DUBAI // Hong Kong challenger Akeed Mofeed headed the Dubai World Cup cast in training at Meydan yesterday with his first sighter of the Tapeta surface he will run on in Saturday’s $US10million event.
Richard Gibson’s raider was a little fresh as he cantered around the all-weather circuit ahead of a more serious workout under big-race partner Douglas Whyte on Wednesday. Gibson, who arrived on Monday, was delighted with how his charge had weathered the trip west.
“I’m happy to see he is in such good order,” the trainer said. “His weight loss on the trip was standard and he is where I want him to be.”
Akeed Mofeed was fifth in the Hong Kong Gold Cup in February to fellow Hong Kong runner Military Attack, who remained in the quarantine area in order to better rehydrate from his journey before a visit to the course this morning.
Ruler Of The World, the Dubai World Cup favourite, was due to arrive in Dubai last night alongside the rest of Aidan O’Brien’s horses, who left Ballydoyle in Ireland on Monday. The full string of horses will not clear quarantine until Friday.
Other World Cup runners who received their first peek of the UAE’s flagship course yesterday included Mukhadram, Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid’s challenger, and Hillstar, who bids to hand Sir Michael Stoute a second win in the race following Singspiel’s in 1997.
“Like our other runner, Dank, who goes in the Duty Free, Hillstar travelled over well from England and both horses have settled in nicely,” James Savage, Stoute’s travelling head groom, said.
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