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Animal Kingdom drills for Dubai World Cup
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| Animal Kingdom zipped around the 'dogs' on the Palm Meadows turf
(Adam Coglianese Photography) |
Animal Kingdom, the Kentucky Derby-winning champion three-year-old
colt of 2011, took to the Palm Meadows turf on Monday to prepare for
his engagement in the Group 1 Dubai World Cup on March 30. Clockers
credited him with a six-furlong move, around the "dogs," in 1:14
3/5.
Trainer Graham
Motion, however, tweeted that the Team Valor International runner actually
worked five furlongs in 1:02 and galloped out the extra furlong.
Animal Kingdom's five-eighths time matches up with the day's bullet for the
distance, turned in by Tyro winner Rip Roarin Ritchie, who was caught in
1:02.04. That was officially the best of 23 five-furlong trials on the firm
course.
"One down, two to go," Motion said, referring to his work schedule ahead of
the Dubai World Cup.
Animal Kingdom was returning to the worktab for the first time since his
runner-up effort to Point of Entry in the Grade 1 Gulfstream Park Turf on
February 9. Two starts ago, the son of Leroidesanimaux was a hard-charging
second to Horse of the Year Wise Dan in the November 3 Breeders' Cup Mile, in
his comeback from an eight-month layoff.
Set to retire to stud at Australia's Arrowfield for the Southern Hemisphere
breeding season later this year, Animal Kingdom is expected to have a maximum of
two more starts, both abroad.
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The World Cup will mark his first race on a synthetic surface in two years,
since his victory in the Grade 3 Spiral at Turfway that launched him into the
Kentucky Derby. His swan song could come back on turf at Royal Ascot, with the
Group 1 Prince of Wales's on June 19 the likeliest spot.
Further updates and videos of Animal Kingdom are available via his special
website, animal-kingdom.com.au.
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