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Lava Man loving Nad al Sheba turf course
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 on Sunday morning in advance of the US$5-million Dubai Duty Free (Gr.1).
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.”
That is the best kind of news for those fans of Lava Man who know that the gelding has not won a major race outside of California, partly due to his tendency to expend too much energy prior to his races when he is shipped to new surroundings. The Dubai sunshine might remind Lava Man of home, however, as he appeared relaxed yet eager in his gallop.
Trainer Doug O’Neill has tried to arrange everything for the gelding to feel at home, and all the members of the Hollywood Park team who regularly care for him will be in Dubai.
English Channel may gallop under lights on Monday
Current plans call for multiple Grade 1 winner English Channel to train under the lights at Nad al Sheba on Monday night so that he can get a feel of what conditions will be like for the Dubai Duty Free (Gr.1).
“We’ll gallop him,” said assistant 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 traveled well from the U.S. to Dubai, although Dubai Sheema Classic (Gr.1) candidate Host developed a slight cough following the trip, DePasquale said. His bloodwork has shown no problems, however.
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.
The entire group has been going out to the Nad al Sheba training track in the mornings. They jogged on Saturday and galloped on Sunday. With the exception of English Channel’s Monday night exercise, the contingent is scheduled to visit the main track only on Tuesday and Thursday mornings, DePasquale said.
She also confirmed jockey assignments for the quintuplet. John Velazquez, the primary rider for Pletcher’s barn, will pilot English Channel, Host and Bishop Court Hill, while Garrett Gomez, who took over top duties when Velazquez was injured last year, will be aboard Honey Ryder and Friendly Island.
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