Stevie Belmont
03-28-2009, 10:22 AM
The Dubai World Cup
The richest race in the world will take place in the dark of the night in Dubai tomorrow at Nad Al Sheba. A large field of 14 horses has assembled in the desert in a quest to win the big 6 million dollar purse. The morning line favorite for the big race is American based Albertus Maximus, who is coming off his Donn Handicap win in February. Albertus Maximus will be making his second career start a mile and a quarter. His first try was in the 2007 Pacific Classic, where he ran poorly over the poly-track at Del Mar. That was a long time ago, and he has since had two different trainers. He is now under the care of super trainer, Kirian McLaughlin. Albertus Maximus faces a stiff test in the Dubai World Cup. He will have tough questions to answer as the favorite…is he able to stay on at the distance of a mile and a quarter…does he have enough class to get the job done? He will benefit a great deal without Curlin being part of the field this year. A tall task nonetheless for this guy.
Other American horses that are entered is Richard Dutrow’s Arson Squad, who was a non-factor in his Donn Handicap prep race, where he ran fourth to Albertus Maximus. He is another, who has yet to win at a mile and a quarter. He is working well however, and knowing Dutrow, the horse could be sitting on a solid try. He should move forward off his last.
Anak Nakal who has run in just about every GI event last year as a 3-year-old is also going to give it a try, with Jersey Joe Bravo in the saddle. Anak Nakal also used the Donn Handicapp as a prep for this race. He ran a distant 7th to Albertus Maximus. It will be a very tall order for the late running Anak Nakal.
The final American based horse in the race is the front running Well Armed, who ran third in last year’s Dubai World Cup, behind Curlin and Asiatic Boy. Well Armed will once again go to the lead with his front running gambit, and go as far as can in doing so. Well Armed also sports a win at a mile and a quarter over a synthetic surface.
The other foreign-based horses look to be outclassed or non-confirmed dirt runners. Casino Drive is back, and once again is in a daunting spot, however he has run two good GI races in Japan, gets back on dirt and has won over a sloppy track, and could be a factor to hit the board with a solid effort.
The most interesting horse in the race, and of the foreign contingent, is Sheik Mohammed’s My Indy (Arg). Who could be coming into this race ready to run a good race. He will be running for the first time since February 5, where he won a mile and an eighth even over this course. In that race he defeated two horses that will run here, Happy Boy and Asiatic Boy, who will be one of the favorites for the top prize. Leading Euro jock Frankie Dettori will have the mount. This is Sheik Mohammed’s event, and he would love nothing more to have his horse put in a good effort. And a side note, rain is in the forecast for tomorrow night, and he is 2 for 2 on a wet track. He has never gone past a mile and an eighth.
The top pick to win the 6-million dollar Dubai World Cup is Asiatic Boy. Asiatic Boy is the class of the race, and a confirmed, long-distance dirt runner, who has won and placed at a mile and quarter in his two career starts at the distance, both at Nad Al Sheba. Asiatic Boy was the runner up to Curlin in last year’s Dubai World Cup. No Curlin this year. Asiatic Boy also has an affinity for this particular racecourse, where he is a 6-time winner in 9 career starts over the Nad Al Sheba dirt surface. Another strong positive is he will be coming into this race cycling up to a big effort. It will be his third start off almost a year layoff. He won his last race, in preparation for this at a mile and a quarter, and looks to be fit and ready for Michael de Kock. Asiatic Boy is ThoroughbredZone’s top pick to win in the last Dubai World Cup to be contested over a dirt surface. *Rain is expected, Asiatic Boy has never been on a wet track*
The richest race in the world will take place in the dark of the night in Dubai tomorrow at Nad Al Sheba. A large field of 14 horses has assembled in the desert in a quest to win the big 6 million dollar purse. The morning line favorite for the big race is American based Albertus Maximus, who is coming off his Donn Handicap win in February. Albertus Maximus will be making his second career start a mile and a quarter. His first try was in the 2007 Pacific Classic, where he ran poorly over the poly-track at Del Mar. That was a long time ago, and he has since had two different trainers. He is now under the care of super trainer, Kirian McLaughlin. Albertus Maximus faces a stiff test in the Dubai World Cup. He will have tough questions to answer as the favorite…is he able to stay on at the distance of a mile and a quarter…does he have enough class to get the job done? He will benefit a great deal without Curlin being part of the field this year. A tall task nonetheless for this guy.
Other American horses that are entered is Richard Dutrow’s Arson Squad, who was a non-factor in his Donn Handicap prep race, where he ran fourth to Albertus Maximus. He is another, who has yet to win at a mile and a quarter. He is working well however, and knowing Dutrow, the horse could be sitting on a solid try. He should move forward off his last.
Anak Nakal who has run in just about every GI event last year as a 3-year-old is also going to give it a try, with Jersey Joe Bravo in the saddle. Anak Nakal also used the Donn Handicapp as a prep for this race. He ran a distant 7th to Albertus Maximus. It will be a very tall order for the late running Anak Nakal.
The final American based horse in the race is the front running Well Armed, who ran third in last year’s Dubai World Cup, behind Curlin and Asiatic Boy. Well Armed will once again go to the lead with his front running gambit, and go as far as can in doing so. Well Armed also sports a win at a mile and a quarter over a synthetic surface.
The other foreign-based horses look to be outclassed or non-confirmed dirt runners. Casino Drive is back, and once again is in a daunting spot, however he has run two good GI races in Japan, gets back on dirt and has won over a sloppy track, and could be a factor to hit the board with a solid effort.
The most interesting horse in the race, and of the foreign contingent, is Sheik Mohammed’s My Indy (Arg). Who could be coming into this race ready to run a good race. He will be running for the first time since February 5, where he won a mile and an eighth even over this course. In that race he defeated two horses that will run here, Happy Boy and Asiatic Boy, who will be one of the favorites for the top prize. Leading Euro jock Frankie Dettori will have the mount. This is Sheik Mohammed’s event, and he would love nothing more to have his horse put in a good effort. And a side note, rain is in the forecast for tomorrow night, and he is 2 for 2 on a wet track. He has never gone past a mile and an eighth.
The top pick to win the 6-million dollar Dubai World Cup is Asiatic Boy. Asiatic Boy is the class of the race, and a confirmed, long-distance dirt runner, who has won and placed at a mile and quarter in his two career starts at the distance, both at Nad Al Sheba. Asiatic Boy was the runner up to Curlin in last year’s Dubai World Cup. No Curlin this year. Asiatic Boy also has an affinity for this particular racecourse, where he is a 6-time winner in 9 career starts over the Nad Al Sheba dirt surface. Another strong positive is he will be coming into this race cycling up to a big effort. It will be his third start off almost a year layoff. He won his last race, in preparation for this at a mile and a quarter, and looks to be fit and ready for Michael de Kock. Asiatic Boy is ThoroughbredZone’s top pick to win in the last Dubai World Cup to be contested over a dirt surface. *Rain is expected, Asiatic Boy has never been on a wet track*