Laurel Guerreiro sped to victory in the Grade 1, $1.88 million Takamatsunomiya Kinen at Chukyo in Japan on Sunday, handing the 5-2 favorite, Sleepless Night, a half-length beating while covering the six furlongs in 1:08 on a firm turf course.
By the Dancing Brave stallion King Halo, the 6.60-1 Laurel Guerreiro is trained by Mitsugu Kon. Second last time on March 3 in the Grade 3 Hankyu Hai, he was winning for the time since having won that race last year.
Recharge upset the even-money favorite, Intense Focus, in the Group 3. $87,000 Leopardstown 2000 Guineas Trial on Sunday to establish himself as a leading candidate for the Irish 2000 Guineas on May 23.
Recharge, a Kevin Prendergast-trained son of Cape Cross, caught the favorite at the sixteenth pole and was ridden out by Charlie Hayes for a one-length victory. Sent off at 9-4, Recharge covered the mile on good to firm ground in 1:40.65.
Albertus Maximus, the fifth-place finisher behind Well Armed in Saturday's $6 million Dubai World Cup, came out of the race with an inflamed right tendon, trainer Kiaran McLaughlin told Nad Al Sheba publicity staff Sunday. McLaughlin could not be reached Monday.
Albertus Maximus tried to lug out much of the trip Saturday, and did not look like the same horse who had won the Grade 1 Donn Handicap at Gulfstream in his last start. McLaughlin said Albertus Maximus would be shipped to New York, then on to Kentucky for a thorough veterinary examination.
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates - Well Armed did not suffer the Dubai bounce after his third-place finish in the World Cup last year, winning his first start back in the U.S., the July 19 San Diego Handicap. If he comes out of his blowout victory in Saturday's World Cup in similar fashion, Well Armed should be a major player in the handicap division beginning sometime in early or midsummer - especially if he is pointed to dirt races.
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates - Forty minutes after leading all the way to win the $5 million Dubai Duty Free with the Mubarak bin Shafya-trained Gladiatorus, jockey Ahmad Ajtebi came from last in a 15-horse field to score the narrowest of victories aboard another bin Shafya trainee, longshot Eastern Anthem, in the $5 million Sheema Classic.
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates - About 20 kilometers out into the deserts of Dubai sits a training center called Marmoon, where a man named Mubarak bin Shafya trains 40 Thoroughbreds. Never heard the name? No one in Thoroughbred racing circles had until this winter, because bin Shafya never had trained Thoroughbreds until this winter.
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates - Well Armed had all the ammunition a horse needed Saturday night in Dubai - speed. Breaking like a Quarter Horse, Well Armed took a clear lead one stride into the 2009 Dubai World Cup, and none of his 13 rivals ever got any closer. Racing on a dirt track that favored front-runners throughout the evening, Well Armed turned in a tour de force on the final night of racing at Nad Al Sheba, winning the $6 million Dubai World Cup by an amazing 14 lengths.
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates - The wind howled all day Friday in Dubai, but the rain stayed away - until Friday night. Then, about 10 p.m. local time, rain gusted down, and though it lasted only a half-hour or so, the shower probably was a harbinger of things to come.
After a largely dry Friday following Thursday's morning downpour, Dubai and Nad Al Sheba Raceourse were forecast to be pelted with heavy rain beginning Saturday morning and lasting through Dubai World Cup Night, and leaving open the possibility of a soggy $6 million Dubai World Cup.
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates - Oh, for the clarity of last year. In the 2008 Dubai World Cup, Curlin matched his on-paper superiority with an eight-length blowout victory. But among the 14 horses entered in the 2009 World Cup there are no such standouts. This year, not even the skies are clear.
Just as the quarantined horses from across the globe took to the track to train shortly after 7 a.m. Thursday, rain began pelting down on Nad Al Sheba. A storm already had passed through the night before.
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates - The $5 million Dubai Duty Free is one of the richest races in the world, and Saturday's running has drawn a field to match its value. Total earnings for the group of 16 is about $28.2 million, and six horses have bankrolls greater than $2 million. And if the Japanese mare Vodka takes the top prize she will surpass $10 million in earnings.
