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2018 Dubai World Cup Workouts


Over by the training track on Tuesday morning with Librisa Breeze (Al Quoz Sprint) and Monarch's Glen (Dubai Turf).
Date: 03/27/2018

On Tuesday 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 low 70's during training hours before climbing to the high 80's during the day. 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 full card will be broadcast live on TVG in the U.S. and HPI-TV in Canada. In addition, NBC Sports Network will broadcast the four Group 1 races from 9:30am-12:30pm.

Here are photos and comments for 21 horses that were out Tuesday morning. Please click the smaller photos to see a larger version.


Awardee (Dubai World Cup) cantered once around the main track on Tuesday and is scheduled to work on Wednesday.

Forever Unbridled (Dubai World Cup) galloped 1 5/8 miles under exercise rider Pedro Velez Trainer Dallas Stewart said, "She's doing fantastic. She had an awesome morning. She was a tired horse in the Oaks. It wasn't a jockey thing. Mike (Smith) likes her, he's been watching her and has been wanting to ride her. There's no need to give him any instructions Saturday. He'll have his head in the game. His style will fit her well and he knows this track."

Gunnevera (Dubai World Cup) galloped twice around under exercise rider Victor O'Farell. Trainer Antonio Sano said, "This horse is very important to me. He's given me opportunities to train the best horses of my life. And he's my best friend - he loves me. I don't have words to explain what Gunnevera means to me. He is a totally different horse now than when he ran in the Pegasus. He has never worked like he is working now. I'm so proud to be here in Dubai with my horse. I hope he has a good pace to run behind and that he can come charging home in the stretch."

Pavel (Dubai World Cup) galloped twice around. Leandro Mora, assistant to trainer Doug O'Neill said, "To bring him over here is not easy. The horse plane takes almost 24 hours non-stop. But, the crew here (at Meydan) are so willing to adapt to what you do back home. They send you a list to ask what you want. We get the shavings we want. I always want Canadian oats and Washington hay. They have it, we apply for it and when we get here there's no changes for the horse. We bring over the people the horse is comfortable with. A nice racehorse is used to the person who looks after him. Andres (Martinez) is there every day rubbing his legs and cleaning him up. They get used to that so we try to bring the same team. Once they know the caretaker is there, it's more comfortable for them."

Desert Encounter (Sheema Classic) galloped twice around under Jennie Simcock, wife of trainer David. Assistant trainer Ian Russell said, "Desert Encounter is quite a nice little horse. For a European horse coming over at this time of year, I think he looks fantastic. He's quite a short, compact horse but physically he's very athletic. He's short, but there's plenty of power there."

Khalidi (Sheema Classic) was highly tried last year, finishing 14th in the Investec Derby (G1) before placings behind Permian at Royal Ascot and Crystal Ocean at Glorious Goodwood. He has looked excellent in his skin since arriving into Dubai and cantered around the training track at 7:50. "He's an outsider, but he's quite talented," trainer Clive Cox said. "We've been trying to find decent ground for him but since the second half of the summer back home it has just been wet, wet, wet. He's loving it here. He's really thrived since he arrived. I took him to the main track yesterday and he'll go back there tomorrow."

Mozu Katchan (Sheema Classic) cantered 1 1/4 miles. Assistant trainer Takayuki Nagi said, "She has travelled well. The long travel has not bothered her. She has adapted to the new surroundings, she eats up well, she stretches her legs so nice and her concentration has been getting better. As you know, fillies sometimes are so nervous with everything in the spring time of the season, but she has really settled in here and when she walked in the paddock and the saddling area, she has been relaxed. I am very happy with what she has been doing so far."

Satono Crown (Sheema Classic) worked 1/2 mile on turf in 55 seconds. Trainer Noriyuki Hori said, "All has gone as planned. Their gallops and times were what I had wanted. At 3:00 a.m. the turf had been classified as good, but working on that turf here feels quite similar to a yielding course in Japan. So, the training affects the horses differently than it would on the same ground classification in Japan. Every morning I check the track conditions before deciding which course I will train them on that day."

Monarch's Glen (Dubai Turf) had a spin around the training track under Tony Proctor just before 8:00.

Neorealism (Dubai Turf) worked 1/2 mile on turf in 55 seconds. Trainer Noriyuki Hori said, "All has gone as planned. Their gallops and times were what I had wanted. At 3:00 a.m. the turf had been classified as good, but working on that turf here feels quite similar to a yielding course in Japan. So, the training affects the horses differently than it would on the same ground classification in Japan. Every morning I check the track conditions before deciding which course I will train them on that day."

Mind Your Biscuits (Golden Shaheen) breezed an easy 1/4 mile and then blew out the final furlong through the stretch. Trainer Chad Summers said, "Look at him, ears up. He's a different horse and if that's good or bad remains to be seen. Last year I think he got overshadowed by Arrogate, but what he did from the 14 hole was phenomenal. This year's race is tougher but I couldn't be happier." He will take advantage of schooling on Tuesday evening, riding in the horsebox from his barn to the receiving barn, walking through the tunnel and taking a few laps around the saddling area and the parade ring before heading home.

Roy H (Golden Shaheen) breezed 3f in 37 seconds with jockey Kent Desormeaux aboard. Desormeaux said, "The horse is very aggressive and gets in the bridle. It's my job to slow him down, and it's my job to slow him down in (the early part of) the race. I spend more time trying to slow him down than pushing him forward. He's an amazing horse."

X Y Jet (Golden Shaheen) went out at 5AM rather than his usual 7AM for a 1 1/2 mile gallop under exercise rider Anthony Cruz. Trainer Jorge Navarro said, "I wanted to get him under the lights, like he will be for the race. And I wanted to get that out of the way. He's ready. I can't wait for the race."

Parviz (Dubai Gold Cup) galloped twice around. He comes here off a second place finish in the Grand Prix du Departement 06 at Cagnes-sur-Mer on February 28, after finishing second in the Qatar Derby at Doha on December 30.

Sheikhzayedroad (Dubai Gold Cup) galloped twice around under exercise rider Katy Reed. Reed said, "We went on the main track for a routine canter round today and tomorrow we are galloping on the grass on the main track. 'Sheikhy' seems in really good form and is now starting to come in his coat. He has done well from his prep run here about a month ago."

Torcedor (Dubai Gold Cup) galloped 2 miles under jockey Colm O'Donoghue who said, "He cantered a couple of laps of the dirt track. He feels great; very happy in himself. I'm delighted with him."

Conquest Tsunami (Al Quoz Sprint) breezed 3f through the stretch with Victor Espinoza in the irons. Trainer Peter Miller said, "‘Tsunami' might be my best chance in that race. He's sharp as a razor. They each went three-eighths (about 600m) to gallop out a half (-mile, about 800m), nothing fancy, just kind of stretched their legs and got a little blow. Basically, that will be the end of their training, for the most part."

Librisa Breeze (Al Quoz Sprint) galloped once around the training track. Trainer Dean Ivory said, "To win a Group 1 at home is fantastic, but if we managed to do it in Dubai it would be a dream come true – not just for me but for my owners and all the staff. I think he's got every chance. I wouldn't be sending him all that way just to take part – I'm going with the intention of having a big run. I suppose a worry might be the climate. It's been very cold with us at home and it's set to be a warm week in Dubai. However, I still don't think we've seen the best of him. Although he won a Group 1 last year he's been very unlucky at times. He has to come from the back or mid-division and finish with a late run so he needs luck in running. He's a big horse for the future and, barring accidents, I think we should have a lot of fun with him this year. I actually think he's going to be even better over 1,400-1,600m [7f to a mile]."

Magical Memory (Al Quoz Sprint) galloped once around. He is unraced since finishing 3rd in the John Guest Bengough Stakes (G3) at Ascot in October.

Richard's Boy (Al Quoz Sprint) breezed 3f in 36 seconds under jockey Kent Desormeaux. Trainer Peter Miller said, "He's a remarkable horse. I've never had a horse with as much energy as that horse. He travels and runs and travels and runs. He never seems to get tired, so he's a pretty neat horse. We were supposed to have assistant starters with our horses. Somehow or another that didn't happen (last year when finishing 5th in this race). Hopefully, this year we can get assistant starters with my four horses and we can get a clean break."

Stormy Liberal (Al Quoz Sprint) blew out 3f with Victor Espinoza in the saddle. Trainer Peter Miller said, "He was moving a little faster than I probably would have liked, but my horses are in good shape. He didn't ship well over there (to Hong Kong), didn't eat, didn't have his energy. We're hoping we see the real Stormy Liberal in Dubai, and if we do, I think he can be right there at the finish of the Al Quoz Sprint. It's great. It's a lot of work and it's a lot of anxiety, with managing the help and figuring out who's going to do everything. But it will be all worth it if we win."

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