Dubai – home of modern day miracles! An underwater hotel, the world’s tallest building, indoor snow oasis, (yes skiing in the desert) and many architectural phenomenons that are waiting to blow your mind. It seems only right that this city holds the richest day in horse racing.
On Saturday, March 31st, The Dubai World Cup of horse racing will be taking place at Meydan racecourse. This spectacle of horse racing attracts horses from all over the world; Great Britain, France, Japan and North America, among others. A total of 27.2 million of purses are up for grabs in nine races. The richest, the most prestigious race of the day is the $10 million Dubai World Cup!
Our American neighbours have two horses running in the $10 million dollar race and one is a filly trying to beat the boys and become the first ever female horse to win it. Royal Delta, the filly trained by Bill Mott ridden by Jose Lezcano, breaks from the seven hole. The favorite at 3-1 hailing from California, USA-ridden by the girl from Toronto, Chantal Sutherland, hall of fame trainer Bob Baffert’s entry – GAME ON DUDE! It has been done before; the money has been converted to American dollars when both Cigar and Curlin went across the ocean to win this big race!
Other Americans on the card are Baffert’s; The Factor, ridden by Bejarano; Graham Motion Lucky Chappy; Assmussen’s Regally Ready with Nakatani aboard in the five furlong turf sprint. Good luck to all and don’t miss this incredible event!
Now back to our homeland as we await perhaps the most talked about prep race for the Kentucky Derby, which takes place this weekend. The Florida Derby, with a purse of $1 million, and only seven horses are supposed to run. That maybe because they are afraid of this monster horse, Union Rags, who is scheduled in and likely to be the favorite come Saturday at post time of 5:45. He is not alone, as El Padrino, who is hot off his victorious battle at the Fairgrounds, is ready to prove he’s going to be the champ. Along for the ride and eager to upset are Take Charge Lady; Neck’n Neck; News Pending; Reveron; Fort Loudon.
The following day, the Fairgrounds gets the spotlight with their own derby prep, the million dollar Louisiana Derby. A full field of 14 horses is taking post in what is shaping up to be a very interesting race where everyone thinks they are going to win. Larry Jones has his strong entry ready again as they are likely to go off as favourite. This won’t intimidate the other 12; Discreet Dancer, Cigar Street, Z Dager, Shared Property and Rousing Sermon all have their trainers ready for the winners circle and are already looking down the road to that first Saturday in May.
An interesting fact from the past weekend was the same jockey/trainer combo that won last year’s Derby with Animal Kingdom, who has another horse this year that just won the same prep race this past weekend. Went the Day Well won the Vinery Racing Special at Turfway Park – is this a sign? In other “signs”, Assmussen has a certain Derby horse in Daddy Nose Best as he took down the Sunland Derby on Sunday. Isn’t He Clever ran second and Stirred Up was third. Here’s some food for thought – Lucky Chappy, the horse running in Dubai Saturday, ran second to Daddy Nose Best in his last race.
…and that is the last word
