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 Sunrise over Meydan with Dubai World Cup entrant Hokko Tarumae. |
Friday morning 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. For the second day in a row, conditions were ideal, with sunny skies and temperatures in the 80's. The races will be run Saturday evening (Saturday morning in North America), with the World Cup going to post at 9:40pm local time (1:40pm ET). In North America the card will be broadcast live on TVG in the U.S. and HPI-TV in Canada, and the international simulcast pool will again be hosted by South Africa TAB.
Thursday Dubai World Cup workouts (40 horses)
2014 Dubai World Cup entries
2013 Dubai World Cup results and photos
Here are photos and comments for 30 horses that galloped Friday. Please click the smaller photos to see a larger version.
 AF Lafeh (Kahayla) jogged Friday in preparation for the Kahayla Classic on Saturday. The only UAE-bred in the race, he finished third in the Maktoum Challenge, the final prep for the Kahayla. |
 Akeed Mofeed (World Cup) galloped on Friday. Trainer Richard Gibson said, “He is in very good shape. The preparation has gone well and he is in fantastic health. You need to be 100 per cent to win this race and I reckon that’s where he is.” |
 Ambivalent (Sheema) was out for a canter. Trainer Roger Varian said, "She looks in good shape. She’s got to step up a few pounds on what she has done so far, but she may well still be on the upgrade. I’m happy with stall 7, and we’ll ride her positively, although she doesn’t have to lead.” |
 Belshazzar (World Cup) went out for a canter. Trainer Kunihide Matsuda said, “He put in a routine canter on the all-weather this morning. He wanted to go faster but was well controlled. Although he has lots of fighting spirit, he was settled well mentally and walked fluidly. He got in the starting gate smoothly and stood by quietly, which was good. Actually I felt he was too relaxed and was quiet last week, but his conformation including his eyes, muscles and everything has adapted to the training on the all-weather track. He really concentrated on his work. He’s tuned up for tomorrow” |
 Brightline (Mile) went out Friday for a gallop. Jockey Yuichi Fukunaga said, “He charged up as usual before the race, which was a good sign. Having a stall handler is very appreciated to make him settled in the gate. He does not have to do anything but to stay the way he is. I am very hopeful now.” |
 Dominant (Sheema) went out for a jog. “He’s in terrific order. He probably travelled the best of my three. The wide gate is maybe a concern but he will be taken back anyway. I’m told the pace should be okay so I hope that gives him a chance to finish off strongly like when he won the Hong Kong Vase in December,” said trainer John Moore. |
 Educate (Duty Free) went out for a gallop for trainer Ismail Mohammed. |
 Ernest Hemingway (Gold Cup) joined his stablemates under Connor Heaton as the squad completed two laps of the all-weather circuit, one at the walk in the reverse direction from racing, the other at a very steady canter. Jockey Joseph O’Brien said, “Ernest Hemmingway will love the fast ground, and I hope he’ll go well.” |
 Festive Cheer (Sheema) cantered in company with stablemate and World Cup contender Ruler of the World. |
 Gentildonna (Sheema) out on Friday for her final canter before race night. Trainer Sei Ishizaka said, “Compared to her condition last year, she is in a better form and worked more powerfully. She showed dramatic change with her condition from last year when she was in Dubai. She also showed the good sign that she got ready for the race. I will go into the race with a confidence. She is a very important prospective mare. Hopefully she runs well and brings a good result in her final career year.” |
 Glory Awaits (Mile) has been perky on each of his morning visits to the track, and was again on his toes when completing his preparation with an easy canter on the all-weather track. “He’ll do his usual thing on Saturday,” said his trainer, Kevin Ryan. “He likes to be up there with the pace but I’ll leave the tactics to his jockey (Jamie Spencer), who knows him well. This has been the plan all winter and I’m delighted everything has gone smoothly in getting him here.” |
 Haatheq (Mile) went out Friday morning. Dane O’Neill, Haatheq’s jockey, said: “He was second in this last year but has a poor draw to overcome this time.” |
 Hamza (Sprint) exercised in company with stablemate Glory Awaits. Trainer Kevin Ryan said, “He’s a straightforward horse and an uncomplicated ride. All we can do now is keep our fingers crossed.” |
 Hokko Tarumae (World Cup) went out for a final jog. Trainer Katsuichi Nishiura said, “He worked very well today. He was in good order, and all has been set for tomorrow.” |
 Jallota (Derby) jogged Friday morning. Trainer Mike De Kock said: “He needed his first run and ran very well last time. The draw is a negative and his stamina is not guaranteed.” |
 Jamr (Gold Cup) cantered on Friday morning. |
 Just A Way (Duty Free) was out on Friday for a maintenance gallop. Jockey Yuichi Fukunaga said, “He is in a good mood. I could keep him in contact today. We gate schooled him today. There is no chance to have a stall handler in Japan, so he was a bit nervous and shying a little bit. It was a good practice for tomorrow. His condition is very good and has handled everything including the long journey. I hope he will be able to show his race against the other top-class horses in the field.” |
 Logotype (Duty Free) was out for a jog Friday. Trainer Tsuyoshi Tanaka said, “He put in a slow canter on the turf course this morning and I am very happy with him. He is full of beans and seems to have a lot of energy but is not tense. He is in a pretty good condition. He did not have any problem with getting in and standing in the starting gate. Our hopes are high.” |
 Magician (Sheema) cantered with his Coolmore stablemates with exercuse rider Craig Bryson aboard. Jockey Joseph O'Brien who rides on Saturday said, “Magician is in good form, he’s an uncomplicated horse and will like the fast ground. He won the Breeders’ Cup Turf from off the pace, and that’s probably the way to ride him." |
 Military Attack (World Cup) was out on Friday morning. Trainer John Moore: “The final day preparing and I couldn’t be happier. He finished his feed bin last night and he’s bright and happy out on the track this morning.” |
 Moment in Time (Gold Cup) completed her preparation with a controlled spin on the all-weather track. “It’s all done now and I’m looking forward to Saturday,” said her trainer, David Simcock. “If you take out Cavalryman, who I think is the one to beat, it would be a very open race. I can see her running well.” |
 Mushrae (Kahayla) came onto the all-weather track on Friday morning together with Cirrus des Aigles and his trainer Jean-Pierre Totain said: “I have to admit that I’m much happier this morning. He looked all right yesterday, but not as well as today. So I am relieved that he has acclimatised on time. He cantered this morning and quickened nicely towards the end and everything is great.” |
 Nawwaar (Shaheen) galloped Friday for traienr Ali Rashid Al Raihe in preparation for the Golden Shaheen. |
 Red Cadeaux (World Cup) his final leg stretch ahead of tomorrow’s main event when seen on the all-weather track just after 7AM. “His preparation has gone smoothly and everything is tickity,” said trainer Ed Dunlop. “The track is getting warmer, which will suit us, and I am looking forward to tomorrow.” |
 Ruler of the World (World Cup) walked once around the wrong way then galloped the right way once around. Jockey Joseph O’Brien said, “Ruler Of The World is in good form. He travelled very well and he just had a gentle hack around the track this morning, just to stretch his legs. He’s a very laid back horse with a good attitude, and take things in his stride. This time last year, it’s hard to believe, but he had yet to see a racetrack. He’s wintered well. His brother Duke of Marmalade improved from three to four, and I think he can do the same. His draw is not ideal, but it is what it is. It’s impossible to know in advance whether they’ll handle the surface, but I’m hopeful that he will.” |
 Russian Soul (Shaheen) went out for a steady canter for trainer Mick Halford who said: “He has stretched his legs and is really well in himself. I’m looking forward to tomorrow and hope he can continue to improve.” |
 Saddler's Rock (Gold Cup) went to the all-weather track at Meydan on Friday for some light exercise following the swinging canter he had ordered the previous day on turf. “He was on the training track yesterday and did a little blow, so we just put him on the all-weather track to give him an easy day today. He’s in good form and everything is fine,” trainer John Oxx reported. |
 Sheikhzayedroad (Gold Cup) exercised with his stablemate, Moment In Time, in completing one circuit of the all-weather track to round off his preparation. “He has enjoyed his time at the Dubai World Cup Carnival and it would be great if he could pick up something on Saturday to round it off,” said trainer David Simcock. “I’ll be slightly holding my breath in the final furlong because he’s never been this far (3200m), but it’s great to be here and a part of it.” |
 Sir John Hawkins (Derby) cantered in company with the other Coolmore horses, with jockey Colm O'Donoughue in the irons. |
 Sole Power (Sprint) was confined to light exercise ahead of contesting this race for the third time. “He was fourth last year (behind Shea Shea) and second (to Ortensia) the year before, so he has every reason to be competitive on Saturday,” said his trainer, Edward Lynam. “It looks like he is drawn away from the pace, but we’ll take our chance and see what happens.” |
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