And we thought that, with the removal of Tapeta at Meydan Racecourse, we might have had enough of surface issues.
Several international trainers did their best on Monday to make assurances that their charges would handle the dirt surface on Dubai World Cup night on Saturday.
On Thursday, Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid, the Minister of Finance, claimed that World Cup favourite California Chrome might not be able to handle the dirt surface that replaced the old synthetic track in May, which was countered by assistant trainer Alan Sherman once America's Horse of the Year had cantered at Meydan for the first time at the weekend.
The Dubai racecourse was a hum of activity yesterday morning, and trainers from America and Japan, the two leading dirt nations in world racing, underlined that the predominantly sand track would not prove to be an excuse on the most lucrative international stage of all.
After the final fields for the US$30 million (Dh110.2m) card were revealed yesterday, Epiphaneia remains the highest-rated horse across the nine races despite never setting foot on dirt.
The five-year-old colt was out for the third time at morning track work ahead of his ambitious bid to translate his exceptional turf form to dirt in the World Cup.
Epiphaneia runs in the $10 million feature as an attempt to widen the Japan Cup winner’s breeding prospects, as much as to avoid Harp Star, who owners U Carrot Farm believe holds an exceptional chance in the Dubai Sheema Classic on turf.
“He was very relaxed and in good form,” assistant trainer Norihiko Kishimoto said. “As for the dirt surface itself, I felt that once the horse went fast, he got grip of the track. I think the surface will suit Epiphaneia.”
It was a familiar refrain, although Riley Mott, assistant trainer to Bill Mott, was not so sure about Lea’s chances in the World Cup.
Lea cantered 2,400 metres on Monday, after which Mott was cautious.
“He’s had three gallops here and is moving very well over the track, but you can’t fully get a gauge on how much he likes it until you run over it,” he said.
All seven of the Japanese contingent were at the track yesterday, with the trio of UAE Derby runners all stretching their legs.
Both Golden Barows, Japan’s leading candidate who will be ridden by British rider Ryan Moore, and Tap That, a runner-up of a Japanese Grade 1 in December, took to the dirt track, whereas Dear Domus worked steadily on the turf.
“The quality of dirt seems to be different from the one at home, so I will try to use both dirt and turf courses,” said Yutaka Takahashi, Dear Domus’s trainer.
The Godolphin Mile and Dubai Golden Shaheen are the other two races on Saturday that will be staged on dirt, with the Golden Shaheen featuring three American runners in Big Macher, Salutos Amigos and Secret Circle.
All three were in action at Meydan on Monday.
Salutos Amigos was something of a last-minute entry to the 1,200-metre sprint, having racked up a four-timer at Aqueduct Racectrack in New York which culminated in a pair of Grade 3 victories during the past two months.
Trainer David Jacobson was on hand to watch his five-year-old gelding canter 2,400 metres around the main oval, and he said he was looking forward to Saturday’s challenge.
“The dirt is the same for everybody,” Jacobson told the Dubai Racing Club. “I don’t think the track will be a problem or a concern. He’s getting over it well. We’re confident he’ll run his race.”
The Godolphin Mile will continue to have a full field of 16 runners after Haatheq, Ali Rashid Al Raihe’s only thoroughbred runner on World Cup night, snuck in to the $1 million event to replace Godolphin’s Footbridge.
Tamarkuz starts from Gate 1 for the third time in six starts at Meydan during the past two seasons, with crowd favourite Surfer drawn widest of all.
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