David Flores will fly to Dubai to take the ride aboard Tempera in the UAE Oaks at Nad Al Sheba on Saturday night.
Flores, who rode Tempera to victory in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile and the Sorrento Stakes last year, was replaced by Frankie Dettori aboard Godolphin's 2001 2-year-old filly champ when she finished second in the UAE 1000 Guineas on March 14. On Saturday, Dettori will ride Imperial Gesture in the 1-1/8-mile Oaks, which serves as a prep for the Kentucky Oaks.
THE CURRAGH, Ireland - Johannesburg's reign as unbeaten future book favorite for the Kentucky Derby came to an end on a sunny, windswept afternoon at Curragh Race Course on Sunday when he was beaten a short head by the older filly Rebelline in the Group 3 Gladness Stakes.
Castle Gandolfo won his trial for a possible Kentucky Derby challenge at Lingfield Park, south of London, on Saturday. A 2-5 favorite, he won by 2 1/2 lengths from Aramram.
Trained by Aidan O'Brien, Castle Gandolfo broke from post 9 of 10 in the Fosters-International Trial Stakes, run at one mile on an all-weather track. The Surrey course had staged the race in the hope of attracting Johannesburg, who instead was scheduled to race Sunday at The Curragh in Ireland.
The death of Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, at the age of 101 last week marked a milestone not only in the history of European monarchies but also in the history of British racing.
For this woman, whose life spanned humanity's bloodiest century, was lauded on her passing as the most important National Hunt, i.e., jump racing, owner of the post-war era. She was the living embodiment of the virtually defunct notion of racing as the Sport of Kings.
Saturday's Grand National steeplechase in England looks sure to be a total contrast to last year, when it was ruined by foul weather.
The going was heavy that day, and the race was run in 11 minutes, more than two minutes longer than the record.
Of the 40 starters last year, only two completed the 4 1/2 miles over 30 fences without mishap, and only two others finished at all. Most of the remaining 36 were out of the race before the halfway point.
There are 40 runners again this year, but the going will be on the fast side.
FETHARD, Ireland - Johannesburg, the 2001 Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner and strongly backed Kentucky Derby hopeful, will make his debut as a 3-year-old on Sunday at the Curragh Race Course in the seven-furlong Gladness Stakes, Aidan O'Brien said Thursday at his Ballydoyle training center.
Naheef was the big winner Tuesday evening at Nad Al Sheba where Godolphin conducted their annual private trials.
The night's three races were all run at one-mile on turf as preps for the 2,000 and 1,000 Guineas, which will be run at Newmarket on May 4 and 5, respectively. Naheef, who is also a Triple Crown nominee, was ridden by Frankie Dettori to a six-length triumph over Samhari in his heat while getting the mile in 1:39.66. Naheef, the winner of the Group 3 Vintage Stakes as a 2-year-old, is by Marju out of a Mr. Prospector mare and will now go directly to the 2,000 Guineas.
Execute defeated Sunstarch in the Group 2 Prix d'Harcourt at Longchamp at odds of 2.80-1 and will go next in the Group 1 Prix Ganay at the same track on April 28.
Trained by John Hammond and ridden by Thierry Gillet, Execute - a 5-year-old son of Suave Dancer - won by three-quarters of a length, running the 1 1/4 miles on soft ground in a clocking of 2:03.50. A half-brother to Glorious Linda, herself an 11-time winner in California, Execute had won his only previous start this season at Compiegne.
Johannesburg heads a list of 17 nominees to the Fosters-International Trial Stakes, a Kentucky Derby prep to be run at Lingfield Park on Saturday.
Johannesburg, Eclipse-winning juvenile of 2001, has been named for the $71,400 one-mile dirt allowance along with six of his Aidan O'Brien-trained stablemates, although only two or three are likely to run. Among the O'Brien nominees are the Group 1 winners Hawk Wing, co-favorite with Johannesburg for the Guineas; Rock of Gibraltar; and Sholokhov; Group 3 winner and Group 1-placed Castle Gandolfo.