not high. I think he's liking this track," said trainer Shivananda Parbhoo, who oversaw the drill from the rail near the grandstand.

Tamaathul (Golden Shaheen) jogged on the main track Tuesday. Ali Rashid Al Raihe, trainer of Tamaathul, said, "He has had a good season, winning on both the turf and all-weather at Meydan but this is by far his toughest task to date. He is working well though."

Frederick Engels (Golden Shaheen) jogged on the main track on Tuesday. Trainer John Moore said by phone, "I'm still in Hong Kong but my staff are happy with how the horse has adapted from the flight to Meydan.All sounds pretty encouraging, though. Bodyweight he was 1,090 lbs. when he left Hong Kong and he's lost 20 lbs. but I expect him to put it back on because he has done well since he arrived in respect to eating up. We put a bit of condition on him before he left so he should be somewhere around 1080 lbs come race day. He'll probably do a bit of work Thursday morning when Weichong Marwing gets in."

Private Zone (Golden Shaheen) returned to main track on Tuesday after remaining in the Quarantine area on Monday morning. The 4-year-old gelding galloped one lap over the Tapeta surface under exercise rider Antonio Romero. "With the walk all the way from the barn to the track plus the gallop, it's like he went two miles," the exercise rider commented, only half-joking. "He doesn't need to do that much and he seems to be handling the track pretty good. He's doing great and he's very happy here."

Taisei Legend (Golden Shaheen, gold cloth 7) jogged on the all-weather track Monday under the work rider Yasuhiro Shibuta. Trainer Yoshito Yahagi commented, "He is very settled in the quarantine stable, and he is like a lead-horse for the Team Japan. He can adjust to new surroundings very quickly as he has traveled to eight different racecourses plus some other NAR race courses as well in Japan. There was no hitch about the trip to Dubai. I think it was the easiest trip that I have ever had. He will gallop on Wednesday, and jockey Ryan Moore will probably ride him on Friday."
Keiei Leone (UAE Derby, red cloth 2) jogged with him. Exercise rider Shoichi Nishiura commented, "He is superfit. He has been really settled even with the big change around him. He is like a lead horse. He is eating and drinking very well. Actually he has had some steady canters before leaving Japan, so he does not need a lot of strong works." Stablemate Keiei Leone (UAE Derby, pink cloth 2) worked in company. Exercise rider Shoichi Nishiura commented, "He is superfit. He has been really settled even with the big change around him. He is like a lead horse. He is eating and drinking very well. Actually he has had some steady canters before leaving Japan, so he does not need a lot of strong works."

Balmont Mast (Golden Shaheen) has been in Dubai since the beginning of the Dubai World Cup Carnival and having run on four occasions, had gentle exercise Tuesday. "He has been here all Carnival and did half-speed on the main track this morning," said his trainer Edward Lynam. "He is in good form but it looks a tough assignment on Saturday.

He's Had Enough (UAE Derby) jogged on the main track on Wednesday. "I just got in at around 10:00 last night," said Leandro Mora, assistant to trainer Doug O'Neill. "I just went over to see them (He's Had Enough and Golden Shaheen contender Private Zone) 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." Mario Gutierrez will ride the 3-year-old colt on Saturday. Gutierrez of course rode the O'Neill-trained I'll Have Another to victories in last year's Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes.

Law Enforcement (UAE Derby) saw the main track for the first time Tuesday under Richard Hannon's stable rider, Pat Dobbs, when he followed Wigmore Hall around one circuit at a gentle canter. "He feels great," Dobbs said. Hannon's assistant, Steve Knight, was upbeat about the son of Lawman. "Everything seems fine," Knight said. "He was a bit quiet after he travelled, which is why we let him have a little canter round, and that seems to have done the trick. Law Enforcement is expected to shake out the cobwebs when exercising on the main track Thursday under big-race jockey Richard Hughes.

Elleval (UAE Derby) jogged on the main track Tuesday. Trainer David Marnane said, "He's been here for three runs at the carnival for one win and twice fourth. He didn't get the clearest of runs last time (when fourth in the Al Bastakiya) and with a bit more luck on Saturday he can finish closer."

Dice Flavor (UAE Derby) galloped on the main track under the watchful eyes of trainer Paddy Gallagher's wife Sabine. "He's happy," she said as the horse galloped by over the Meydan Tapeta surface. "We'll keep galloping him up here at the main track to give him as much opportunity to adapt to his surroundings. "He won up north (El Camino Real Derby run over a Tapeta surface) but I'm not really sure of the level of horse he beat there." Trainer Paddy Gallagher is expected in from California on Wednesday.

Eagle Regiment (Al Quoz Sprint) galloped on the main track Tuesday. "I've just arrived from Hong Kong but all the reports are good from my assistant," said trainer Manfred Man. "We'll be on the main track tomorrow or Thursday."

Joy and Fun (Al Quoz Sprint) galloped on the main track Monday. "He loves Dubai. It's his third time here now, winning once and placing the other time in this race, and it seems to bring out the best in him. He's in great shape. Fast work will be later in the week. My father will be here soon to oversee his final preparations," said trainer Derek Cruz's assistant Martin Cruz.

Spirit Quartz (Al Quoz Sprint) was an encouraging fifth on his Dubai debut earlier this month and will again be ridden by Jamie Spencer on Saturday after galloping on Monday. Trainer Rob Cowell said, "Spirit Quartz worked yesterday morning over half a mile and I'm told he felt really and took some pulling up."

Sole Power (Al Quoz Sprint) cantered on the Tapeta track Monday under work-rider Julie Vovchok. "He did light exercise this morning and we might quicken him up for the final two furlongs (400m) tomorrow," said trainer Edward Lynam. "He has been second here on his last three runs and hopefully he will get the bounce of the ball on Saturday."

Medicean Man (Al Quoz Sprint) is coping well with his long campaign in Dubai and trainer Jeremy Gask was pleased with the way he worked on Monday morning. "He just stretched his legs this morning and I'll go a bit faster on him for his final gallop later in the week. I won on him earlier in the Dubai World Cup Carnival and he loves the course. I'm hopeful if we can get the breaks we can be competitive again on Saturday," said jockey Harry Bentley.

Varsity (Al Quoz Sprint) repeated his regimen of an easy gallop over 1 1/4 miles, just as he had done the previous day. "I'm really happy with the way he is moving and with him mentally, too," said Christophe Lorieul, the assistant to trainer Christophe Clement who is overseeing the 6-year-old gelding's preparations. "We just want to keep him nice and happy."

Russian Soul (Al Quoz Sprint) galloped on the main track Monday. "(Russian Soul) has been in great form all Dubai World Cup Carnival. Three times second and then third last start in the big prep race behind Shea Shea � you can't argue with that sort of consistency. I've been with him the whole time and he's better than ever now."

Invincible Ash (Al Quoz Sprint) worked 800 meters (half mile) on the Meydan turf in 51.03 seconds on Wednesday under exercise rider Shane Foley, with her final 1/4 mile clocked in 22.56 seconds.

Verma (Gold Cup) cantered in single file with her stablemates Tuesday and Serge Renee, travelling head lad for Alain de Royer Dupre, could not single out one of them when he said, "They actually all look really well. They trotted and then went for a little canter over 700 meters. They then walked some more and cantered again. They are actually a lot calmer here than at home. I think they like the change of scenery and relish the sunshine."