What the trainers say ahead of Dubai World Cup night in Meydan
Get all the latest news for the chief supporting races to the Dubai World Cup at Meydan.
Dubai Sheema Classic
Aidan O'Brien - Idaho: "He went across America and Canada a few times and it took us a while to get his travelling routine right. His best run was when he finished fifth in the Japan Cup. He is entitled to run well on Saturday, as he's a bit more experienced. He has a nice draw in two and seems to have travelled well, so we're hopeful. It would be massive (to have a winner at the meeting), you come and try, you can't expect, you have to hope and we realise it's tough and competitive."
Andre Fabre - Cloth Of Stars: "He must have a good chance. A stronger pace will suit him and we are quite confident."
Bruce Raymond, racing manager for owner Saeed Suhail - Poet's Word: "He appears to be in very good form and I think he's pretty fit. Sir Michael never sends them there unfit. Ryan Moore rode him in a piece of work a couple of weeks ago and Frankie (Dettori) rode him in his final piece of work last week and both of them were very happy. I certainly think this is his best distance. Circumstances meant he was mainly campaigned over a mile and a quarter last season, but I think a mile and a half is definitely what he wants."
Dubai Gold Cup
Michael Bell - Big Orange: "Hopefully that (setfast problem) is in the past. I was really happy with him on Thursday and more importantly Gill (Dolman), who has been riding him for a few years, was delighted. He seems in really good form and looks great. He has a great skin on him and I'm very happy with his well-being."
Alain de Royer-Dupre - Vazirabad: "I think his run in the prep race this year was much better than last year," said Royer-Dupre. Last year he was the runner-up after a mediocre performance, but this year he and the winner (Rare Rhythm) produced a fantastic run up the final straight. They left the others seven or eight lengths behind. The longer trip should help us a bit. What is a bigger concern to me is the big field. We could easily run into traffic problems. However, we are really happy with Vazirabad and for the time being are not worried."
Jessica Harrington - Torcedor: "He's come a long way in a year. I inherited him from David Wachman and a year ago he was running in a conditions race at Leopardstown, which he won, and we sort of got on a roll from there. It looks a very good race on Saturday. I was half-thinking we could come out here and miss a few horses, but I think everyone bar Order Of St George has turned up. He has progressed and physically he's progressed as well. This year he's become much more a man of a horse."
Rest of card
Dean Ivory - Librisa Breeze (Sprint): "It's all going well, everything is great and we're all excited. He flew out last Friday. I'm confident he'll go well on Saturday. I'm happy with what I've seen from him since he's been over here. Ideally he would like good to soft, but there's nothing we can do to change that.
"The slight issue I think is that he's better over seven furlongs, though in saying that he has done very well over six as he has a huge turn of foot when they go a fast pace. I would think this could be a big year for him."
Aidan O'Brien - Mendelssohn, Threeandfourpence & Seahenge (UAE Derby): "Mendelssohn has drawn well (stall four) and things have gone to plan with him. Ryan (Moore) was very happy with him in Dundalk. We're not guaranteed for sure that he will get a mile and a quarter, but we're going to find out a lot more in Dubai.
"It's a step on to dirt for the first time for all three of them, so that will be interesting, and this is a great race in its own right. It would be a great lead-up to the Kentucky Derby if they were good enough to compete and we will learn a lot about them. You'd imagine they could handle dirt with their pedigrees, they seem to be in good form but it's competitive."
Aidan O'Brien - Lancaster Bomber (Dubai Turf): "He has progressed well from three to four and he was a good fourth in the UAE Derby last year, so knows the environment. He is one of the highest-rated horses in this race and he loves the fast ground he will get at Meydan. He's a very hardy horse and could travel plenty this year."
Oisin Murphy - Benbatl (Dubai Turf): "I've been very lucky to ride him. He was unlucky not to win last time. It is great to get back on him on Saturday, but it is a very competitive race. It is great to be involved in such a prestigious evening. He has taken to it well out there and the trip seems fine for him, but his form was very good over in Britain. Take nothing away from him - he is a very high-class horse."
Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager to owner Khalid Abdullah - Monarchs Glen (Dubai Turf): "We're very excited. I think he's wintered well and he's had a straightforward preparation. Obviously he hasn't run since October, which is interesting, but I think the pleasing thing with him is he's lost his coat and he's got a bit of a sheen on him. Frankie took him round the turf track during the week and he seems in good shape.
"He will need to improve - he's taking on much stiffer opposition than he's ever met - but we've always had a good opinion of him. He's been talented, if a little quirky. His attitude got much better after we gelded him. We haven't had too many geldings of his calibre recently and he's a son of Frankel, so we'll carry on with him."
Andre Fabre - Trais Fluors (Dubai Turf): "He is a nice horse. He was beaten on his comeback, but that was his first run back for a long time. He's well and the extra furlong will probably help him. It won't be easy, but he's in very good shape."
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