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 World Cup contender Belshazzar from Japan in front of the immense Meydan grandstand before sunrise. |
Thursday 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. In contrast to the heavy rains that drenched Dubai over the last two days, the skies were clear, however the turf course was rated soft. 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.
Friday Dubai World Cup workouts (30 horses)
2014 Dubai World Cup entries
2013 Dubai World Cup results and photos
Here are photos and comments for 40 horses that galloped Thursday. Please click the smaller photos to see a larger version.
 Asmar (Derby) cantered on the main track Thursday morning. |
 Akeed Mofeed (World Cup) galloped on the main track. Trainer Richard Gibson said: "His jockey Douglas Whyte rode him on the all-weather and gave us the thumbs up afterwards. He didn't do much in the piece of work, just a nice blow. He has a good draw, he's very settled and it's so far so good." |
 Amber Sky (Sprint) jogged on the main track. Trainer Ricky Yiu said: "From gate 8 most likely he will go towards the stand's side and try to lead and keep going. The tactics will be pretty straightforward. In terms of his preparation, we have been taking him out before the sun comes up and everything has been normal to him. He has travelled well. He looks very strong and relaxed." |
 Balmont Mast (Golden Shaheen) galloped on the main track. Trainer Ed Lynam said, "For some reason he didn't run as well as we'd hoped at the Dubai World Cup Carnival this winter. He's been performing okay but we will fit him with cheek-pieces on Saturday to sharpen him up." |
 Belshazzar (World Cup) Trainer Kunihide Matsuda said, "When he had a steady gallop last week, he took a little time to get his condition back, but today even after he galloped yesterday, he is as fit as fiddle and is in a great order. I think the horse has adapted and enjoyed the training on the all-weather surface and looks very relaxed indeed." |
 Berlino Di Tiger (Al Quoz) blew out 1/4 mile in 26 seconds over the soft turf course on Thursday. Caue Caramori, son and assistant to trainer Eduardo said, "My dad thought he could have gone a little faster, but overall we're happy with it. He's in a good state of mind. We just wanted him to get a feel for the course. We're going (to the lead). In races like this it's not common for every horse to run straight. We expect to lean outside some but not too much." |
 Blazing Speed (Duty Free) out for a gallop. Trainer Tony Cruz said, "He was out on the main track again this morning on the all-weather for a slightly faster piece of work than earlier this week. We're delighted with him. Everything's going according to plan. He's ready and will only do slow work until race day." |
 Catcall (Sprint) was out on the main track. Exercise rider Patrice Pot said, "This morning we did a light canter and then went a little bit faster. In total he cantered over 1600m. He seems in good form and tomorrow he will go back to doing his normal canter." |
 Certerach (Gold Cup) Trainer Mick Halford said, "He worked 1400m this morning and had a blow. He quickened up the straight and cleared his pipes. He is fit and well and will probably just swim tomorrow. I think he will run a good race and I think he will stay the 3200m." Jamie Spencer gets the call Saturday night. |
 Cirrus des Aigles (Sheema Classic) being petted by trainer Corine Baranda-Barbe. "He didn't get the best of the draws in gate 15 but it shouldn't matter too much over this distance," she said. "It would be more important if it was the World Cup and he has plenty of time to drop himself in. The horse is a dream – all you dream about he gives you. He has been at his best for three years, and who knows he now may be even better." |
 Dabadiyan (Gold Cup) on the main track. Trainer Mick Halford said, "Shane (Foley, jockey) rode him and said he felt good. "He had a blow after working 1400 meters. He cleared his pipes – they were good and clear and his preparation has gone well. He will have a light canter tomorrow morning and I think his style of racing will see him stay the distance." |
 Dank (Duty Free) was confined to light exercise on the all-weather track for regular work rider Maria Doe. Trainer Sir Michael Stoute said: "She worked seriously over 800m on Wednesday, so this was a quiet day for her. She has travelled well. It's probably a little early in the year for her, but this is a very important race and very valuable." |
 Denim and Ruby (Sheema Classic) schooled in the starting gate Thursday. Jockey Suguru Hamanaka said, "She was very competitive this morning because it was the day after the fast workout. She was schooling at the starting gate and did jump well from the gate. If she starts well from the draw (post 3), she saves ground. We will see the others compete and think about the strategy." |
 Dunaden (Sheema Classic) acted up on the track. Exercise rider Matthieu Brasme said: "He did his usual work of a light canter followed by another round of cantering a little faster. He is in great form, which he showed to everyone." |
 Eastern Rules (Mile) blew out 7 furlongs on Thursday under jockey Shane Foley. Trainer Mick Halford said, "He is fit and well and Shane said he felt good. They quickened up over the 1400 and he has a nice blow. He has improved all Carnival and is a real battler. The plan is to give him a swim tomorrow morning." |
 Elleval (Mile) cantered 1 1/8 miles on the main track. "I couldn't be happier with him," said his trainer, David Marnane, "and we are pleased with his draw. There are a couple of hold-up horses inside of him and a couple that like to go forward. We're hoping for a good spot on the inside and we'll go from there." |
 Empoli (Sheema Classic) galloped on the main track under jokcye Adrie de Vries. Trainer Peter Schiergen said, "Empoli seems in good order, well rested and not stressed. His jockey just did a steady canter this morning and came back very happy." |
 Flotilla (Mile) started off with a light canter, then quickened the second time round. Her exercise rider Eric Camus said: "Everything went fine, she seems in good form." Regular rider Christophe Lemaire gets the call for trainer Mike Delzangles. |
 Gabrial (Mile) cantered 1 mile on the main track. Trainer Richard Fahey said, “He looks well in himself and I’m hoping he can acquit himself well on Saturday." |
 Hillstar (World Cup) jogged on the main track under jockey Ryan Moore. Trainer Sir Michael Stoute said: “He breezed 800m and I’m very pleased. He’s really loving it here and has settled in very well. We’ve had luck with the draw (No. 7 stall) but it’s a tough race.” |
 Jamesie (Golden Shaheen) galloped 1 lap of the main track. Trainer David Marnane said, "There were more people about today and he was interested in what was going on. He's grand, but his draw (stall 10) is a little wider than I'd have liked. Having said that, there's a lot of speed around him so it might not be quite as bad as it first appeared." |
 Joshua Tree (Gold Cup) out for gallop. Trainer Ed Dunlop said, "He has just gone round the track and quickened down the straight. All his main work is done and dusted." |
 Joy and Fun (Sprint) cantered on the main track. Trainer Derek Cruz said: "That's the last time he will work on a racetrack before a raceday since this will be his final race. He will stay in the quarantine area tomorrow and just do some swimming. He's ready for his final call." |
 King Rubi (Derby) on the main track. Trainer Mathieu Palussiere said, "King Rubi just went for a steady canter once round the track. He seems in good form and seems to have acclimatised. He is supple and while he hasn't got a good draw on Saturday, he is honest and generous and I'm helping he'll do well." |
 Military Attack (World Cup) came out to gallop on the Tapeta. Trainer John Moore said: "All's well, thankfully. We had [jockey] Joao Moreira on him this morning on the all-weather and he was very pleased with the work. He said he handled the surface beautifully and that sort of report gives you confidence. He has drawn well in midfield to give us options and we'd have to say we're pretty happy with how things are going." |
 Mount Athos (Sheema Classic) breezed through the stretch and then cantered another lap. "He is in good form," said his trainer, Marco Botti. "His last serious work on Saturday was encouraging and he has been eating well. Although he has form on fast ground, he would have appreciated the rain (on Wednesday). It's a tough race, very competitive, but we do like our draw." |
 Mshawish (Duty Free) came on his own to the all-weather track where he trotted and then did a light canter once around the track. His work rider Eric Camus said: "He does the same routine every morning, he goes for a light canter. He seems well and I'm happy with him." |
 Mull of Killough (Mile) out for light work Thursday. Trainer Jane Chapple-Hyam said, "He did a strong canter and Ryan's happy with him. He had a look at the grandstand and everything is fine." New jockey Ryan Moore gets the call Saturday. |
 Penitent (Mile) cantered 1 1/8 miles on the main track at 6:30AM. Trainer David O'Meara said racing without a prep is "not a problem with him. He can run well fresh. (The rail is) better than he's drawn in the past. Last year I thought we may have used him a bit much early. The winner (Soft Falling Rain) came from back. This year maybe we won't be so aggressive." |
 Red Cadeaux (World Cup) out for a gallop. Trainer Ed Dunlop commented: "He just cantered around the track – nothing too strenuous after his work yesterday and he continues to please me. We will drop him in from his outside draw and try and pick up the pieces if we can. He has won nearly £4million in prize money, been second in two Melbourne Cups and been second here. Everyone seems to love him and he may be a perennial bridesmaid but we will settle for that!" |
 Rich Tapestry (Golden Shaheen) galloped on the main track. Vincent Sit, assistant to trainer Michael Chang said, "Same again: everything's fine, no worries." |
 Seismos (Gold Cup) out for light work on the Tapeta. Trainer Andreas Wohler said, "He went for a steady canter and I think he looks good. This year he had a prep race and I think that did him a lot of good. He was quite awake as his lad put it when he came out and that is a good sign." |
 Sir Jack Layden (Derby) worked 5 furlongs on the main track. Trainer David Brown said he was "exceptionally pleased" with the way he handled track after yesterday's rain. "He's ready to go, he's crying out to get past a mile." |
 Sole Power (Sprint) cantered 1 lap of the main track. Trainer Ed Lynam said, "He's thriving, which is the main thing. I'd rather have been drawn closer to Shea Shea and Amber Sky, but then, I'd rather have a horse in great form with a bad draw than the other way round. I'll leave the tactics up to Ryan (Moore) but the worst thing you can do is ride to try and beat the draw." |
 Sterling City (Golden Shaheen) out for light work. Trainer John Moore said: "He's really picked up in condition since earlier in the week and he has the gun gate (post 4) and from there we have a more than realistic chance of winning. We're confident he will go well on the all-weather and he's a Group 1 horse, so why not? |
 The Fugue (Duty Free) came out very early Thursday morning to jog on the turf. Trainer John Gosden said: "We wanted to get her used to the lights before Saturday, which meant being out at around 5:45AM. She did a nice, half-speed canter on her own, and was back in her stable before 6."
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 Toast of New York (Derby) on the main track. Trainer Jamie Osborne said after galloping half-pace down the stretch, he did not feel the colt needed any more serious work, "If he's not ready now he never will be." |
 Tokei Halo (Duty Free) out for a gallop. Trainer Hisashi Shimizu said, "The draw 6 is a good draw for us. There are no worries that he will be boxed in, and jockey can take the front position with the rhythm that jockey thinks it fits. All things have gone well so far, so hopefully he can keep his good condition and be ready for the race. |
 Trade Storm (Duty Free) completed a leisurely circuit of the all-weather track. "It was a very routine morning," said trainer David Simcock. "He was fine after his blow and is well settled in, having run twice at the Dubai World Cup Carnival. His draw (post 7) is not an issue as he will be ridden with restraint." |
 Twilight Eclipse (Sheema Classic) went twice around the main track. Owner Terry Finley said, "He looks happy and he's carrying good weight. We'll have no excuses from a physical standpoint. The big thing is if he's good enough. I think going 1 1/2 miles nobody should send. I don't see anyone coming out of there race-riding. We're going to be very close to the pace, if not right on the lead. I don't think the outside (15) would have been great and you can get caught in a trap on the inside as long as we weren't (drawn) 1 or way outside. It's a big pot but it doesn't matter how big the pot is if you don't get a piece of it."" |
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