Dubai
Invasor unrecognisable from last year
When the US$6 million Dubai World Cup hope Invasor stepped on to the track at Nad Al Sheba on Sunday morning, many who had watched him train for last year’s UAE Derby might not have recognised the runner who blossomed into the 2006 American Horse of the Year.
“He’s about double the size he was last year,” said Trish McLaughlin, assistant and sister-in-law to trainer Kiaran McLaughlin.
The size of Invasor’s now powerful hindquarters seemed to justify Trish McLaughlin’s assessment as America’s huge hope for the world’s richest race, sponsored by Emirates Airline, galloped about 1 3/8 miles (11 furlongs) in his first extended exercise around the track.
“He’s great, he’s fabulous,” McLaughlin said as she observed Invasor gallop with his head up and his ears pricked under the direction of exercise rider Barry Downes. “He’s a real happy, fresh horse who thrives in training.
“He shipped over awesome. He’s such a well travelled horse and he’s so classy and so laid back, that nothing bothers him,” McLaughlin said.
And after watching him glide over Nad Al Sheba, she added: “He’s actually more relaxed than I thought he’d be.”
Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin is due to arrive in Dubai on Monday afternoon but does not have any timed workouts planned for Invasor, who completed his serious Dubai World Cup training in Florida prior to shipping out on March 20.
Meanwhile, with dapples gleaming on his dark bay coat, six-time Grade 1 winner Lava Man strode around the Nad al Sheba turf course for the first time in advance of the US$5 million Dubai Duty Free, sponsored by Dubai Duty Free.
The smile on exercise rider Tony Romero’s face after the gallop told the story of how the six-year-old Slew City Slew gelding handled the course.
“He loves it here,” Romero said from the saddle as he guided Lava Man off the track. “He’s doing really good.”
Another American multiple Grade 1 winner, English Channel, could train under the lights at Nad al Sheba tomorrow night so he can get a feel of the conditions he will encounter in the Dubai Duty Free.
“We’ll gallop him,” said assistant trainer Ginny DePasquale after talking by phone with trainer Todd Pletcher, who is still in the United States. “He hasn’t run under the lights before.”
Until Pletcher arrives later in the week, DePasquale is overseeing his squadron of five runners, two exercise riders and three grooms. All the horses travelled well from the U.S. to Dubai, although US$5 million Dubai Sheema Classic (sponsored by Nakheel) candidate Host developed a slight cough following the trip. Blood testing has shown no problems, however, she said.
In addition to English Channel and Host, the Pletcher contingent also includes Dubai Sheema Classic contender Honey Ryder and Dubai Golden Shaheen entrants Bishop Court Hill and Friendly Island.
With his neck arched, US2 million Dubai Golden Shaheen (sponsored by Gulf News) entrant Nightmare Affair couldn’t be ignored in his gallop.
“He feels like he owns the racetrack,” exercise rider Chris Morales said. “He’s just showing off.”
Co-owner Ron Borgese added: “He looks like he’s wearing the crown already; he looks like a champ.”
Another Dubai Golden Shaheen hopeful, Summerplace Farm’s Kelly’s Landing, one of five American-based challengers in the Dubai Golden Shaheen, is causing big problems for racing officials.
Such is his huge size, officials want him to visit the Nad al Sheba starting gate to make sure they won’t have to make some minor adjustments to the stall he is assigned for the 1,200-metre sprint on Saturday.
Other than the size question, Kelly’s Landing has provided all the right answers following his arrival in Dubai.
“He’s doing fabulous, better than I expected,” said exercise rider Gerry Carwood. “He’s shipped well, he’s eating well, he’s doing everything well.”
With every day that Godolphin Mile entrant Dixie Meister spends in Dubai, the better he seems to be doing.
Daniel Drouet, who is marking his eighth year of helping California-based trainer Julio Canani with horses he has sent over for the Dubai World Cup program, said the five-year-old gelding “is doing 100 per cent — maybe more.”
Exercise rider Juan Cruz reported that “ ‘He’s never jogged like this.’ He was very impressed,” Drouet related, adding that, “I hope this is going to be a good year.”
|
