 |
|
| Rowan Anderson |
 |  |
The Dubai World Cup Carnival is in full swing as the fourth meeting hits Meydan on Friday night and with it the international brigade has arrived, settled and ready to take the spoils on the track.
The flag is flown for ten different countries as the best equine athletes have been sent to leave it all on the track including from France where trainer Nicolas Caullery is based.
The Chantilly based trained has three runners with one of them lining up in the Listed Dubai Sprint throwing the dice to keep his two from two clean sheet of Dubai wins.
That is the 8YO gelded son of Kandargent, Batwan, who will be returning to the track after a 114 day break having not won since the last time he raced at Meydan in February last year. He is a horse that loves to compete but wins in close battles, his two in Dubai being by a short head and a neck – however a win is a win no matter how it is done.
“Batwan is back in his home, he loves Dubai,” Caullery’s assistant Marine Henry said.
“He settled in like a superstar and worked really well. He hasn’t raced since the beginning of October so he may need the race and it’s also stronger than the two he won here last year.
“We hope to get our revenge and get to the G1 Al Quoz Sprint this year.”
If there is one competitor who will be out to spoil those plans it will be Charlie Appleby trained Man of Promise who was third in the Al Quoz last year.
The 6YO gelding has tasted success in Dubai also with one Group Three and two Listed class races and he backs up after a 20 day break where he finished runner-up to Lazuli in the Ertijaal Dubai Dash.
“Man Of Promise has definitely come forward for his first start of the year and has a good draw in 14,” said Appleby.
“Stepping back up to six furlongs [1200m] will play to his strengths and I feel he is the one they all have to beat.”
Another highlight of the card will be the Group 3 Firebreak Stakes, which is set up as a good prep for the G2 Godolphin Mile with Heavy Metal in 2018 and Secret Ambition in 2021 winning both races in recent years.
Bhupat Seemar prepares three in the quality field of eight with star ladder leading hoop Tadhg O’Shea opting to partner Law Of Peace, with Antonio Fresu on Discovery Island and Ray Dawson on Imperial Empire.
The 6YO gelded son of Shamardal, Law of Peace, has won twice over the course and distance and makes his seasonal debut here, having been last seen winning the Listed Abu Dhabi Championship in March.
“Law Of Peace is having his first run, but he’s beaten Discovery Island and he’s a very versatile horse as to distance and surface,” said Seemar.
Rivals to the Seemar trio include Prince Eiji, fifth in Maktoum Challenge R1 last time out, and his Doug Watson-trained stablemates Everfast and Thegreatcollection, while Salem Bin Ghadayer brings out two recruits from the UK, Ever Given and Mister Saint Paul.
The Listed Jumeirah Classic will see the three-year-old colts on show over the 1800metres on turf.
Naval Power is trained by Charlie Appleby for Godolphin with William Buick on board and the Teofilo colt will be looking to add to his Listed class wins.
“Naval Power showed a progressive profile as a two-year-old before disappointing in the Dewhurst Stakes, when he produced an unsatisfactory scope afterwards,” said Appleby.
“I have been pleased with his preparation but there will be improvement to come for the run. We are looking at potentially giving him one start in Dubai before looking at some of the Classic trials in the UK.”
The Julio Olascoaga-trained Long Kiss will be looking to go one step further after winning the trial for this three weeks ago and the trainer is very confident in his colt.
In race three, the Longines Legend Diver Collection Handicap, we see one international horse lining up to take the win against a field of nine locals. That horse is the 7YO Toronado x Break Time progeny who is a ten-time winner of dirt showing clear credentials in this race. He is trained by Spanish trainer Juan Osorio, who is returning to the Carnival for the first time since 2014, with his starter not having raced in 292 days. That start was an eighth placing but prior to that in seven starts he was victorious on six occasions with a second place rounding that run out.
“Legionario is doing OK, he’s a bit fat as he has been a long time without running,” said Osorio. “[Jockey, Vaclav] Janacek knows him really well, but Friday is a starting point to see where we are.”
The Longines Record Collection Handicap closes the card and sees Caullery prepare King Gold who will have a battle on his hands against a field of locals which includes the likes of Seemar’s Western Symphony and Raaebb for Musabbeh Al Mheiri.
Racing starts at 6pm with the 1900metre Festival City Stakes.