- This topic has 6 replies, 5 voices, and was last updated 17 years, 1 month ago by
.
- Posts
I was lookin at some of the massive prizes on offer and thinking " why aren’t all the best horses from all corners of the globe running here" ?
Maybe the arabs don’t want to heighten the chances of being beaten on there own track or something, or perhaps it just isn’t the right time for others, and they don’t wannae risk horses on that surface ?
It’s too early to bring the best Europeans out of their Winter hibernation.
Coolmore don’t want to dip their feet into Darley territory.
And in general, because the UAE is isolated from every corner of the racing globe (Western Europe, North America, Australasia, Southern Africa, Asia), it’s a big task to fly the horses over and prepare for a major Group 1 so early in the season.
Schedule the meeting for November/December and you’ll see a much improved line-up of world class thoroughbreds – but the USA, Japan and Hong Kong already occupy that period with their globally recognised festivals.
There was a great international spread of runners on Saturday night. There were 12 European runners, 11 from USA, 3 from Japan, 2 from Australia, and 1 from Hong Kong. This is in addition to the South African trainers, Mike de Kock and Herman Brown, based in Dubai and the other runners from Qatar and Saudia Arabia.
Dubai is actually uniquely well placed, geographically, to get runners from around the globe.
Yes it is probably a little early in the season to attract the very best European horses although, with exception of Aidan O’Brien string who always start off later, some of the top yards like Sir Michael Stoute and Luca Cumani were well represented.
Also to shatter one myth there was a runner for Mrs Sue Magnier – Front House, trained by Mike de Kock in the Sheema Classic.
I guess i pretty much got the replies i expected, thanks. I’m not all clued up, i just thought that maybe one of these days someone will maybe try and take a risk with one of their bigger names for the sake of a couple of million.
I also originally thought that one or two horses in the lesser races could’ve run in the gold cup, but in heindsight they would probably have got squashed anyway.
Next year with purse of $10m for the World Cup and change to a synthetic surface will make a big difference for increased European Challenge though probably a decreased American one.
That’s very interesting Richard, as i really enjoyed the breeders cup last time around. It’s the first time i had watched one. It’s just a pitty the Americans threw their toys out of the pram.
I’m checking out Well Armed’s run again, and i think it might not have got the praise it deserves. It won with ease, and was only a second outside Curlin’s time the year before. Now if you take into consideration that it eased up a bit and it apparently dosen’t get steroids, then it’s easily as every bit as impressive. Then again, how do you explain previous form against that run ?
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.