Dubai Race Night

Godolphin with three top Melbourne Cup nominees

PatCummings — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 04:16:59 +0000

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.

Click HERE for more from The National

Cumani’s Drunken Sailor pointed for Melbourne Cup

PatCummings — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 20:06:00 +0000

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.

Click HERE for more from the Melbourne Herald Sun.

Richard’s Kid again in Pacific Classic

PatCummings — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 05:47:24 +0000

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.

Click HERE for more.

Richard’s Kid, Crowded House in Saturday’s Pacific Classic

PatCummings — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 05:23:22 +0000

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.

Debussy shocks with Arlington Million win

PatCummings — Sun, 22 Aug 2010 02:36:27 +0000

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.

Gio Ponti favored to repeat in Arlington Million

PatCummings — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 14:42:11 +0000

The close fourth in the 2010 Dubai World Cup, Gio Ponti is back to defend his Arlington Million (G1) crown in Saturday’s 28th edition over ten furlongs on the suburban Chicago turf course. Ramon Dominguez has the return riding engagement.

A field of nine others were entered this week, including Dubai International Racing Carnival graduate Summit Surge, the recent winner of the Skybet York Stakes (G2) over Dubai World Cup third Allybar. A Luca Cumani trainee, Summit Surge started four times at Meydan and was a best third behind Imbongi in the Zabeel Mile (G2). The son of Noverre will get Lasix for the first time and is partnered with Kieran Fallon for the seventh consecutive time. Debussy, a two time appearer at the 2010 DIRC, earned a spot in the starting gate for HRH Princess Haya and trainer John Gosden. On paper, Debussy seems a cut below the top performers in the Million.

Below, watch the 2009 Arlington Million, won by Gio Ponti.

California Flag wins return in thriller

PatCummings — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 04:11:09 +0000

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.

Click HERE for more details.

Campanologist gives Godolphin another German win

PatCummings — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 18:20:44 +0000

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.

Click HERE for more details. Watch the Rheinland-Pokal below.

De Kock’s Dubai-bound runners feted with honors in South Africa

PatCummings — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 14:30:43 +0000

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.

Click HERE for more from RacingPost.