Curlin breezes in Dubai

Indicating that he has bounced back quickly from his Feb. 28 victory in Dubai, Curlin worked five furlongs on Monday at Nad Al Sheba Racecourse. Curlin was timed in 1:02.60 for 1,000 meters by clockers at Nad Al Sheba, though getting a precise read on the time was difficult, since Curlin emerged through a bank of fog as he began his drill.

Piloted as usual by Carmen "Carlos" Rosas, and with assistant trainer Scott Blasi looking on, Curlin had the sort of moderate work one would expect in his first breeze after a race. Ten days ago, Curlin easily beat overmatched foes in a 2,000-meter handicap on Thursday night.

"He was traveling very well and looked great," Blasi told the Nad Al Sheba publicity staff. "Carlos does such a great job. I told him to go in 1:03, and that's about as close as you can get.

"You could tell Curlin was very comfortable with where he was at. He had good direction toward the wire but was well within himself. It was exactly what we wanted."

Curlin, the 2007 Horse of the Year, is expected to have two more breezes before he starts March 29 in the $6 million Dubai World Cup, where he should once again be heavily favored in betting throughout the world. One of Curlin's main World Cup rivals, Asiatic Boy, could manage only an even third-place finish in his World Cup prep race on Thursday night in Dubai. The World Cup also is expected to attract the U.S. horses Well Armed and Spring at Last.