DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – It’s probably fair to say that at this stage of his career – one of the best careers in racehorse-training history – Aidan O’Brien can live without winning the Kentucky Derby.
On the other hand, it’s probably fair to say he wouldn’t say no to the experience.
O’Brien has run five horses in four Kentucky Derbies.
:: ROAD TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY: Prep races, point standings, replays, and analysis
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – West Coast breaks from post 9 of 10 as the favorite Saturday night in the Group 1, $10 million Dubai World Cup.
West Coast will have Thunder Snow outside him, eight rivals to his inside, and Javier Castellano on his back when the field assembles in the starting gate about 12:50 p.m. Eastern on Saturday. West Coast is odds-on with overseas bookmakers to give trainer Bob Baffert his fourth World Cup and second in a row, and land Castellano in the World Cup winner’s circle for the first time.
HAPPY VALLEY SELECTIONS
(Wednesday, March 28)
:: Hong Kong: Free PPs, picks, and analysis
Andrew Le Jeune
Race 1: 8-2-5-1
Race 2: 7-11-4-3
Race 3: 8-2-7-1
Race 4: 2-4-7-1
Race 5: 11-2-3-4
Race 6: 2-7-5-3
Race 7: 5-10-3-2
Race 8: 4-12-7-1
Best Bet - Race 2: #7 Supreme Witness
Longshot - Race 3: #8 Split Of A Second
Best Play - Q/QP Race 2: 4-7-11
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – Mind Your Biscuits managed to overcome post 14 and storm to victory a year ago in the Group 1, $2 million Dubai Golden Shaheen. A couple hours later, Arrogate went out and ran one of the most remarkable races in recent memory winning the Dubai World Cup, shoving the Shaheen onto the back burner.
“What he did here last year got overshadowed a little by Arrogate, but he was phenomenal,” said Mind Your Biscuits's trainer, Chad Summers.
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – It’s a good thing when a very fast horse will work slowly, and champion sprinter Roy H is willing to do so – as long as the right pilot is at the controls.
Under Kent Desormeaux, Roy H tuned up Tuesday for his start Saturday in the $2 million Dubai Golden Shaheen by working roughly three furlongs in about 37 seconds on the stopwatch of trainer Peter Miller.
HAPPY VALLEY SELECTIONS
(Wednesday, March 28, 2018)
RACE 1: #1 Vara Pearl, #10 Cash Courier, #2 Kwaichung Brothers, #4 Torney
RACE 2: #1 Go Go Win, #7 Supreme Witness, #4 Lucky Master, #8 Grand Harbour
RACE 3: #11 Golden Glory, #7 Nice Fandango, #2 Hero Time, #1 Call Me Awesome
RACE 4: #1 Fabulous One, #4 California Whip, #2 Magic Legend, #9 Great Honour
RACE 5: #11 Alcari, #3 Amazing, #8 Prince Harmony, #4 Jumbo Happiness
After a failed attempt in a Group 1, the Hong Kong veteran gelding Dinozzo looks ideally suited for a start in Wednesday’s $318,637 Happy Valley Vase at 1 1/8 miles on turf.
The 5-year-old Irish-bred gelding is already a winner at Happy Valley Racecourse this year, in a minor handicap at about a mile on Jan. 31. He followed that days later with a win in the Group 3 Centenary Vase Handicap at 1 1/8 miles on turf at Sha Tin Racecourse on Feb. 4 before finishing seventh in the Group 1 Hong Kong Gold Cup at Sha Tin on Feb. 25.
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – Fields and post positions for the Group 1 races on the World Cup card are to be drawn Wednesday, but that process took place for the other four races on the card Monday.
As expected, nine are entered in the $2 million UAE Derby, a major qualifying race for the Kentucky Derby. Mendelssohn, the Aidan O’Brien-trained likely favorite, has post 4 and is drawn between his main rivals, locally based Gold Town in 5 and the American shipper Reride in 3.
