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2015 Dubai World Cup Workouts


World Cup contender California Chrome gets a pat from trainer Art Sherman.
Date: 03/27/2015

Friday morning in Dubai, entrants for the $10 million Dubai World Cup (G1) and its rich undercard were at Meydan Racecourse on the main track. Today the sky was clear and the weather warm, with a high of 83 degrees. 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.

Here are photos and comments for 26 horses that were out on Tuesday. Please click the smaller photos to see a larger version.


California Chrome (World Cup) - Galloped over a fast main oval at Meydan and schooled in the walking ring Friday morning. Tony Gutierrez, the regular exercise rider for Al Quoz contender Distinctiv Passion, substituted for regular morning pilot Willie Delgado, who failed to make the gallop.

"He schooled great," said assistant trainer Alan Sherman. "Didn't turn a hair. Now it's time for him to strut his stuff and get it done."


Lea (World Cup) - With exercise rider Neil Poznansky in tow, Lea worked "between a quarter (400m) and three-eighths of a mile (600m)" on Friday morning over a fast Meydan oval, according to trainer Bill Mott.

"I was pleased with it, and my rider was grinning from ear-to-ear when he came off the track so I think that's a pretty good sign," Mott said of the move. (It was) just a little blow to stretch his legs. It looked like it sharpened him up. He was bouncing coming off the racetrack. We're not there yet, but hopefully everything goes well between now and then."


Designs on Rome (Sheema Classic) - Trainer John Moore said: “He was out this morning on the turf again. He looks awesome. Joao (Moreira, jockey) came back with a glint in his eye and said all is well. We are really looking forward to the race.”

Harp Star (Sheema Classic) - Put in a routine canter on the dirt at Meydan. Trainer Hiroyoshi Matsuda said: “I am happy with her good condition. She is on a real hot streak. I have a big hope for jockey Ryan (Moore) who is going to give her (the best) ride.”

Cladocera (Dubai Turf) - The Alain de Royer Dupre-trained filly did a steady canter on Friday morning and her handler said: “She went steady today as she had gone a bit faster yesterday. “She is in very good form, just a bit lighter than she was when she ran last time. She moves really well though. I have the impression she is a bit more nervous than before. It is a tough race for a filly and she hasn’t got the best of draws. But we shall see.”

Sloane Avenue (Godolphin Mile) - The draw apart – gate 15 of 16 – everything is spot on for the lightly-raced four-year-old, according to trainer Jeremy Noseda, who came closest to success with six previous runners on the Dubai World Cup programme when Wilko ran second in the big race nine years ago.

Friday’s exercise for Sloane Avenue comprised a mix of cantering and trotting for 1200m of the main dirt track, after which Noseda said: “All the serious work has been done, so this is an easy day, and I’m delighted with him.”


Bradester (Godolphin Mile) - Keeping to a schedule designed by trainer Eddie Kenneally, he appeared very early in the morning. Ridden by Julie Stormfelt, Bradester jogged 1600m and galloped 2400m, leaving Kenneally feeling very upbeat a day before the race. “He’s doing really well. We were out early because he does better when it’s quiet. He’s on a schedule and he’s doing great in this routine,” said the Irish-born trainer now based in the US.

Kenneally described the 16-runner field as “a solid group of horses” but with no dominant favourite. “Maybe that’s why it’s such a big field—everyone is taking a shot, like we are,” he said.


Tamarkuz (Godolphin Mile) - Both he and Nolohay represent Musabah Al Muhairi who said: “Conditions suit them both and we are really looking forward to this race.”

Nolohay (Godolphin Mile) - Both he and Tamarkuz represent Musabah Al Muhairi who said: “Conditions suit them both and we are really looking forward to this race.”

Rich Tapestry (Golden Shaheen) - Trainer Michael Chang said: “He didn’t travel very well. He had a bit of a stomach problem, but everything is back to normal now. He was also a bit dehydrated but he has recovered. He always goes well fresh and this track is pretty similar to Santa Anita where he won a Grade 1 late last year. I am never concerned about him on any dirt track and he enjoyed himself in his canter this morning. He will jump and sit just behind the pace. I don’t want him to lead. There is a lot of pace in the race. My level of confidence right now out of ten would be a seven or eight.”

Big Macher (Golden Shaheen) - Trainer Richard Baltas decided to give the American Grade 1-winning sprinter an easier day at Meydan on Thursday after several previous mornings of steady gallops on the dirt. The five-year-old took a leisurely tour around the track and then visited the starting gate for the second consecutive day, following a schooling session that did not go perfectly on Wednesday. A smiling Baltas reported that Big Macher was much better in the gate the second time, giving his trainer a feeling of confidence. “He’s doing great and he’s ready,” Baltas said.

Secret Circle (Golden Shaheen) - Trainer Bob Baffert’s assistant and exercise rider Dana Barnes guided the 2013 Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner once around the Meydan dirt track in a fluid, easy gallop. Barnes said Secret Circle, who finished second in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Sprint, has been handling the track well and seems to be in very good form heading into the race. “We’re as good as we could be,” Barnes said.

Salutos Amigos (Golden Shaheen) - Galloped 2400m over a fast Meydan oval on Friday morning. "He galloped real strong this morning," trainer David Jacobson said. "There's nothing else we can do. Just get him back to the barn, take care of him, hope he gets a good night sleep and see what happens tomorrow."

Muarrab (Golden Shaheen) - Both he and Shaishee are trained by Musabah Al Muhairi , who said: “Both are in good form and should be competitive in a good race.”

Shaishee (Golden Shaheen) - Both he and Muarrab are trained by Musabah Al Muhairi , who said: “Both are in good form and should be competitive in a good race.”

Super Jockey (Golden Shaheen) - Trainer Tony Millard said: “He has had the same routine all week and he’s doing well. He was out early again this morning.

“He can sweat a lot so the idea is to get him out when it is cooler. He is coping exceptionally well with the new environment and the only negative is the draw in gate 12, which is wider than ideal. Ryan Moore will have to weave his magic wand on him but he knows him well and the horse is in great form. I think he has the potential to surprise a few people.”


El Padrino (Golden Shaheen) - The Singapore-trained El Padrino worked on the main track today for the first time since he arrived on Tuesday.

“He took a couple of days to settle down but now’s fine and I wanted him to get the feel of the dirt track,’’ trainer Alwin Tan said. With race jockey Oscar Chevaz in the saddle, he cantered for a lap and seemed keen to go faster.


Golden Barows (UAE Derby) - Went to school in the paddock and saddling area after a routine canter on the dirt track at Meydan.

Assistant trainer Kazutomo Mori said: “He changed his attitude a lot in the starting gate from what he was the other day. “He was able to be relaxed and stand in the stall. I am happy with that. Jockey (Ryan Moore) knows the horse and the track here very well, so there is no concern about the tactics, and we will let the jockey do what he thinks he will fit. The horse is in a top form right now.”


Tap That (UAE Derby) - Trainer Yasutoshi Ikee said, “I can see his condition getting better day by day. I look forward to seeing his performance in the race because he is a very talented colt, but he has not displayed his full ability yet. If he can show his race, he has a big chance. The quality of the surface is slightly different in the morning and the night, so I will make a final decision for his shoes and will give him the best way for his best performance tomorrow. My hopes are high.”

Faithful Creek (UAE Derby) - The three-year-old again visited the main track, where he went through the stalls without turning a hair under big-race jockey Kieren Fallon. Having been warm on his first visit on Thursday, he took the excursion in his stride and was relaxed throughout.

Faithful Creek pinged the stalls when they opened and galloped 400m before returning to the paddock, where he also schooled on Thursday. "That's all we wanted to do with him," trainer Brian Meehan said. "You can overcook them by breezing them, so I always keep it simple. The horse is ready to go."


My Johnny Be Good (UAE Derby) - Owner Bill Casner looked on as My Johnny Be Good went through his final pre-race paces. “He came on the track calm and collected,” said Casner, who co-owned 2009 Dubai World Cup winner Well Armed. “As he backed up on the track he had no worries. That’s a big factor in these races. You need a strong minded horse that won’t implode when the pressure is on and he seems to have that going for him. He seems to be comfortable with the surface and have an affinity for the track.”

Brown Panther (Dubai Gold Cup) - After going through a relatively strong work-out on the main turf track on Thursday, the highest-rated contender carried his head low under restraint as big-race rider Richard Kingscote took him on an exercise of walking and cantering over two circuits of the grass surface at the training track.

Trainer Tom Dascombe, who was looking forward to welcoming the six-year-old’s joint-owner, ex-England football international Michael Owen and his family later on Friday, said: “He’s a professional, taking it all in, and I couldn’t be happier with his condition.”


Marzocco (Dubai Gold Cup) - John Gosden’s Godolphin representative again had a breeze around the main track and moved nicely on the grass.

“He has travelled over well, is in good form and I have been happy with him,” said Gosden of his recent all-weather winner. “He went round the turf track and stretched his legs this morning, and he did no more than that. I think that the trip will suit him as will the track. He was a late invite to the race and the race does have depth to it but he is in very good form.”


Farmah (Al Quoz Sprint) - François Rohaut had arrived on Friday morning to see Farmah canter around the track. The filly seemed really well, even throwing in a couple of bucks.

Rohaut said: “She is as always very relaxed and very supple. She arrived on February 10 to run a prep race on the dirt, but as that didn’t go too well, we switched her to the turf. I don’t think she took to the dirt in the three weeks she was here. She is stronger now though and is really looking well. She is drawn five and has a nice group of horses just around her in stalls six and seven. These horses should go forward in the middle of the track and I believe they will set off quite fast. We will let them do their thing and hopefully then come from behind.”


Af Lafeh (Kahayla Classic) on Thursday morning with trainer Ali Al Raihe and jocky Joel Rosario.

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