SHA TIN SELECTIONS
(Wednesday, April 03, 2024)

Rebel’s Romance had an all but lost 2023 season after winning the Breeders’ Cup Turf in his 2022 finale, but trainer Charlie Appleby said the gelding had regained his confidence winning races this winter at Kempton Park in England and in Qatar – and he was right.

A prospective trip to Hong Kong for Dubai Turf winner Facteur Cheval has been called off, and the horse will instead return to trainer Jerome Reynier’s yard in France to prepare for a European campaign this summer.

The Japanese connections of the 3-year-old colt Forever Young have made no secret of their desire to run the horse in the Kentucky Derby. The 100 qualifying points Forever Young earned winning the U.A.E. Derby on Saturday, a key cog in Churchill Downs’ Road to the Derby, assure him a spot in the field, and Forever Young leaves Dubai for Churchill on April 10.

Senor Buscador’s late surge carried him past Ushba Tesoro to win the Saudi Cup in late February, but on Saturday in the Dubai World Cup it was Ushba Tesoro’s stretch run that pushed him past Senor Buscador for second money, both horses well beaten by Laurel River.

It was a costly neck, the difference between place and show in the $12 million World Cup about $600,000.

“We’re very proud of him and a little disappointed he didn’t get second yesterday. He definitely wasn’t going to beat Laurel River,” trainer Todd Fincher said in a Sunday text message.

Laurel River made the first seven starts of his career in America and, as he showed winning the Dubai World Cup on Saturday by a record 8 1/2 lengths, is one of the world’s best horses on dirt, the surface where American racing reigns supreme. But do not expect to see Laurel River show up in America again anytime soon.

Laurel River was sent to trainer Bhupat Seemar by owner-breeder Juddmonte Farms last fall with the intention of keeping him in Dubai, Seemar said in a Sunday phone interview, and at this point, there has been no suggestion that plan has changed.

Beaten in two Grade 1 races for 3-year-olds last year, Bellagio Opera took advantage of the absence of several of Japan’s leading older horses to win Sunday’s Grade 1 Osaka Hai at 1 1/4 miles on turf at Hanshin Racecourse.

Several top Japan-based runners were in action on Saturday in Dubai.

Bellagio Opera, who paid $14.40 in American pools, was always near the front in the $2.54 million Osaka Hai and won by a neck over 5-1 Rousham Park, who was a nose in front of 31-1 Rouge Evil in a field of 16.

A disappointing 2023 campaign is behind Rebel’s Romance. The well-traveled 6-year-old is in the midst of a perfect start in 2024, including a win in Saturday’s Group 1 Sheema Classic at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai.

Well-known in the United States for winning the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Keeneland in 2022, Rebel’s Romance won the fourth Grade 1 or Group 1 race of his career in the $6 million Sheema Classic at 1 1/2 miles due largely to a tactical ride by jockey William Buick.

An Ireland-bred, France-based gelding with American owners, Facteur Cheval, traveled to the United Arab Emirates to win the $5 million Dubai Turf on Saturday at Meydan Racecourse – if only barely.  

A few incidents of trouble could not prevent Tuz from a commanding upset win in the Group 1 Golden Shaheen Sprint at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai on Saturday.

Racing prominently on the inside, Tuz closed from third in the final quarter-mile to take the lead with less than a furlong remaining. Tuz quickly burst clear to prevail by 6 1/2 lengths over 9-1 Don Frankie.