Geoffrey Riddle empties his notebook to reveal what’s going on at Meydan Racecourse in preparation for the Dubai World Cup on Saturday.
A FEW SHARPLY DRESSED MEN
The California Chrome team flexed their muscles Tuesday with a display that underlined their commitment to advertising their chestnut challenger ahead of his stud career next season. Frank Taylor of part-owners Taylor Made Farms, trainer Art Sherman, his son and assistant Alan Sherman and training rider Dihigi Gladney all appeared at a news conference wearing the same Go Chrome black waterproof tops. Hong Kong trainer Caspar Fownes turned up to his news conference wearing a simple T-shirt, with “Paraiso” emblazoned on it. A quick Google search shows that there is a Paraiso in Belize, two in Brazil, one in Costa Rica, two in the Dominican Republic, one in Mexico and three in Panama. Fownes said that Gun Pit and Domineer are good enough to finish in the top four in the World Cup and Dubai Golden Shaheen. If that is the case he might be able to afford a holiday to Central or South America. Or some new clothes.
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Dubai World Cup: ‘Cowboy’ Dihigi Gladney has taken a real shine to California Chrome
Richest night in horse racing: The National’s coverage of 2016 Dubai World Cup at Meydan
AMERICAN RAIDERS GET A RUN
The American World Cup runners were out in force Tuesday morning. California Chrome worked at Meydan in the rain just after 7am. Frosted worked over 2,400 metres in the rain at Godolphin’s Marmoon Stables. Keen Ice went 3,200m around Meydan, also in the wet, and Mshawish cruised round 2,200m. Bob Baffert’s Hoppertunity underwent an 800-metre breeze on Monday so was restricted by travelling groom Dana Barnes to the World Cup quarantine complex. “After Tuesday his legs were ice-cold and he is as happy as can be,” Barnes said. “And we lucked out and missed the rain.”
PERHAPS DURAMENTE IS AN AFTERNOON HORSE
The Japanese horses work in the mornings under cover of darkness, which is enough to get anybody in a bad mood. Duramente’s regular work rider Atsunori Hashimoto reported on Monday that the Japanese Guineas and Derby winner, who is currently ranked the world’s best horse alongside California Chrome and Sheema Classic rival Postponed, was “tense”. Duramente did not get up early enough to miss the rain Tuesday, but after another spin at Meydan he is clearly warming to his surroundings. “He’s become more relaxed,” Hashimoto said.
MARKING’S TROUBLE AT THE GATE
Marking was due to run in the Dubai Golden Shaheen until connections had a change of heart. A wise choice, too, as Kiaran McLaughlin’s runner is still having issues at the gate.
The American import worked at Godolphin’s Marmoom Stables Tuesday under James Doyle, who was unseated from Marking in their first start together last month, breaking from the gate in a mile gallop in just over 24 seconds. “We wanted to reacquaint him with James,” assistant trainer Neal McLaughlin said. “He’s had gate problems his entire life. In his first race, he sat down in the gate and had to be scratched. He’s come a long way since then. We’ve done quite a bit of gate work with him since he last raced. He’s come out the front wonderfully five times now.” A lightly raced four-year-old, with only five starts, the mental part of Marking’s game is starting to catch up with his physical talents. “He’s always been a hot horse who gets excited and a little worked up but the more he races and learns to overcome different scenarios, the better he gets,” McLaughlin said.
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