Campanologist, winner of the 2010 Dubai City of Gold (G2), Cavalryman, and Mastery highlight nominations for the 2010 Emirates Melbourne Cup (G1). All three are amongst the top of the weight list, while other Dubai International Racing Carnival runners Claremont, Pompeyano, and Once More Dubai are weighted more conservatively.
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A two-time winner of handicaps at the 2010 Dubai International Racing Carnival, Luca Cumani-trainee Drunken Sailor is being pointed to the Melbourne Cup (G1) over 3,200 meters after landing the Windflower March Stakes (Listed) this weekend. What is notable about the decision to head for Australia is that Drunken Sailor lacks any past performance in group company – he is simply a plodder amongst handicaps and listed stakes. Despite that, his performances this year have ranged from 11 to 16 furlongs and is almost always involved in the finish.
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He was one of those Dubai World Cup groupies, an indiscernable pack of horses behind the top four finishers at the 2010 Dubai World Cup, beaten just about three lengths. Once again, Richard’s Kid picked up the Pacific Classic (G1), defeating fellow World Cup also-ran Crowded House by three-quarters of a length in the 10-furlong race at Del Mar. Richard’s Kid is owned by Sheikh Rashid bin Mohammed Al Maktoum’s Zabeel Racing International and trained by multiple World Cup winner Bob Baffert.
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Richard’s Kid, winner of the 2009 edition and seventh in the 2010 Dubai World Cup, will be joined by Crowded House, a 2010 Dubai International Racing Carnival placer and ninth in this year’s Dubai World Cup, in the $1,000,000 Pacific Classic (G1) at Del Mar. Over a 10-furlong trip, it is the premier race in Southern California’s top annual meeting at the seaside oval. Click HERE for more from Thoroughbred Times.
Saving ground throughout, Debussy lunged through an inside passage and shocked the wide-spun defending champion, and 2010 Dubai World Cup fourth Gio Ponti, to take the 28th Arlington Million (G1). Pace-setting Tazeez was a gallant third after lunging at the start and rushing past the entire field to take up the running. Owned by Her Royal Highness Princess Haya of Jordan, Debussy earned his career best win under a brilliant William Buick ride. The win pushes Debussy’s lifetime earnings over $1 million on five wins from 14 starts. A son of Diesis, Debussy was uninvolved in two 2010 Dubai International Racing Carnival starts.
The third home in the 2010 Al Quoz Sprint (G3) and winner of the 2009 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint, California Flag made his return to the races a winning one, taking the Green Flash Stakes (Listed) at Del Mar over five furlongs on Wednesday. Trained by Brian Koriner, this was the first race since the Al Quoz Sprint for California Flag. Mike Smith rode for the injured Joe Talamo.
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Godolphin has long supported the top tier of German racing and claimed another big victory when Campanologist landed Sunday’s Rheinland-Pokal (G1) at Cologne. Adrie De Vries, winning jockey from the 2010 Dubai Kahayla Classic (G1), picked up the winning ride when German traffic delays forced Frankie Dettori to call off. Winner of the 2010 Dubai City of Gold (G2), Campanologist managed his second top flight German win of the campaign and is poised to attempt a third, according to Saeed bin Suroor.
In incredibly boggy turf conditions, Campanologist sat off the pace for most of the race and rallied past his four challengers under a hand ride. Quijano, a long-time Dubai racing stalwart, was fourth, clearly not enjoying the heavy ground.
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Mike De Kock trainees Bold Silvano and Irish Flame were rewarded for their strong 2010 campaigns with accolades from South Africa’s racing industry at that country’s annual Equus Awards. Irish Flame, second in the Vodacom Durban July (G1), and the winner of several top tier races was named Horse of the Year. Bold Silvano, winner of the Durban July, was named the best middle-distance horse, while fillies Mahbooba and Here To Win were crowned champions of their respective age divisions (two and three). All four have gone to quarantine in advance of the 2011 Dubai International Racing Carnival.
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After a roller coaster week at Meydan in the lead up to the 2010 Dubai World Cup, Eric Libaud-trainee Vision D’Etat is finally set for a return to the races after a 12th in the world’s richest race. Prior to his win in the Hong Kong Cup (G1), connections warned that Vision D’Etat might be scratched for lameness. The same rumors took hold in Dubai this spring, but the end result was significantly different, as the son of Chichicastenango showed little. Vision D’Etat was entered in Saturday’s Prix Gontaut-Biron (G3) at Deauville.
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