2020 Dubai World Cup Workouts

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2020 Dubai World Cup Workouts

Sunday morning at Meydan with Sir Winston

Date: 03/22/2020

On Sunday morning in Dubai, entrants for the $12 million Dubai World Cup (G1) and its rich undercard were at Meydan Racecourse on the main track. Heavy rain and some hail fell overnight rendering the track sloppy, with temperatures in the mid 70's during training hours rising to a the high 80's during the day. However, the trackwork session proved futile as the event was soon scrapped by Emirates racing officials. Originally the Dubai World Cup card was to be conducted "behind closed doors" with no paying spectators in attendance, and all run-up activities such as the post position draw (which had been moved up to Monday) and the traditional "Breakfast With The Stars" on Thursday morning all cancelled. Had the event gone on with no scratches, there would have been a record 21 American-trained runners competing on World Cup night, however Aidan O'Brien was a notable absence, opting not to ship any of his runners over from Ireland.

2020 Dubai World Cup Cancelled - after morning workouts had finished, it was announced the race was cancelled.

Here are photos and comments for 31 horses that were out Sunday morning. Please click the smaller photos to see a larger version.

Chrysoberyl (Dubai World Cup) has been thriving since arriving in early March after his first loss and first race outside Japan. “He has travelled well to Dubai and has settled in,” trainer Hidetaka Otanashi said. “Soumillon will ride him in his upcoming fast work. He didn’t break well in the Saudi Cup (finished 7th), so we might consider the use of a gate (handler) in the Dubai World Cup after we see his progress.”

Tacitus (Dubai World Cup) has been at Meydan since finishing 5th in the Saudi Cup for trainer Bill Mott.

Sir Winston (Dubai World Cup), winner of the 2019 Belmont Stakes, won an allowance at Aqueduct last out and then arrived in Dubai with 9 other U.S.-trained horses on Wednesday. New jockey Frankie Dettori had picked up the mount for trainer Mark Casse. Casse said, “He’s training extremely well. His last race’s (speed figure) was even bigger than his Belmont win. I was hoping for a decent race and then to try to run him one more time going farther, but he ran so well, I decided that that was all. After her got hurt after the Belmont, he came back really well. Since his (January) run, he’s been working great. We didn’t really change the way we prepare him for this race. You dance with the one who brought you. We think he deserves a chance in the Dubai World Cup.”

Chuwa Wizard (Dubai World Cup) has proven a force over testing dirt trips, including wins in the 2000m JBC Classic (Listed), 2400m Diolite Kinen (Listed) and 2500m Nagoya Grand Prix (Listed). Fourth in the Champions Cup three months ago, the 4-year-old son of King Kamehamehaa exits a smart victory in the Kawasaki Kinen (Listed) over 2100m on Jan. 29.

Master Fencer (Dubai World Cup) popular in the USA after his respectable, history-making runs in the Kentucky Derby (sixth) and Belmont Stakes (fifth), has found new life since returning home. After a productive, if not successful, three-race foray in America, he has won two of his last three back in Japan, including a solid win over 2100m in the Kintei Stakes on Feb. 22 in a swift time of 2:11.40.

War Story (Dubai World Cup), third in the Pegasus World Cup last out, was to have been ridden by new jockey Tadgh O'Shea. He arrived in Dubai on Wednesday on the same flight as Sir Winston.

Math Wizard (Dubai World Cup) arrived in Dubai on Wednesday on the same flight as Sir Winston.

Glory Vase (Sheema Classic) won the Hong Kong Vase in December.

Curren Bouquetd'or (Sheema Classic) was second in the Kyoto Kinen for trainer Sakae Kunieda.

Loves Only You (Sheema Classic) was third in the Queen Elizabeth Cup at Kyoto for trainer Yoshito Yahagi.

Almond Eye (Dubai Turf) is the defending champion in this race.

Win Bright (Dubai Turf) captured the Hong Kong Cup in December.

Admire Mars (Dubai Turf) won the Hong Kong Mile last out for trainer Yasuo Tomomichi.

Persian Knight (Dubai Turf) was 5th in the Nakayama Kinen for trainer Yasutoshi Ikee.

Imperial Hint (Golden Shaheen) was an expected favorite in the race, putting in his routine gallop after breezing 1/2 a mile in 47 seconds on Thursday for traner Luis Carvajal Jr. The son of Imperialism has been taking it easy with light jogs around the main track since said drill.

Matera Sky (Golden Shaheen) finished second in the Saudia Sprint last out for trainer Hideyuki Mori.

Truck Salesman (Golden Shaheen) was second in the Al Shindagha Sprint then finished last of 9 in the Tabloid Handicap. The Doug O'Neill trainee has been at Meydan since January.

Killybegs Captain (Golden Shaheen) arrived in Dubai on Wednesday on the same flight as Sir Winston.

Gold Queen (Golden Shaheen) was 5th in the Capella Stakes at Nakayama after finishing second in the JBC Ladies Classic at Urawa.

Blitzkrieg (Al Quoz Sprint) has been in Dubai since January for trainer Doug O'Neill. He was 3rd in the Meydan Sprint before disappointing in 11th in the Burj Nahaar, the main local prep for the Al Quoz.

Mr Melody (Al Quoz Sprint) was 4th in the Sprinters Stakes at Nakayama in September.

Texas Wedge (Al Quoz Sprint) arrived in Dubai on Wednesday on the same flight as Sir Winston.

Right On Cue (Al Quoz Sprint) comes here off a win in the Keihan Hai at Kyoto.

Mekong (Dubai Gold Cup), son of Frankel exits a good second in the $2.5 million Longines Turf Handicap in Saudi Arabia and was unplaced in January’s Meydan Cup (Listed) over this course for trainer Jamie Osborne.

Gray Magician (Godolphin Mile) arrived in Dubai on Wednesday on the same flight as Sir Winston.

Mogiana Flavor (Godolphin Mile) was 6th in the February Stakes at Tokyo Racecourse.

Derma Louvre (Godolphin Mile) was 3rd in the Kawasaki Kinen before finishing a disappointing 15th in the February Stakes.

Full Flat (UAE Derby) won the Samba Saudi Derby last out for trainer Hideyuki Mori.

Serein (UAE Derby) was third in the UAE Oaks last out for trainer Mikio Matsunaga.

Tizamagician (UAE Derby) arrived in Dubai on Wednesday on the same flight as Sir Winston.

Derma Onyx (UAE Derby) won the Kurochiku Sho last out at Nakayama.