Strong UAE Derby showing could send Yulong Warrior to Kentucky

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – When Yulong Warrior won the Al Bastakiya Stakes, a prep for the UAE Derby, by more than 11 lengths on March 10 at Meydan, the colt’s connections started looking ahead – and abroad.

Shortly thereafter, Yulong Warrior was one of 10 3-year-olds who were made late Triple Crown nominees at a cost of $6,000 each. Trainer Satish Seemar said Wednesday that he and the colt’s owners are serious about a Kentucky Derby run should Yulong Warrior continue his ascent in the UAE Derby. That race is part of the Road to the Derby, and the 100 Derby qualifying points awarded the winner and the 40 for the runner-up both are enough to make the 20-horse field.

“If he runs first, I think we’re definitely going,” Seemar said. “If he runs second, then the owners will have to decide.”

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Yulong Warrior raced on turf in Ireland last year before being purchased as a prospect for Meydan races this winter. He was fifth going seven furlongs here in his first dirt start, then won a maiden race at a one-turn mile before stepping far forward while stretching out to two turns and 1 3/16 miles in the Al Bastakiya. There, Yulong Warrior stormed to the lead on a track that favored front-runners and crushed 12 rivals.

“One of the reasons he was purchased is that I thought he was a horse that would like two turns,” Seemar said.

Yulong Warrior is by Street Cry and out of the Bernardini mare Mahkama.

Ertijaal, Muarrab withdrawn Wednesday with injuries

Ertijaal, one of the leading Dubai-based turf sprinters, will miss the $1 million Al Quoz Sprint on Saturday night, reportedly because of a stress fracture in his pelvis. Ertijaal is a five-furlong specialist and the Al Quoz was lengthened last year to six furlongs, but if Ertijaal was questionable to stay, he was nearly certain to show his ample speed. His defection should help American horse Conquest Tsunami, who is absolutely going to the front, according to trainer Peter Miller.

Also scratched Wednesday before post positions were drawn was Muarrab, who was entered Monday for the Golden Shaheen. Muarrab won the Golden Shaheen in 2016 by a neck over X Y Jet, but was 14th in the 2017 edition and didn’t look like a major player Saturday. He was reportedly lame this week and therefore unable to compete.

Ali al Rayhi trains both Ertijaal and Muarrab.