Monday morning in Dubai, entrants for the $10 million Dubai World Cup (G1) and its rich undercard were at Meydan Racecourse on the main track. Conditions were typical for late March in the Emirates, with clear skies and temperatures in the 70's during training hours. 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 31 horses that were out on Monday. Please click the smaller photos to see a larger version.
Keen Ice (World Cup) galloped 2 miles under assistant trainer Tammy Fox. Fox said, "He just worked 1000m on Saturday, so we take it easy with him for a couple days after. He went in 59 1/5. He seems to like it (the blinkers). It was a good move. We all know his style of running. He's a big plodder. When the pace is slow like it was (in the Al Maktoum Challenge) the leaders just sprint away from him. It takes him a while to get his momentum going. He needs pace to run at and I think we'll get more of that in the Dubai World Cup."
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Hoppertunity (World Cup) worked 1/2 a mile in 48 2/5 under assistant trainer Dana Barnes. Barnes said, "Super good! He usually doesn't work by himself, so I was a little concerned, but he grabbed the bit and it was no problem. He loves (the Meydan dirt). This track is really soft, whereas Santa Anita is pretty hard. All the horses seem to be like ‘Yay!' when they feel this track."
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Hokko Tarumae (World Cup) galloped on the main track. This is his third try at the World Cup after finishing last in 2014 and fifth last year. He won the Kawasaki Kinen (G1) last out.
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Mshawish (World Cup) galloped 1 3/8 miles under exercise rider Nick Bush. Ginny DePasquale, assistant to trainer Todd Pletcher said, "We've kind of increased his distance; the first day it was maybe 1 mile, then 1 1/16, then 1 3/8 and then 1 3/8 again (on Monday). He gets a lot out of his gallops." This is his third World Cup trip, finishing 4th and 3rd in the last two runnings of the Dubai Turf, but switches to the main event this year.
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Gun Pit (World Cup) galloped on the main track. Trainer Caspar Fownes said, "He has been here in Dubai a while now having run second in the Al Maktoum Challenge Round 3. He's happy and settled and looked good this morning. I feel he can pick up a cheque for his owner again in the big one, especially if he can draw a good barrier like he did on Super Saturday."
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Vadamos (World Cup) jogged and cantered on the main track. Richard Lambert, assistant to trainer Andre Fabre said, "Both horses (Vadamos and stablemate Manatee) arrived in the night from Friday to Saturday. Both of them travelled really well. On Sunday we stayed in the quarantine yard where we just trotted and jogged a bit. Then this morning, we went out onto the main track at Meydan.
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Rich Tapestry (Golden Shaheen) cantered on the main track under exercise rider Tommy Wong. Irving Chan, assistant to trainer Michael Chang said, "He's a Dubai expert! He already had two runs during the Dubai World Cup Carnival, winning the first time and then finishing second. We just want to keep him as fresh as possible for the race on Saturday."
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X Y Jet (Golden Shaheen) galloped 1 1/8 miles on Monday. Trainer Jorge Navarro said, "We are just keeping him happy. He's been here for a week and is really enjoying the experience here. The windows in the barns, the open air, the 27-minute walk to and from the track in the mornings. He's usually a crabby horse, but here he's been very loose. (Jockey Emiseal Jaramillo) knows the horse and they have a good connection. He's the all-time leading rider in Venezuela and he has big dreams."
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Domineer (Golden Shaheen) galloped on the main track. Trainer Caspar Fownes said, "I have just seen him and he is looking good and eating up fine after travelling here last week. I hope he can draw a good gate in the race. He's in great form and I think he can win a share of the prize. We're hoping for the best."
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Postponed (Sheema Classic) galloped once around the training track. Will Johnson, assistant to trainer Roger Varian said, "He won his lead-up race (Dubai City of Gold) well and it is just a case of keeping him ticking over now. We will look to give him a blow out on the main turf track on Wednesday morning."
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Duramente (Sheema Classic) galloped once around the main track under exercise rider Atsunori Hashimoto. Hashimoto said, "He is sometimes tense as all is new for him. But I think everything has gone well so far." He won the Satsuki Sho (2000 Guineas) and Japanese Derby last year.
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Dariyan (Sheema Classic) jogged in company with stablemate Vazirabad. Antoine Creton, assistant to trainer Alain de Royer-Dupre said, "Dariyan obviously arrived a while ago. He came here on February 12 and ran in the Dubai City of Gold (G2), where he finished second. This morning he just did his usual routine of a slow canter three quarters around the main track and tomorrow he will work on the grass. He is well."
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One and Only (Sheema Classic) cantered once around the main track under exercise rider Junya Kai. Kai said, "He had a half gallop on the grass course yesterday, so I gave him an easy canter to stretch his legs this morning. It is his second trip to Dubai (finished 3rd last year) and he is likely to get familiarised with the surroundings. He has been very settled since he arrived. He will gallop on turf with jockey Yutaka Take on."
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Gailo Chop (Sheema Classic) jogged on the main track under exercise rider Steve Haes. Haes said, "He travelled well. He is in good form. He recovered his weight very quickly and did his last major work in Bordeaux. We will only let him tick over now this week."
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Sheikyzayedroad (Sheema Classic) galloped on the main track under Jennie Simcock, wife of trainer David. She said, "He has just done a routine canter after his work on Saturday. He might switch to the grass tomorrow morning and then have a blow on Thursday."
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Frank Conversation (UAE Derby) galloped 1 1/2 miles. Leandro Mora, assistant to trainer Doug O'Neill said, "It's right around the corner. He's got ten points piled up (to qualify for the Kentucky Derby) so if we finished second or win we would probably get enough points to make it. And that's (owner) Paul Reddam's and our dream."
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Lani (UAE Derby) cantered twice around the main track under exercise rider Eishu Maruuchi. Maruuchi said, "He was tense on the first day here, and he becomes very aggressive around other horses. But he has got more relaxed today, and he progresses his condition each day. He has a great mood with lots of appetite. He was flexible and moved nicely today. He will gallop on Wednesday."
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Intilaaq (Dubai Turf) was originally pre-entered for the World Cup but trainer Roger Varian opted instead for the Dubai Turf after defending champion Solow scratched and did not ship in from France due to injury. Assistant trainer Will Johnson said, “He arrived here on Thursday after a good journey and he has thrived in the warm weather. He has had an easy once-around the all-weather training track today and may have a blow on the grass on Wednesday. It is disappointing Solow isn’t running but, as people say, one man’s loss is another man’s gain.”
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Real Steel (Dubai Turf) galloped on the main track. He comes to Dubai off a 3rd place finish in the Nakayama Kinen (G2).
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Flamboyant (Dubai Turf) galloped 1 1/2 miles on the training track under exercise rider Helen Isler. He comes to Dubai off wins in the San Gabriel (G2) and San Marcos (G2) at Santa Anita.
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Vazirabad (Dubai Gold Cup) cantered on the main track in company with stablemate Dariyan. Antoine Creton, assistant to trainer Alain de Royer-Dupre said, "Vazirabad got a little wound up on his trip over, but he is much better now. Yesterday he just trotted and jogged and this morning he went out for a slow canter on the main track, together with Dariyan. He seems well."
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Manatee (Dubai Gold Cup) cantered once around the main track. Richard Lambert, assistant to trainer Andre Fabre said, "He looks well. He travelled over here without any problems and has acclimatised quickly."
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Neo Black Dia (Dubai Gold Cup) jogged 1 1/2 laps of the main track and schooled in the paddock under exercise rider Hatsuya Kowata. Kowata said, "It is his first time overseas but he feels good and he's eating very well. He is acting about the same as at home."
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Certerach (Dubai Gold Cup) jogged once around the main track. He won this race 2 years ago.
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Peniaphobia (Al Quoz Sprint) galloped on the main track. Trainer Tony Cruz said, "He flew out last week from Hong Kong. He lost some weight on the flight but he is gaining it back every day. That's all pretty normal. He finished second in this race last year after a similar experience on the flight over and we are hopeful he can win this year."
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Sole Power (Al Quoz Sprint) galloped once around the training track in preparation for his title defence on Saturday. He finished second in the Meydan Sprint last out.
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Goldream (Al Quoz Sprint) galloped once around the training track. He was seventh in the Meydan Sprint after winning the Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp.
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Buffering (Al Quoz Sprint) cantered once around the main track under exercise rider Melanie Sharpe. Trainer Robert Heathcote said, "Melanie knows him better than anyone and says he's 100 per cent, so that's good enough for me. I love the way he finished his work with his ears pricked. I'd prefer it if the race was over 1200m, because his biggest asset is his strength, but I'm sure he's good enough if he brings his A-game to the party."
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Lady Shipman (Al Quoz Sprint) galloped 1 1/4 miles on the main track. Neil McLaughlin, assistant to brother Kiaran said, "She arrived in Dubai on March 15 and we've been taking it easy with her. All the work was done back home. She ran great in the prep (at Gulfstream Park). 1000m turf horses don't need to be 2000m fit. You want them to be fresh and full of energy on race day. We want explosiveness and a burst." Regular rider Irad Ortiz Jr. gets the call on Saturday.
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Sir Maximilian (Al Quoz Sprint) cantered once around the training track.
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Naadirr (Al Quoz Sprint) galloped on the turf on Monday. He comes in off a second place finish in the Al Naboodah Civils Division Trophy on February 25th.
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