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Idiot Proof adds blinkers, drills for Dubai Golden Shaheen
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Idiot Proof's last score came in the Ancient Title at Oak Tree in October
(Benoit Photo) |
At Nad al Sheba on Easter Sunday, Ancient Title S. (G1) hero IDIOT PROOF
(Benchmark) donned blinkers and promptly worked five furlongs to the
satisfaction of Robert Sise, who serves as assistant to his father, trainer
Cliff Sise Jr. The California-bred is preparing for Saturday's Dubai Golden
Shaheen (UAE-G1), a six-furlong dash down the straightaway.
To get a flavor of the race conditions, Idiot Proof commenced his drill from
the chute where the Golden Shaheen starts. With the angle down the chute making
an overall time difficult to gauge accurately, Sise said one clocker caught
Idiot Proof in 1:02.
However, rider Iggy Puglisi said he timed the move on his own watch and got
the colt in "1:00 and change."
"It was great," declared Puglisi, who is a veteran jockey based in California
but who had not previously worked Idiot Proof. "He went really well. He was
relaxed and got on the bit."
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According to the official Dubai Racing Club trackwork notes, Idiot Proof
"traveled on the bit with plenty in hand passing the post," earning the grade of
"impressive work."
The trainer's son said that Idiot Proof covered his last three furlongs in
:36.
"He looked good and came back good," Sise said, adding that Idiot Proof
"loves" Dubai.
"For horses, it is awesome here," he declared. "You can graze them around the
barn and there are round pens for them to go out in and roll. He's very happy."
Sise went on to explain the addition of blinkers, which the four-year-old bay
will sport for the first time in competition in the Golden Shaheen.
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Benny the Bull has a physique worthy of his name
(Dubai Racing Club/Michele MacDonald) |
"In his last two or three starts, every time he tries to pass a horse, he
starts to lug in," Sise explained. "So (jockey) David Flores suggested we might
want to try blinkers. In the mornings, he's straight as an arrow, so you never
know."Idiot Proof has placed three times since capturing the Ancient Title last
October. A commendable runner-up in the Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) three starts
back, he disappointed as the odds-on favorite in his last pair, finishing third
in the El Conejo H. (G3) and second in the Phoenix Gold Cup H.
Also stretching his legs in advance of the Golden Shaheen was BENNY THE BULL
(Lucky Lionel), a convincing winner of the Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash
(G1) and Sunshine Millions Sprint in his last two outings. Michelle Nevin,
assistant to trainer Richard Dutrow, was aboard for his easy exercise.
"He's getting over the track very comfortably," Nevin said, adding that since
Benny the Bull has proven to be very versatile in his running style, the
straightaway should pose no problems.
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Nevin described Benny the Bull as "a very laid-back, kind horse who is just
happy to lope around" in the mornings.
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Diamond Stripes, two-for-two at a mile, will revert to that shorter trip on Saturday
(Dubai Racing Club/Monica Pinheiro) |
Dutrow's other shipper, Meadowlands Cup (G2) winner DIAMOND STRIPES
(Notebook), likewise galloped in preparation for Saturday's Godolphin Mile
(UAE-G2). The multiple Grade 1-placed gray is coming off a fourth-place
finish in the 1 1/8-mile Sunshine Millions Classic on Santa Anita's Cushion
Track."We definitely feel that he's going to be strong in (the Godolphin Mile),"
Nevin said.
"They're both doing very well -- we're pretty happy so far," Nevin added of
the Dutrow duo. "It's a long journey (from America to Dubai), but both of our
horses are relaxed guys and the trip didn't seem to bother them too much at
all."
Both Benny the Bull and Diamond Stripes could be sent out for timed workouts
on Tuesday. Nevin will handle saddling duties on Saturday, as Dutrow will remain
in Florida to oversee his promising classic hopeful Big Brown (Boundary) in the
Florida Derby (G1).
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One trainer who is newly on the scene is Eoin Harty, who will be represented
by San Antonio H. (G2) victor WELL ARMED (Tiznow) in Saturday's Dubai World Cup
(UAE-G1). Harty arrived in Dubai in the early hours of Sunday morning after a
long trip that began in the warm sun of California, extended through snow in
London and concluded in the desert air of the United Arab Emirates.
"I'm really happy," Harty said after watching Well Armed take a stroll around
the track. "He can be a little tough to gallop -- he's kind of a tough customer
-- but he looked great out there."
Harty plans to dispatch the gelding for a workout over four furlongs on
Monday morning, with Iggy Puglisi set to ride.
Well Armed has drawn rave reviews trackside for his handsome athleticism, and
Harty refers to him as "The Trojan Horse" due to his classic good looks.
Fellow World Cup aspirant A. P. ARROW (A.P. Indy) galloped about 1 3/8 miles
early on Sunday morning over the Nad al Sheba training track.
"He went real easy and comfortable," exercise rider Eddie King reported.
The Todd Pletcher charge captured the Clark H. (G2) in his 2007 finale and is
coming off a solid runner-up effort in the Donn H. (G1).
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The ageless Better Talk Now would boost his bankroll to $7 million with a Sheema victory
(Dubai Racing Club/Michele MacDonald) |
Another veteran campaigner, nine-year-old turf star BETTER TALK NOW (Talkin
Man), has been exercising in virtual seclusion over the training track late in
the mornings. The five-time Grade 1 winner and $4 million earner is limbering up
for Saturday's Dubai Sheema Classic (UAE-G1).On Sunday, Better Talk Now galloped about 1 3/8 miles under exercise rider
Fenella O'Flynn. The dark bay gelding put his head down and picked up an
effortless, rhythmic stride, skimming over the dirt with no one else on the
track to bother him.
"He went great," said a beaming O'Flynn as she guided Better Talk Now off the
track while accompanied by assistant trainer Tom Finn aboard a pony.
The training track was a bit softer and more consistent on Sunday after a
humid night that kept water in the dirt, she said, after also galloping Better
Talk Now over the surface on Saturday.
Trainer Graham Motion is due to arrive in Dubai on Tuesday.
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A much younger Dubai hopeful, Grade 3-winning sophomore MASSIVE DRAMA (Kafwain),
continues to impress observers with his glowing appearance in the build-up to
the U.A.E. Derby (UAE-G2). Assistant trainer Henrietta Steele looked down at the
ground and smiled skittishly on Sunday morning when yet another bystander
praised her for the colt's outstanding looks.
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Massive Drama is thriving in the desert
(Dubai Racing Club/Michele MacDonald) |
"I'm very happy with him," Steele said. "I actually think he's got more shine
on his coat after the trip over from America."Massive Drama's Sunday excursion consisted of a 1 1/2-mile gallop. Steele
said she is conferring daily with trainer Dale Romans via telephone to get
instructions on what step to take next and is not sure when Massive Drama might
be sent for more strenuous exercise.
Third in both his starts this year, the San Rafael S. (G3) and the San
Vicente S. (G2), for former conditioner Bob Baffert, Massive Drama will make his
first start for Romans on Saturday.
While the other Americans are already fixed on their Dubai targets, Grade 2
victor NOTIONAL (In Excess [Ire]) is currently in limbo, caught between the race
he wants to get into, the grassy Dubai Duty Free (UAE-G1), and the race that he
will probably end up in, the Godolphin Mile.
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A heavily muscled tank of a colt, Notional was on the Kentucky Derby (G1)
trail last year. The Doug O'Neill pupil landed the San Rafael S. (G2) and Risen
Star S. (G3) and garnered runner-up honors in the Florida Derby (G1), only to
suffer a condylar fracture in his lower left front cannon bone. Sidelined for 11
months, Notional returned in February to make his turf debut in the Daytona H.,
checking in a close third.
With that being his lone turf start, Notional would appear to be overmatched
in the super-tough Dubai Duty Free, and he has not yet gained a place in that
overbooked race. Hence he is also officially listed as a Godolphin Mile
contender. His connections would prefer not to enter that main-track affair, as
owner J. Paul Reddam already has three-time stakes scorer BARCOLA (Old Trieste)
earmarked for it.
"It's tough," said exercise rider Tony Romero, who is handling affairs for
O'Neill. "This is the race that all the best turf horses in the world come and
run in. The Godolphin Mile would have been perfect for him, but Mr. Reddam
already has an entry in there."
Notional has adapted well to Dubai and has been training aggressively.
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