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| Sumita Pawar |
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Jamie Osborne, a regular trainer based in Lambourn, is gearing up to head back to Dubai with a team of horses specifically recruited to participate in races during the Carnival. Osborne has had considerable success in Dubai, especially with Toast Of New York, whose 2014 UAE Derby win set him on a path that ended with a narrow defeat in the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita. Additionally, Rakaan, Dream Today, and Cliffs of Capri have all raced successfully for Osborne at Meydan, with Alignak finishing second in 2022 and fourth in the Dubai Gold Cup. However, Osborne has upped the ante for 2024.
He may transport up to seven horses to Dubai, including Ouzo, who came in second at Meydan last year. The group is led by Emaraaty Ana, a 7YO with six victories, including the 2021 Group One Haydock Sprint Cup, while running in the colours of Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum. Osborne purchased him for 160,000gns at the Tattersalls Horses In Training Sales in November. He also paid 45,000gns for Solid Stone, another 7YO with eight career wins in the colours of Saeed Suhail, including two at Group Three level and the 2022 Group Two Huxley Stakes at Chester when trained by Sir Michael Stoute. In Dubai, the pair will be making their debut for Osborne, as will Mond, a 5YO previously trained by Andre Fabre in France for Godolphin.
Mond, the 5YO son of Sea The Moon, has only run four races, including a win at Deauville, but has not raced since finishing unplaced in the Gr.3 Prix du Prince d’Orange at Longchamp in September 2021. Osborne paid US$132781.981 for him, while he privately acquired Sean, a 5YO Group Three winner in Italy.
Osborne said, “It is relatively high risk because the only horse we have run before is Ouzo, but the thing about the Carnival is we have been doing it for a long time. We like it and know how it works. We haven’t missed too many in the last 15 years. “Once I have persuaded clients to try it, they always want more. We get very well looked after and breaking up the winter with trips to Meydan, people like it.” Emaraaty Ana, Solid Stone and Sean are all owned by Ian and Claire Barratt, who globetrotting horses have been campaigned under The Melbourne 10 banner in the past.
Osborne added, “Some would argue Emaaraty Ana was expensive but you could argue he was cheap. Time will tell the answer. The hope for him is he gets to World Cup night. He will probably only have one run at the Carnival and then hope we get in the Al Quoz. There is a little programme for Solid Stone out there which might suit. I am hoping there are two or three runs in him in the Carnival and you’d be hopeful he will be competitive in the more valuable stakes races“Sean has been running in Italy but was trained in Germany. He comes in off a mark of 107 so it will be arguable whether we start him off in a handicap or group race. He is a mile or nine furlong horse who might also get 2000 metres.”
Mond, who runs in the colours of Pardus Wealth Stud Limited, is arguably the most fascinating of the Osborne team given his profile. The trainer added: “Mond obviously hasn’t run for a long time but he is working very well. He will go in off a mark of 90 which he will hopefully be able to use well. He has been dropped for his break. Although he has been off for two years I hope he will not lack for fitness on his first run.
“He works like a quality horse. I am not overly worried about playing my hand blind with him because his work has been strong.” Finally, Osborne has still to decide whether handicapper Many A Star will travel. The team will be looked after by his assistant and fellow former jump jockey Jimmy McCarthy while Georgia King, daughter of top British trainer Alan King, will help with trackwork.
Osborne’s jockey daughter Saffie is currently sidelined with injury but is expected to fly-out to ride the horses when passed fit. Her father said: “She is aiming for the end of January. She will miss the first few runners but providing everything progresses the right way and she can get herself fit she will be there for the second half.”