by Steve Bailey
Dubai Racing Club Chief Executive Officer Frank Gabriel breaks into a wide grin as he discusses this year’s $6-million Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1), which will be run Saturday night under the lights and desert stars at Nad al Sheba racecourse.
“How often do you get a race with the two top-ranked dirt horses in the world, one that is unbeaten and another that just won the Breeders’ Cup Classic [Powered by Dodge (G1)] and was named Horse of the Year,” Gabriel said in the days leading up to the world’s richest Thoroughbred race.
“Throw Grade 1 winner Premium Tap into the mix, who now runs for the Saudi royal family, as well as the best horses from Hong Kong, South America, and Japan, and you’ve got a pretty special evening.”
In America, most of the focus will be on Gulfstream Park for the running of the $1-million Florida Derby (G1). Throughout the rest of the world, however, the spotlight will be firmly fixed upon Dubai and the showdown between Godolphin’s Discreet Cat and Shadwell Stable’s Invasor (Arg).
Invasor, owned by Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid al Maktoum’s Shadwell Stable, enters off a two-length victory in the Donn Handicap (G1) on February 3 at Gulfstream Park, his fifth consecutive Grade 1 triumph since suffering his only career loss at the hands of Discreet Cat in last year’s United Arab Emirates Derby (UAE-G2).
“He’s as ready as he can be,” trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said. “He’s been preparing well and I’m confident that he will perform like he always does.
“There’s high expectations for him, but there is every time he goes to the track. Anything can happen, especially when you go up against horses as good as the ones in this field, but do we expect to win? Yes, we expect to win.”
McLaughlin said the five-year-old Candy Stripes horse is not the same horse that finished fourth, seven lengths behind Discreet Cat, in last year’s UAE Derby.
“He’s more mature than he was at this time last year, and physically, there’s no comparision. He’s filled out and he’s much more powerful and professional … there’s really no comparison.”
Invasor will break from post seven, the outside gate in the compact but accomplished field.
Discreet Cat, however, will be as far away from his rival as he possibly could be at the start as he will break from the rail, making the second consecutive year that Godolphin’s Dubai World Cup starter has drawn the far inside post.
Electrocutionist and jockey Frankie Dettori were able to overcome the unfortunate post and wear down Brass Hat in deep stretch to claim the $3.6-million grand prize.
Dettori, a three-time winner of the Dubai World Cup, and Discreet Cat will have to overcome at least two other disadvantages: the distance—he has never gone more than 1 1/8 miles—and fitness—he missed his final prep earlier this month with an elevated temperature.
Although Discreet Cat has much more tactical speed than Electrocutionist, Godolphin racing manager Simon Crisford said he expects the four-year-old Forestry colt to avoid going straight to the lead, instead settling just behind the pace—most likely British multiple Group 3 winner Kandidate—before making his move in the stretch.
“The key to this horse’s performance will be how he rates,” Crisford said. “The first half mile will be just as important as the last half mile.”
Trainer Saeed bin Suroor said Discreet Cat, who is owned by Sheikh Hamdan’s younger brother—Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum—has the class to answer his critics.
“There is obviously a question mark about his stamina, but I think he will be effective at the trip,” he said. “The bigger question is can he beat Invasor and the others. We believe he can answer that challenge. It is going to be a great race.”
Discreet Cat will be seeking his seventh victory from as many starts, and enters off a 3 1/4-length victory in the Hill 'n' Dale Cigar Mile (G1) on November 25 at Aqueduct, a race in which he set a track record as he covered a mile in 1:32.40.
“He’s now facing the biggest race of his life,” Crisford acknowledged. “But he has all the hallmarks of a great champion, and we’re very hopeful he can maintain his unbeaten record.”
Trainer John Kimmel hopes to have something to say about that as he saddles multiple Grade 1 winner Premium Tap.
The five-year-old Pleasant Tap horse—who was purchased earlier this year by Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah Bin Al Aziz and his sons and races in that country under the name Allam—enters off back-to-back victories in the Clark Handicap (G1) on November 24 at Churchill Downs and Saudi Arabia’s most prestigious race, the 1 1/2-mile Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Handicap on February 16 in Riyadh.
“He’s acclimated well and has really thrived in Riyadh,” said Kimmel, who will saddle his first Dubai World Cup starter. “He’s a fit horse and he’s coming into the race in great shape. He’s dead-on ready to go. He will have a big chance on Saturday."
Jockey Seb Sanders said he believes Kandidate deserves his place in the short field and could shock the world by upsetting the big three.
“He comes here clear and in great form, and I think he deserves to take a chance,” Sanders said of the five-year-old Kabool horse, who has won two of his last three starts and enters off a 5 3/4-length victory under jockey Ryan Moore in the Haafhd Maktoum Challenge Round Two (UAE-G3) on February 8 at Nad al Sheba.
Trainer Ian Jory also warned that Forty Licks, Argentina's 2006 Horse of the Year, should not be overlooked.
The five-year-old Not for Sale horse has won four of his last five starts—all in Saudi Arabia—but enters off a disappointing fourth-place finish behind Premium Tap in the 1 1/2-mile Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Cup in Riyadh.
“Everyone’s talking and writing about all of the other runners, but no one’s giving us a mention. We’re the hidden horse, but that suits us just fine.
“Forget his last run as the trip was too far for him and things didn’t go right for him. I think he has a great chance. I really believe that.”
The field also includes Japanese Group 2 winner Vermilion and Hong Kong 2006 Horse of the Year Bullish Luck, a multiple Group 2 winner.
Steve Bailey is deputy news editor of Thoroughbred Times
The field, in post-position order, with (sire), jockey, and trainer:
1. Discreet Cat(Forestry), Frankie Dettori, Saeed bin Suroor;
2. Vermilion (El Condor Pasa), Sei Ishizaka, Christophe Lemaire;
3. Bullish Luck (Royal Academy), Brett Prebble, Tony Cruz;
4. Kandidate (Kabool), Seb Sanders, Clive Brittain;
5. Premium Tap (Pleasant Tap), Kent Desormeaux, John Kimmel;
6. Forty Licks (Not for Sale), Mick Kinane, Ian Jory; and
7. Invasor (Arg) (Candy Stripes [Arg]), Fernando Jara, Kiaran McLaughlin.