Aidan O'Brien may not know whether Lines Of Battle will handle the dirt surface in Saturday's Kentucky Derby but Ryan Moore has flown over to Churchill Downs to find out.
Moore, who will be in action back at Newmarket with five rides on Sunday, is in Louisville to be reacquainted with the UAE Derby winner.
The jockey had Lines Of Battle positioned prominently throughout the Derby at Meydan Racecourse in March and the American-bred colt kicked off a slow pace to deny Elleval by just over a length.
O'Brien's record in the Kentucky Derby is mixed from five runners, although Master of Hounds, who came within a whisker of beating Khawlah in the 2011 UAE Derby, subsequently finished fifth to Animal Kingdom in the race known as the Run for the Roses.
"He's in good form," O'Brien said. "Obviously, nobody knows about the dirt until he runs on it. We were very happy with him in Dubai and he came out of it very well.
"He's usually a fast breaker, he travels well and he's usually tough at the end. We're looking forward to the race."
Animal Kingdom won the Dubai World Cup at Meydan in March under Joel Rosario, who will break from Gate 16 aboard Orb. The Florida Derby winner is trained by Shug McGaughey, a Kentucky native who has not had a runner in the ten-furlong contest since 2002 when he saddled Saarland to finish 10th.
Animal Kingdom's previous riders hold the key to the contest because John Velzaquez, who was on board two years ago in the Derby and will be in the saddle when the Dubai World Cup winner runs at Royal Ascot in June, rides Verrazano, one of five challengers for trainer Todd Pletcher.
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Dubai World Cup Carnival Thursday race card
6.30pm: Dubai Millennium Stakes Group Three US$200,000 (Turf) 2,000m
7.05pm: Handicap $135,000 (T) 1,600m
7.40pm: UAE Oaks Group Three $250,000 (Dirt) 1,900m
8.15pm: Zabeel Mile Group Two $250,000 (T) 1,600m
8.50pm: Meydan Sprint Group Two $250,000 (T) 1,000m
9.25pm: Handicap $135,000 (D) 1,400m
10pm: Handicap $135,000 (T) 1,600m
The specs
Engine: four-litre V6 and 3.5-litre V6 twin-turbo
Transmission: six-speed and 10-speed
Power: 271 and 409 horsepower
Torque: 385 and 650Nm
Price: from Dh229,900 to Dh355,000
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Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989
Director: Goran Hugo Olsson
Rating: 5/5
What is 'Soft Power'?
Soft power was first mentioned in 1990 by former US Defence Secretary Joseph Nye.
He believed that there were alternative ways of cultivating support from other countries, instead of achieving goals using military strength.
Soft power is, at its root, the ability to convince other states to do what you want without force.
This is traditionally achieved by proving that you share morals and values.
Pad Man
Dir: R Balki
Starring: Akshay Kumar, Sonam Kapoor, Radhika Apte
Three-and-a-half stars
Company%20Profile
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MATCH INFO
Liverpool v Manchester City, Sunday, 8.30pm UAE