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.
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – Rayya, who has been based in Dubai this winter, will ship to the U.S. and join trainer Bob Baffert’s stable after she starts Saturday night in the $2 million UAE Derby. If things go as intended, Rayya will race May 4 in the Kentucky Oaks.
“That’s the plan, if all goes well,” Baffert said Monday in a text message.
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – Talismanic had a serious workout Monday morning for the Dubai World Cup, going in company with Sheema Classic starter Cloth of Stars. It’s not entirely certain just how far the horses worked, and no one seems to have any idea how fast they went. And for trainer Andre Fabre, who travels from his base in France later this week, that’s of no concern whatsoever.
“I don’t care how fast they go,” Fabre said, reached by phone Monday in his stable office. “We don’t clock the horses. The riders know them by heart, and they were very pleased with them.”
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – Bob Baffert walked over to the Meydan Racecourse apron, stopwatch in hand, to get an idea of how fast West Coast was working about a half-mile Monday morning. He walked back a few minutes later without a lot of knowledge.
“I didn’t really get a time,” Baffert said. “You can’t see from there. He went nice. He was just cruising around there, probably in 50 or so.”
Fine Needle won Sunday’s Grade 1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen for turf sprinters at Chuyko Racecourse in Japan, giving Sheikh Mohammed’s world-famous Godolphin Racing its first win at the highest level of Japanese racing.
Fine Needle, the 9-2 second choice in a field of 18, is trained by Yoshitada Takahashi. The $2.053 million Takamatsunomiya Kinen at six furlongs was the first Grade 1 stakes win for Fine Needle, a 5-year-old Japanese-bred horse by Admire Moon.
The legendary mare Winx won her 24th consecutive race in Saturday’s Group 1 George Ryder Stakes at Rosehill Gardens Racecourse outside of Sydney, Australia, setting a record of 17 Grade 1 or Group 1 wins by a flat horse.
Winx eclipsed the previous mark of 16 Grade 1 wins held by John Henry, the American Horse of the Year in 1981 and 1984. The Irish hurdler Hurricane Fly won 22 Grade 1 races in England, Ireland, and France from 2008-15.
At 7, Red Falx retains a commanding presence in Japan’s turf-sprint division.
Last October, Red Falx won the Grade 1 Sprinters’ Stakes at Nakayama Racecourse. On Sunday, Red Falx will be favored to win the first Grade 1 race of the 2018 Japanese season in the $2.053 million Takamatsunomiya Kinen at Chuyko Racecourse.
Eastern Express ended a 10-race losing streak with a front-running win in a minor handicap at a mile at Sha Tin Racecourse in Hong Kong on Feb. 25.
The 7-year-old Eastern Express could be right back in the winner’s circle after Sunday’s $237,081 Sapphire Handicap at the same distance at Sha Tin. Eastern Express will be an easy target. He tends to run near the front.
SHA TIN SELECTIONS
(Sunday, March 25, 2018)
:: Hong Kong: Free PPs, picks, and analysis
RACE 1: #5 Rugby Diamond, #10 Carry To Win, #2 Winning Controller, #6 Massive Millennium
RACE 2: #2 Refined Treasure, #8 Striking Mr C, #3 Complacency, #6 Just Not Listening
RACE 3: #1 Right Call, #7 Empire Star, #3 Merrygowin, #13 Good Choice Ahead
The seemingly invincible Winx can continue her devastation of Australia’s racing record books in Saturday’s Grade 1 George Ryder Stakes at Rosehill Gardens outside of Sydney.
Winx has won 23 consecutive starts and 16 Group 1 races and appears impossible to beat in the $770,000 George Ryder Stakes at 7 1/2 furlongs. The distance may be a rarity for a Grade 1 race, but the territory is familiar to Winx, a 6-year-old mare by Street Cry.
