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Curlin to return to action in 'second half' of the season

Curlin and his connections bask in Dubai glory (Dubai Racing Club/Dave Harmon) Horse of the Year CURLIN (Smart Strike) exited his record 7 3/4-length triumph in Saturday's Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1) full of energy, trainer Steve Asmussen reported on Sunday. The four-year-old chestnut will have a well-deserved rest before returning to the track for the second part of the year. Curlin will be sent to New York on Wednesday to clear quarantine at Belmont Park. On April 6, he will be shipped to Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky, where he eventually will resume light training on the Polytrack surface. "From there, we'll plan a course for the second half of the year," Asmussen said, adding that he, Curlin's owners and assistant trainer Scott Blasi and exercise rider Carlos Rosas will confer about what they think would be the best plan for future races. "It will be decided collectively and based on what's in the best interest of the horse and his legacy," Asmussen said of his star, who has come out of the race without any problems.

The five other Thoroughbred winners on Dubai World Cup night were likewise in fine fettle on the day after.

SUN CLASSIQUE (Fuji Kiseki), who captured the Dubai Sheema Classic (UAE-G1), is bound for Hong Kong, and then England.

"She's absolutely fine," trainer Mike de Kock said Sunday morning. "We will probably go the Irridescence route, and take her to Sha Tin for the Queen Elizabeth II Cup ([HK-G1] at Sha Tin on April 27).

The de Kock-trained Irridescence (SAf) was also a South African champion who scored a stakes victory during the 2006 Dubai International Racing Carnival, and then went on to land the Queen Elizabeth II Cup.

"(Sun Classique will) then spend the summer in the UK, with the rest of my string from Dubai, and we'll think about Royal Ascot (in mid-June), although that might be a big ask as we won't have much time. There are other races like the Nassau (S. [Eng-G1] at Goodwood on August 2) and Sun Chariot Stakes ([Eng-G1] at Newmarket on October 4) to consider, so we don't have to rush her."

De Kock enjoyed an incredible night to remember as he also saddled the first two in the U.A.E. Derby (UAE-G2), HONOUR DEVIL (Honour and Glory) and ROYAL VINTAGE (Rich Man's Gold).

"They both have come out of the races well and done us proud," he said. "We might think about some races in America with Honour Devil and Royal Vintage could be our Dubai World Cup horse next year."

Fellow South African winner JAY PEG (Camden Park), who landed the Dubai Duty Free (UAE-G1), is also bound for the Queen Elizabeth II Cup in Hong Kong and then possibly the Singapore Cup (Mal-G1) at Kranji on May 18.

"The horse is fine and he pulled out in great shape this morning," said Terry Fripp, assistant to his trainer Herman Brown.

Richard Dutrow was also in double form, training the winners of the Dubai Golden Shaheen (UAE-G1) and the Godolphin Mile (UAE-G2) in BENNY THE BULL (Lucky Lionel) and DIAMOND STRIPES (Notebook).

"They both came out of their races in good shape, they cooled out well and they're fine this morning," assistant trainer Michelle Nevin said.

Both horses are scheduled to be shipped to New York on Wednesday, and will remain there with the rest of trainer Dutrow's stable.

"We haven't thought of any long-range plans," Nevin said. "It's going to take (Dutrow) a couple of days to just calm down from all the excitement. He was just so happy."

It is likely that Benny the Bull will be put on a path to get him to the October 25 Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) at Santa Anita, while Diamond Stripes could eventually be aimed at the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile on the same day, she said.

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