Tag Archive for: Dubai

Dettori turns to Country Grammer for fairytale farewell to Dubai

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As he prepares for his final Dubai World Cup ride on the 2022 winner Country Grammer, the magnitude of the occasion this weekend will not be lost on Frankie Dettori.

With so many special Dubai moments adorning his glittering record, the Italian will be seeking a fifth triumph in the $12million spectacular aboard a horse he says “is all heart and will run to the end”.

Dettori’s first World Cup victory came aboard Dubai Millennium in the 2000 renewal, adding further successes with Moon Ballad (2003) and Electrocutionist (2006) at the race’s original venue of Nad Al Sheba before it moved to Meydan in 2010.

Having enjoyed a long association with Sheikh Mohammed’s Godolphin operation, Dettori has seen the race’s growth in stature first hand and ranks his inaugural winner as the best he has partnered.

Dubai Millennium was Dettori's first World Cup winner
Dubai Millennium was Dettori’s first World Cup winner (Martyn Hayhow/PA)

He said: “I worked for Godolphin for 18 years and spent many months with my wife and with my kids here as they were growing up.

“I’ve seen it develop from Cigar at the first World Cup at Nad Al Sheba to this impressive course with its fantastic grandstand that Sheikh Mohammed created.

“Dubai Millennium is the best horse I’ve ridden. Now I’m not riding for Godolphin, but there are so many great memories.”

Dettori teams up with the Bob Baffert-trained Country Grammer for a second successive year, having come in for the winning ride when Flavien Prat opted to partner eventual runner-up Hot Rod Charlie 12 months ago.

Despite suffering from jet lag, Dettori rode the horse in work at 4am in midweek and is full of hope of a title defence despite a high draw in stall 14, with only habitual front-runner Panthalassa on his outside.

Country Grammer was beaten three-quarters of a length by that Japanese-trained contender on his latest start in the Saudi Cup, but the extra furlong here is a factor in his favour.

Dettori said: “Last year we thought Life Is Good was unbeatable, but at the four (hundred metre) pole he collapsed.

“This time it won’t be easy from the 14 draw and it is a competitive race, but one thing for sure is that Country Grammer is all heart and I know he will run to the end. I can’t say a bad word about this horse because he’s all guts.”

Country Grammer has shown a tendency to hit a flat spot and get outpaced midway through his races, and Dettori added: “In the San Antonio he got outpaced, but he doesn’t know how to give up.

“Right now, I’m just thinking about getting the job done on him.”

Dettori produced a brilliant ride aboard Trawlerman at York last year
Dettori produced a brilliant ride aboard Trawlerman at York last year (Mike Egerton/PA)

Dettori also rides for Baffert aboard Worcester in the UAE Derby and Hopkins in the Golden Shaheen, while Caspar Fownes’ Senor Toba is his mount in the 12-furlong Sheema Classic and Raaed, trained in Saudi Arabia, is his Al Quoz Sprint hope.

His old ally John Gosden – now training in partnership with son Thady – has two challengers, with Lord North bidding for a third Dubai Turf verdict and Ebor winner Trawlerman, who benefitted from an excellent Dettori ride in winning at York last year, going for glory in the Dubai Gold Cup after finishing down the field in Riyadh last month.

The rider said: “I expect Trawlerman to improve from his last run, then there are Bob Baffert’s three on the dirt which is their bread and butter.

“I rode Lord North on the training track on Thursday morning and he’s in good form ahead of the Turf. I’ve also picked up a ride for Caspar Fownes in the Sheema Classic.”

Royal Ascot has been a happy hunting ground over the years for Dettori
Royal Ascot has been a happy hunting ground over the years for Dettori (Adam Davy/PA)

Dettori has been plying his trade in America over the winter as the beginning of his farewell tour and expects to return there next week to ride in trials for the Kentucky Derby – although only a “superstar” is likely to prevent him from riding at Newmarket’s Guineas meeting in May.

He explained: “My agent in the States, Ron Anderson, does everything for me, but unless I find a superstar there, I expect I’ll be back in Newmarket to ride Chaldean in the Guineas.

“Then it will be my last Royal Ascot and that will be very emotional, followed by more touring and a return to Newmarket and Ascot in the fall and another Arc.

“After Champions Day, I shall make my way to California and prepare for the Breeders’ Cup. The plan is then to go to Australia or Japan, but I’m keeping all options open and Santa Anita could be (the place for) my last ride.”

Cairo taking Mendelssohn route to possible Kentucky challenge

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Should Aidan O’Brien’s Cairo emulate Mendelssohn in winning the UAE Derby on Saturday, Kentucky could be his next port of call.

Mendelssohn absolutely destroyed the field in 2018, winning by 18 and a half lengths, showing the dirt surface to be no problem, yet his experience in the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs was not a happy one.

Bumped on leaving the stalls, and again soon after, his race was effectively over after a furlong and he trailed in last of 20 behind Justify, who would go on to lift the Triple Crown.

O’Brien has not been put off, however, and given Cairo won the same Listed race at Dundalk prior to the UAE Derby, the Ballydoyle handler is treading a familiar path.

“Cairo is a powerful-looking horse. We’ve been very happy with him through the winter and we were very happy with him when he won at Dundalk,” said O’Brien.

“Obviously, he’s going over a bit further than he has run before and of course it’s a different surface, but we’re happy with him and Pat (Keating, travelling head lad) has been very happy with him since he’s been out there. We’re hopeful.

“Mendelssohn was by Scat Daddy, this horse is by Quality Road and some of his do go on the dirt I suppose.

“Of course there’s a chance he could go to the Kentucky Derby after this, but we’d have to see how he runs. There’s a good chance, we’ll just see what happens first.”

Broome won the Hardwicke at Royal Ascot last year
Broome won the Hardwicke at Royal Ascot last year (David Davies/PA)

O’Brien also runs two well-established Ballydoyle inmates. Broome steps up for just a second crack at two miles in the Dubai Gold Cup while Order Of Australia runs in the Dubai Turf having won in Qatar last time out.

“We think the trip might suit Broome, we think the good ground might suit him and he had a good run the last day in Qatar when he last ran,” said O’Brien.

“We think and hope that he should run a good race.

“Order Of Australia won his last start in Qatar and he’s in good form.

“Obviously this is a furlong longer, but we’re very happy with him and hopefully he’ll run well.

“He’s done lots of travelling, he loves it and is very professional.”

Rebel with a cause – Appleby backing Romance to star on Meydan card

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Charlie Appleby labelled global traveller Rebel’s Romance as the horse best equipped to bring his A-game to the big stage in Saturday’s Dubai Sheema Classic at Meydan.

Rebel’s Romance put together a five-race unbeaten sequence in 2022 that culminated in victory over Stone Age in the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Keeneland.

The five-year-old also triumphed in Listed and Group Three company in Britain and in two German Group Ones at Hoppegarten and Cologne.

Rebel’s Romance had to miss his intended prep race in the Dubai City Of Gold earlier this month, but Appleby is confident he is firing on all cylinders ahead of his Group One assignment,

Appleby said: “Rebel’s Romance is the most impressive horse on the night, just look at his record. He knows how to perform on the big stage and his last three starts were all won impressively in strong fields.

“He is suited by a flat, conventional track as he’s a big, galloping horse. He’s certainly one we could head back to America with.

“He had a minor setback which happened for a reason, and rather than get sucked into running him on Super Saturday we gave him a spin on the turf course.”

Appleby holds a typically strong hand across World Cup night, fielding two contenders in the Dubai Turf over nine furlongs.

Master Of The Seas is one of two Dubai Turf runners for Appleby
Master Of The Seas is one of two Dubai Turf runners for Appleby (David Davies/PA)

Master Of The Seas was a fast-finishing third in the Jebel Hatta on his most recent run, while Nations Pride was a Group Two winner last month over 10 furlongs.

The Godolphin handler said: “Master Of The Seas is strong in mind and body and was a bit unlucky on his last start.

“He’s come out of it well, and remembering he finished second in the Guineas there is no doubting his ability, while James Doyle knows him.

“The nine furlongs puts a bit more of a challenge on Nations Pride, but if there’s a gallop it will assist him. I’m aware that the draw (stalls 10 and 16) for both horses could have been better.”

Siskany is favourite for the Dubai Gold Cup
Siskany is favourite for the Dubai Gold Cup (Alan Crowhurst/PA)

Siskany is the ante-post favourite for the Dubai Gold Cup after winning a Group Three on his Meydan return and he is joined by Global Storm in the two-mile contest.

Appleby said: “Siskany comes into the Gold Cup on the back of a nice win. He has a gear change and a turn of foot. It looks like there will be a pace angle, which is good for him.

“Global Storm finished third in the City Of Gold after Rebel’s Romance skipped the race with a setback.”

At the other end of the distance scale, Al Suhail contests the Al Quoz Sprint over six furlongs on the back of two Meydan wins this winter.

Appleby added: “Al Suhail is a six-year-old that is getting older but stronger. He has a good racing mind, is in great shape and thinks he’s King Kong.

“His draw in eight is a concern, and we will try to get a tow into the race.”

Lemaire has designs on World Cup glory with Geoglyph

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Christophe Lemaire, the French jockey who has carved a niche for himself in Japan over the past nine seasons, has made clear his desire to add the Dubai World Cup to his already enviable CV.

The Frenchman partners the Tetsuya Kimura-trained Geoglyph in Saturday’s renewal, a colt by Drefong who finished out of the money in the Tenno Sho and the Hong Kong Cup at the end of last year, before bouncing back with fourth place in the Saudi Cup.

Lemaire is encouraged that Riyadh was his mount’s first run on dirt and he explained: “I very happy with his trial in Saudi when it was his first run on the surface. It was a great effort, even though he tired in the last 100 metres.

“I’m hoping in the World Cup he can do much better than last time. It’s a strong race, but if he can grab a place it will be very exciting.”

Lemaire is also looking forward to renewing his acquaintance with Equinox in the Sheema Classic, following victory in the Tenno Sho and the Arima Kinen on Christmas Day in the duo’s last two starts.

He said: “It’s his first race outside Japan, but he’s settled in well and his demeanour is perfect.

“He won two of Japan’s leading races for older horses including the Arima Kinen and became (2022) Horse of the Year. He was second in the Derby over a mile and a half, and I’m in no way afraid about the trip for him. He will stay.”

In his time in Tokyo, Lemaire has learned to speak fluent Japanese as well as seeing the meteoric rise on the global stage of the nation’s racing industry.

This has happened to such effect that this year there are a record 27 horses representing the country at the World Cup fixture.

Lemaire said: “From a young age I always wanted to become a jockey, and it was a dream come true to establish myself in France and then to do so abroad.

Christophe Lemaire has every confidence in his Dubai runners
Christophe Lemaire has every confidence in his Dubai runners (John Walton/PA)

“You need confidence and hard work combined with that little bit of talent, and since moving to Japan I have become used to competing in their big racing events, while it’s always a pleasure to be on such good horses.

“I love to win cup races and especially to win the Dubai World Cup one day. Japanese horses like the track and the conditions, and usually perform well.

“It’s very important to communicate with the horse connections, in your daily life as well as on the racecourse, which is why it’s so good to have a reasonable grasp of the language.”

Subjectivist on retrieval mission in Dubai Gold Cup

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Mark Johnston has placed Subjectivist among the best three horses he ever trained but confesses it is a “wing and a prayer job” as to whether he will ever return to his very best.

The 2021 Ascot Gold Cup winner will line up in Saturday’s Dubai Gold Cup, a race he won prior to his career highlight, but to repeat that success he will need to step up markedly on what he achieved in Saudi Arabia.

Making his first start for 618 days following a tendon injury, Subjectivist was understandably keen early on, giving himself no chance, and Johnston, who handed over the licence to his son Charlie recently, admits that following such a setback it may be difficult for him to return to his best.

He said: “He’s just gone round the training track once this morning with Joe Fanning on him. Since he’s come back from his injury he’s been a bit keen, as you may have seen at Saudi.

“He was too keen for his own good there, as he is on the gallops at home, so the main thing for us is to try and get him relaxed and settled. I don’t think we’ll work him on the grass at all as Charlie said he got very wound up in Saudi by being on the track every morning.

“It’s brilliant to have him back but it’s a wing and a prayer job. When you have a tendon injury like he did, you’re always thinking ‘when does the end come?’ – it will come at some point.

“As he was too keen on the night in Saudi and the event and build up proved to be a bit much for him, Charlie was keen to go to the Sagaro Stakes at Ascot and then the Gold Cup. We debated about it with John, our senior vet, and he said just to see really, who knows whether he’ll still be going come Ascot Gold Cup time so we thought we’d come here. The money is fantastic and makes a huge difference.”

Saturday’s contest is a strong one but rather than worry about the opposition, Johnston feels that Subjectivist will take all the beating if he can get back to the form he showed two seasons ago.

He went on: “It’s a very good race on Saturday, but there’s been no better staying races than the Ascot Gold Cup he won two years ago and it’s probably no better than the Gold Cup he won here. It’s down to whether he’s able to come back and perform as he used to.

“I put him in the category of our best three ever, because with the other two horses I never looked at the opposition. Those two horses were Shamardal and Attraction and it’s the same with this horse, we don’t look at the opposition.

“We look at whether he can run to his best and if he does that he’ll be tough to beat. We firmly believed that in 2021 he was the best stayer in the world and it’s just going to be whether he can get back to that.”

Johnston outlines Dubai and Ascot options for Subjectivist

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The Dubai Gold Cup and the Sagaro Stakes at Ascot are the options under consideration for Subjectivist, with trainer Charlie Johnston far from despondent following his comeback run in Saudi Arabia.

The six-year-old was making his first competitive appearance in 618 days in Saturday’s Longines Red Sea Turf Handicap, having been sidelined by injury since his brilliant victory in the 2021 Gold Cup at Royal Ascot.

Hopes were high that he could make a fairytale return to the winner’s enclosure in Riyadh – but after managing to get to the front from his wide draw, his early exertions took their toll and he faded to finish 12th of 13 runners.

While disappointed with the result, Johnston has not given up on the prospect of Subjectivist once again establishing himself as a major Gold Cup contender.

“Of course I was hoping he would run better than he did,” said the Middleham handler.

“But given the way race panned out, he was obviously very, very fresh after a long time off and that was more accentuated by the fact that Joe (Fanning) had to light him up a bit to get him over from that draw. Once he’d lit the fuse, there was no going back.

“He was very, very keen for the first circuit. It was always going to be a big ask after that long a lay-off, but once he’d been as keen as he was, it was no huge surprise to see him get quite tired in the closing stages.

“Obviously we hoped and dreamed he could come back and win – we wouldn’t have gone there if we didn’t think that.

“But at the same time for the horse to show that he’s still got plenty of enthusiasm for the game and I don’t think he looked out of place in that field, giving a stone to some of the best stayers in the world, at least the dream is still alive that he could still be competitive at the highest level in staying races this year.

“We were a little bit disappointed on the night, but we’re far from down and out, that’s for sure.”

Future plans for Subjectivist are slightly complicated by the fact his return flight from Riyadh has been delayed.

A tilt at the Dubai Gold Cup (March 25), which he also won two years ago, is not being ruled out but appears dependent on how quickly he recovers from his recent trip across the globe.

Charlie Johnston still has high hopes for Subjectivist
Charlie Johnston still has high hopes for Subjectivist (Mike Egerton/PA)

Johnston added: “They were originally due to fly back tomorrow (Wednesday) but that has now been delayed until Friday, so he won’t be home until then.

“At the moment he seems fine. We’ll get a better handle on things once he’s back home, but the initial signs are good, so that’s promising at least.

“This delay makes things worse in that there’s only four weeks between Saudi and Dubai and now, given the time it’s taking to get him home and the time he’d need to leave before the race at Meydan, he’d only be back here for two weeks, so that is obviously going to have to be factored in.

“If he doesn’t go to Dubai, something like the Sagaro would seem the obvious next port of call for him, but we’ll wait and see the horse when he gets home and speak to Dr Jim (Walker, owner) and make a plan from there.”

Dubai first is another landmark for George Boughey

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George Boughey’s burgeoning career reached another landmark at Meydan on Friday as the Newmarket trainer enjoyed a first winner in Dubai.

Having recorded his first Classic winner last year with Cachet in the 1000 Guineas, it was the Mickael Barzalona-ridden Al Dasim – winner of his last two starts at Wolverhampton – who provided him with a maiden Dubai Carnival success when taking the Al Wasl Stakes by three lengths.

“It was obviously fantastic, our second runner in Dubai to be a winner. To have horses running all around the world and through the winter to have a nice team of horses to run in Dubai is fantastic,” Boughey told to Great British Racing International.

“He’s a horse who’s been targeted to come out here for a while. Sheikh Abdullah (owner) obviously wants to have horses running out here and he’s got a fantastic stable in Kuwait and in Saudi, and now to have a winner in Dubai is obviously great.

“He’s a horse who’ll probably head towards the Dubai Trophy in February. He’s shown an adaptability to run on turf and also on the all-weather, and it would be no surprise to see him run on the dirt.”

He added: “Everyone’s delighted and huge credit goes to my team out here – Ryan King and Charles Eddery who have the horses in great shape.”

Elsewhere on the card, Valiant Prince led home a Godolphin one-two-three in the Al Rashidiya.

The Dubawi colt was one of four runners carrying the royal blue silks in the Group Two, with Charlie Appleby and Saeed bin Suroor saddling a pair of contenders each.

Appleby was represented by Ottoman Fleet and Valiant Prince, the latter finishing powerfully under James Doyle to prevail.

Three-quarters of a length behind him was Bin Suroor’s Dubai Future, with Ottoman Fleet the third-placed horse by a further half a length.

“It was a big step forward on what he’s achieved in the past and I think he did a good job,” said Doyle.

“While we were drawn well and we had quite a cheap run round early, it got a bit hairy on the bend.

“It just meant the two in front just got away from us a bit, but it kind of suits him in a way – he doesn’t want to see loads of daylight.

“The way he picked up was quite a surprise to me. Once he got a bit of space he felt to me like he was always going to go and win comfortably.”

Raasel starting out on what could be fruitful spell in Dubai

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Mick Appleby’s Raasel will make his Meydan debut with a run in the Listed Ertijaal Dubai Dash on Friday.

The chestnut’s career followed a steep upward curve last year as he signed off 2021 an 86-rated handicapper and ended 2022 contesting Group One sprints in England, Ireland and France.

Along the way he won the Listed Achilles Stakes at Haydock and the Group Three Coral Charge before being beaten just a neck in the Group Two King George at Goodwood.

Unplaced in his latter three runs but not far away against the leading five-furlong horses, the Showcasing gelding has enjoyed a short break before setting sail for Dubai and the Dubai Dash, part of the Carnival series of meetings which culminates with Super Saturday on March 4.

“He’s travelled over there really well and he’s been training well, he seems to be in good order. Hopefully the track and the ground will suit him,” Appleby said.

Raasel (right) winning the Coral Charge
Raasel (right) winning the Coral Charge (Nigel French/PA)

“I think the favourite in the race (Charlie Appleby’s Man Of Promise) will take a lot of beating and is a very good horse, but hopefully we should have a good each-way chance.

“We gave him a nice break ready for Dubai, so he goes there fresh and in good order. The ground should be spot on for him over there.”

In 19 starts Raasel has run over a five-furlong trip 18 times, his sole attempt over six furlongs resulting in a third-placed Newmarket run when trained by Marcus Tregoning as a Shadwell-owned two-year-old.

A return to six furlongs could be on the agenda, however, with Appleby keen to see if he can stay an extra furlong with a view to aiming him at the Al Quoz Sprint on Dubai World Cup night.

Mick Appleby's Raasel (centre) 3th
Mick Appleby’s Raasel (centre) (Tim Goode/PA)

He said: “He’s goes on Friday and then there’s only one more five-furlong race, which is the Blue Point. He’ll probably go for that, or possibly have a go over six furlongs in between.

“We’d like to see if he could get six furlongs out there because on the World Cup night the sprint is over six furlongs, it’d be nice to try him in the Carnival to see if he does get it and if he does we could possibly stay for the World Cup.”