Gliding, the winner of the Foxboro Supreme Hurdle and the Temple Gwathmey last year, has arrived in Japan for his April 14 date in the $1.6 million Nakayama Grand Jump at Nakayama Racecourse near Tokyo.
"From New York to Tokyo, with a stop at Anchorage, the flight time was 15 hours, or 23 hours for the entire trip," said exercise rider and groom James Piper. "It was a long way, but he is hungry like I've never seen him back home. He seems to be in good condition."
Listen, the antepost favorite for both British fillies classics, has been ruled out of the 1000 Guineas and is unlikely to make the lineup for the English Oaks, her trainer, Aidan O'Brien, said on Monday.
A daughter of Sadler's Wells, Listen returned stiff after a workout and it was decided by O'Brien and owners Derrick Smith, Michael Tabor, and Susan Magnier to give her a month off. It is therefore doubtful that she can be at Epsom for the Oaks on June 6.
Missing the Dubai World Cup with a minor eye injury may yet prove to have been a blessing in disguise for Daiwa Scarlet. The 4-year-old Agnes Tachyon filly returned from a 3 1/2-month winter vacation on Sunday, defeating males in the Grade 2, $1.2 million Osaka Hai at Hanshin.
Full of Gold was the big winner in the first European round of classic preps on Sunday. The colt, trained by Criquette Head-Maarek, followed up on his Group 1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud victory of last November with a game head victory over Court Canibal in Longchamp's Group 2, $203,000 Prix Noailles.
Owned by Head-Maarek's father, Alec Head, and ridden by Thierry Gillet, Full of Gold covered the 1 5/16 miles on heavy ground in 2:22.50 as the 9-10 favorite. He will have his final prep for the French Derby on May 5 when he returns to Longchamp for the Group 2 Prix Hocquart.
Doubts are being raised about the accuracy of the times recorded at Nad Al Sheba on Dubai World Cup Night last Saturday. The Emirates Racing Authority has removed the fractional times from its website and has announced that it is conducting an investigation into claims by the Racing Post that several clockings were inaccurate.
Cloudy Lane could start as the lowest-priced favorite for Saturday's $1.6 million Grand National Handicap Chase at Aintree since the legendary Red Rum in 1975.
Pegged at 5-1 on Thursday as 40 entries were taken for the 4 1/2-mile chase over 30 of the toughest fences known to mankind, the 8-year-old Cloudy Lane has won three straight handicap chases between three miles and 3 1/4 miles by a total of 17 1/2 lengths. Three-time Grand National winner Red Rum was sent off as the 7-2 choice in 1975 when he finished second for the second time.
With his thoroughly authoritative victory in the Dubai World Cup having left no doubt that he is the world's best racehorse, Curlin will return to the United States in triumph, flying to New York on Wednesday, when he will go through quarantine before heading to Keeneland on April 6.
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates - Trainer Rick Dutrow has demonstrated repeatedly his intimate knowledge of American racing. Somehow, Dutrow had the perfect feel for Dubai, too.
Dutrow sent his first two horses to the World Cup program this year and won with both of them, becoming only the third trainer to win multiple races on a World Cup card. First came Diamond Stripes, who won the first Thoroughbred race of the night, the $1 million Godolphin Mile; 75 minutes later it was Benny the Bull rallying down the middle of the track to capture the $2 million Golden Shaheen.