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 Sunrise on Thursday morning at Meydan with Fire Group (UAE Derby) on the track. |
On Thursday morning in Dubai, entrants for the $12 million Dubai World Cup (G1) and its rich undercard were at Meydan Racecourse on the main track, turf course, and training tracks. Conditions were typical for late March in the Emirates, with partly cloudy skies and temperatures in the low 70's during training hours before climbing to the mid 90'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's show will start at 12:30pm.
Here are photos and comments for 22 horses that were out Thursday morning. Please click the smaller photos to see a larger version.
  Mystic Guide (Dubai World Cup) galloped twice around. Trainer Mike Stidham said, "It’s an honour and a privilege to be here and especially for a horse for His Highness Sheikh Mohammed on the 25th anniversary. It could not be better and we just can’t wait to get on the racetrack. Going 1 1/4, I would love to see him break well and be forward and be in a comfortable stalking position, depending on how fast they’re going in front of him. Luis Saez certainly handled him well at Oaklawn and got along well with him. I’m happy to have him back. He has good energy and his coat and weight look fantastic, so he’s obviously thriving on the routine. I’m sure there are horses who come over here who don’t do well with this, but fortunately we are doing well." |
  Chuwa Wizard (Dubai World Cup) schooled in the paddock ring before he cantered on the dirt track under exercise rider Kota Kato. "He was full of beans this morning," Kato said. "He breezed on Tuesday and did just hand-walking yesterday, so he was very fresh. He was patient in the starting gate when he got familiarised with it. He will just stretch his legs on dirt tomorrow." |
 Sleepy Eyes Todd (Dubai World Cup) galloped once around. Trainer Miguel Angel Silva said, "He looks very good right now. He hasn’t missed a meal since we got here. He’s in really good shape. I’m not nervous because he’s the kind of horse that doesn’t make you nervous. He always gives you 100%. With some other horses you don’t always know how they are going to run, this guy always gives it all. It gives you confidence. It’s an amazing experience, we are really grateful. With all the invitations, with all the people, with God, the owner, the organisation, everybody. We are grateful to be here." |
  Jesus' Team (Dubai World Cup) galloped a routine two laps on the dirt track under exercise rider Willo Mercado. Trainer Jose Francisco D'Angelo said, "Today he had his head a little high because the horse wants to go. I said to the rider, let him [stride on]. He’s OK, controllable. He didn’t do a fast time. Tomorrow we are going to do the same two laps, but more slowly. So we can arrive on raceday with good energy. I slept better last night, for the first time. I like the post position (9) because ‘Jesus’ can find a good spot to make an aggressive move in the first part. I asked Bob Baffert and my friend Chad Summers about preparation. They are familiar with the environment here. I took their advice and made my plan. All horses are different, and need different things to get ready. ‘Jesus’ is coming into this race perfectly." |
  Magny Cours (Dubai World Cup) galloped twice around the trining track. Richard Lambert, assistant to trainer Andre Fabre said, "Mr. Fabre is very happy with him. He came to watch him just do a little canter this morning and everything is fine. The horse is calm and doing well. He will not be going back to the dirt track before Saturday." |
  Great Scot (Dubai World Cup) had a steady canter on the main track this morning under exercise rider Abdullah Aloufi, who is a successful professional jockey in Saudi Arabia. Aloufi said: "The dirt track is faster here than in Riyadh and it was the horse’s first time on it yesterday. We just did a steady canter yesterday and today. He was keen, that’s just him but he felt good." |
  Title Ready (Dubai World Cup) came to the dirt track at 7am and had an easy hack around with his trainer Dallas Stewart watching from the viewing area around the 7f mark of the 9f dirt track. "The draw (4) is OK," Stewart said. "I’d maybe rather be a little more outside, but what can you do. We came to race and I’m looking forward to it. He’s a horse I think has to step up, but that’s why they run the race. I’m glad to be here with [Fipke] and we’re excited."
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  Ajuste Fiscal (Dubai World Cup) galloped twice around on Thursday morning. |
  Military Law (Dubai World Cup) had his final blow out on Meydan’s dirt track on Thursday. The 6-year-old Dubawi gelding has been assigned stall 5 and trainer Musabeh Al Mheiri said: "We have a good horse in Military Law. He is honest and works hard and has always shown us that in training. A good draw has improved his chances and we could not have asked for a better spot. We will look for a good break and for Antonio Fresu to get him into a good spot just off the pace so that he can give himself a good chance at the finish." |
 Chrono Genesis (Sheema Classic) had an easy workout for a lap on the dirt track at Meydan at 5am with her work rider Yasunaga Wada on board. "She is fit and ready," said Wada. |
 Mogul (Sheema Classic) stepped out onto the dirt track at Meydan for the first time on Thursday morning after clearing quarantine. "We hope that the fact Mogul ran in Hong Kong in December will be something of an advantage," said trainer Aidan O’Brien. "We have got him as fit as we can at home for his first run of the year so he doesn’t have to do much now before the race." |
 Court House (Dubai Turf) galloped twice around under exercise rider Ryan Powell, in company with stablemate Epic Hero. Trainer Simon Crisford said, "Both worked very well this morning, they are fit and ready and we couldn’t be happier with them. Court House has run extremely well on the Meydan turf in his last two starts so we are hopeful he can run another consistent race. He’s training well and enjoys racing up with the pace." |
 Epic Hero (Dubai Turf) galloped twice around under exercise rider Dan Hutchinson, in company with stablemate Court House. Trainer Simon Crisford said, "Epic Hero has done very well since his first Carnival race and we are hopeful he can run a nice race. Obviously, he will need to improve on his best form, but he deserves to take his chance." |
 Copano Kicking (Golden Shaheen) cantered once around. "No worries about his draw (11)," said trainer Akira Murayama. |
 Yaupon (Golden Shaheen) schooled in the paddock before galloping around the dirt track on Thursday morning. "He stood in the gate and galloped a mile. He felt really good going home. He’s a pretty straightforward horse," said assistant trainer, Scott Blasi. "It’s a good post (2). He’s a horse that needs to establish position early. He had a rough run in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint. He was bounced around pretty well throughout several stages of the race. But if he can get away from the gate cleanly, he can run his race." |
 Jalen Journey (Golden Shaheen) will have a tough test ahead of him, as Steve Asmussen’s assistant trainer, Scott Blasi, explained: "It’s an obvious step up from who he has been running against. He’s been in against this company before." The 6-year-old had plenty of races against Graded stakes company, so the possibility of a win on Saturday is not out of reach. "He galloped a mile today. He seems to be thriving right now," said Blasi. |
 Good Effort (Golden Shaheen) galloped once around. trainer Ismail Mohammed said, "We wanted a better draw than Super Saturday so clearly cannot complain with stall one! That should really suit and, assuming he breaks well, we should be able to be positive on him which is the way he likes to race." |
 Ambivalent (UAE Derby) galloped once around on Thursday. Ambivalent has drawn post eight of 14 sophomores, which assistant trainer Leandro Mora considered ideal. Top U.S.-based jockey Luis Saez, making his UAE debut on Saturday, rides the son of Constitution who is seeking points for the Kentucky Derby. |
 Cowan (Al Quoz Sprint) who nearly walked out of the starting gate in the Saudi Derby, will be hoping for a cleaner break on Saturday. Assistant trainer Scott Blasi, explained: "He drew the 1 stall. With his running style, I don’t think the inside draw will be detrimental. He has speed and won’t have to cross over any horses." Cowan has never won on turf but will be making the switch nonetheless. He continued his preparation with exercise over the dirt track on Thursday morning. "He stood in the gate on Tuesday, so he just galloped a mile today," said Blasi. |
 Snapper Sinclair (Godolphin Mile) schooled calmly in the starting gate before making a lap around the dirt track. But in the middle of the clubhouse turn, the horse appeared to have tossed his rider, who did not lose hold of Snapper Sinclair and was immediately attended to by assistant trainer, Scott Blasi, who legged him up on the horse in a matter of seconds. Blasi asked one of the outriders to assist by galloping next to Snapper Sinclair once around the track. However, a few seconds later, the outrider appeared to drop the strap holding Snapper Sinclair. The exercise rider was quick to control his horse and continued to gallop, slowly and solo, to complete the mile. Snapper Sinclair returned to the barn with a bit of lather on his neck, but in good order. "He’s a really difficult horse when he’s ready to go. We usually don’t exercise him without the pony the week of the race," said Blasi. "The 14 post isn’t ideal with the dog-leg turn going the one-turn mile. But hopefully he can break well and establish his position. It’s a long backstretch for him to do so." |
 Hajres (Kahayla Classic) jogged on the main track. Trainer Elisabeth Bernard said, "It’s very hot now and apparently it’s going to be even hotter on Saturday. Hajres worked yesterday and so this morning, he didn’t do much and because it’s so hot, he will do the same again tomorrow. I’m very happy with him though, he looks perfect to me." |
 Fettah Du Loup (Kahayla Classic) galloped once around on Thursday. |
 All the Dubai World Cup card trophies on display in the grandstand on Thursday. |
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