Horse Racing Articles By Greg Melikov

Richest Day in Racing Attracts Classy Contenders to Dubai

Horses from the Americas or those thoroughbreds bred in foreign lands that run in the United States are being lured across the Atlantic by the richest day in racing that exceeds $21 million for a half-dozen Grade 1 events on March 31.

Several arrived early like Premium Tap, who won the 1 ½-mile Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Cup, a quarter-mile shorter than the World Cup. The 5-year-old son of Pleasant Tap captured Saudi Arabia’s premier race by 2 ¾ lengths on March 16.

“We were worried about whether his journey over from America may have unsettled him as he was delayed for two days,” said Frank McGovern, general manager for new owners Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz and his sons. “But he showed what a good horse he is, and we won’t be scared of taking on Discreet Cat and Invasor.”

Invasor, the 36th Eclipse Awards’ Horse of the Year for 2006, took the Breeders’ Cup Classic by a length over 3-year-old champ Bernardini while Premium Tap was another 2 ½ lengths behind in third.

The Argentine bred captured Gulstream Park’s Donn Handicap on Feb. 3 and has worked well since. The son of Candy Stripes suffered his only loss in 11 starts finishing fourth to Discreet Cat in last year’s $2 million United Arab Emirates Derby at 1 1/8 miles when both were 3-year-olds.

Discreet Cat is unbeaten in six starts, but hasn’t raced since winning the Cigar Mile last fall. Although he never traveled beyond that distance, he has been training super, says Godolphin racing manager Simon Crisford.

The son of Forestry was supposed to race March 1, but developed a fever and was withdrawn from the prep. “He will have no fitness problems March 31,” Crisford vowed.

Another World Cup contender is Storm Mayor, purchased by Saudi Arabian interests. The Argentine champion won the Gran Premio Carlos Pellegrini on the turf for the second time on Dec. 15, but captured a Group 1 stakes on the dirt last year in Buenos Aires.

Among the horses descending on Dubai is Lava Man, repeat winner of the Santa Anita Handicap on March 3. But he hasn’t hit the board in four races on the road, including a seventh place finish last year in the BC Classic.

So the son of Slew City Slew will try the grass where he scored a pair of easy victories last year at Hollywood Park. He goes in the $5 million Dubai Duty Free at 1 1/8 miles over the Nad Al Sheba grass course.

Lava Man will face Miesque’s Approval, the BC Mile winner; Host, Chilean Horse of the Year that was fourth in the ’06 race; and English Channel, third in the BC Turf who set a Gulfstream grass course record of 1:44 2/5 for the 1 1/8 miles, just two ticks off the world mark.

The top three finishers in the ’06 BC Sprint will renew rivalries in the $2 million Golden Shaheen at six furlongs: Thor’s Echo, Friendly Island and Nightmare Affair.

Others campaigners include Bishop Court Hill, a Grade 1 winner that captured Aqueduct’s Paumonok Handicap on Jan. 27; Harvard Avenue, second to Friendly Island in Santa Anita’s Palos Verdes Handicap on Jan. 20; and Kelly’s Landing, ninth in the BC Sprint.



by Greg Melikov