Connections issue positive updates on World Cup night contestants

Connections issue positive updates on World Cup night

contestants

Akeed Mofeed turned the Hong Kong Derby & Cup double at Sha Tin in 2013 (Frank Sorge/Horsephotos.com) Trainer Richard Gibson continues to be pleased with how Akeed Mofeed is coming up to Saturday's Group 1 Dubai World Cup. "His jockey Douglas Whyte rode him on the all-weather and gave us the thumbs up afterwards," the Hong Kong-based horseman said. "He didn't do much in the piece of work, just a nice blow. He has a good draw, he's very settled and it's so far so good." Hong Kong Horse of the Year Military Attack is similarly firing on all cylinders ahead of the $10 million event. "All's well, thankfully," trainer John Moore said. "We had (jockey) Joao Moreira on him this morning on the all-weather and he was very pleased with the work. He said he handled the surface beautifully and that sort of report gives you confidence. He has drawn well in midfield to give us options and we'd have to say we're pretty happy with how things are going." Belshazzar, one of two representing Japan in the World Cup, is coming to grips with the Tapeta. "When he had a steady gallop last week, he took a little time to get his condition back," trainer Kunihide Matsuda said, "but today even after he galloped yesterday, he is as fit as fiddle and is in a great order. I think the horse has adapted and enjoyed the training on the all-weather surface and looks very relaxed indeed."

"He looked very well in

condition and has moved into the top gear," jockey Christophe Lemaire said. "The stable staff are also in a good

mood, which is a good sign for the horse's good condition.

Big-race jockey Ryan Moore took over from

regular work rider Katie Reed when reacquainting himself with Royal Ascot

winner Hillstar, who tacked across to the main all-weather track for the first time.

"He breezed 800 meters, and I'm

very pleased," trainer Sir Michael Stoute said. "He's really loving it here and

has settled in very well. We've had luck with the draw (number 7 stall) but it's a tough race."

Mukhadram continued to prepare for the World Cup by training on the Meydan

turf course, cantering Thursday under jockey Paul Hanagan, who will ride the

five-year-old in the world's richest race.

"I was very happy with the way he moved. He went very

well," trainer William Haggas said. "Paul also was very happy."

Haggas said

he was undecided on whether Mukhadram would take a tour of the all-weather

track when he goes out for exercise on Friday morning.

Red Cadeaux, last year's Dubai World Cup runner-up,

limbered up for Saturday when appearing on the all-weather track at 7 a.m.

"He just cantered around the

track -- nothing too strenuous after his work yesterday -- and he continues to

please me," trainer Ed Dunlop commented. "We will drop him in from his outside draw and try and pick up the

pieces if we can. He has won nearly £4 million in prize money, been second in two

Melbourne Cups and been second here. Everyone seems to love him and he may be a

perennial bridesmaid but we will settle for that!"

Despite drawing the far outside post

in the field of 16 for his Dubai World Cup, Ron the Greek's trainer Nicholas Bachalard is taking the misfortune in stride.

Shortly after the draw, he posted this on Twitter: @nbachalard "Won't scratch

because we drew 16 privileged enough to be in the field. Rest will sort itself

out."

Thursday morning, he reflected on the reality of the post.

"Where we are drawn is more for the handicappers to worry

about," Bachalard said. "I'm more concerned about how he handles the track and

turns and that Jose (Lezcano) can keep him out of trouble."

Under the cover of darkness at roughly 4 a.m., Ron the

Greek visited the Meydan all-weather main track for the second consecutive

morning.

"He went slightly faster than yesterday and I was happy

with what I saw," Bachalard said. "The exercise rider (Neji Jrichi) said he was

moving well over it, and he gets on him a lot in Riyadh."

Ruler of the World was subject of a half-share sale by Coolmore to Al Shaqab Racing, which was completed shortly before declaration

time. The Epsom Derby winner and his five other Ballydoyle stablemates successfully

passed all veterinary procedures on Wednesday evening. The team, which makes up

trainer Aidan O'Brien's biggest Dubai World Cup night challenge, continued light

exercise in the quarantine area on Thursday before their scheduled appearance on

the race track on Friday.

Side Glance had a trot on the training track Thursday morning, after

Wednesday's blowout on the all-weather track.

"All that

could go wrong in his prep race did go wrong," said David Redvers, racing

manager to owners Pearl Bloodstock, "but he has come on for that run

three weeks ago and is in very good hands. He thrives on his travel but he does

need a strong pace and his chance will depend on how well he settles."

In other trackwork notes for World Cup night races:

A late change of plan kept South Africa's dual Horse of the Year Variety Club

at Mike de Kock's barn, where regular trainer Joey Ramsden has lodged him for

the Dubai World Cup Carnival.

"We were going to go to the main grass track," Ramsden said of his Group 2

Godolphin Mile contender, "but changed our minds after the heavy rain on

Wednesday. So he went on the treadmill and did everything sweetly. He's fit and

well and the soundest horse in the world and the plan now is to keep him as

fresh as possible for the big day."

Simenon, a hopeful in the Group 3 Dubai Gold Cup, galloped during morning

exercise, and assistant trainer Emmet Mullins delivered an upbeat report.

"He's doing great. We went on the grass training track and I just let him

breeze the last furlong," said Mullins, who knows Simenon well after riding him

for much of his work at home in Ireland over the past 1 1/2 years. "I'm very

happy with him. He's a lot fitter than he was in his last race and I imagine

come race night, he'll be ready to go,"

Gold Cup rival Seismos came onto the all-weather track with the other German

raider Empoli (who runs in the Group 1 Sheema Classic), but cantered on his own.

"He went for a steady canter and I think he looks good," trainer Andreas

Wöhler said. This year he had a prep race and I think that did him a lot of

good. He was quite awake as his lad put it when he came out and that is a good

sign.

Al Quoz Sprint entrant Berlino di Tiger blew out 200 meters over a soft

Meydan turf Thursday morning in :26 with jockey Leandro Goncalves up, according

to head lad Caue Caramori.

"My dad (trainer Eduardo) thought he could have gone a little faster, but

overall we're happy with it," the younger Caramori said. "He's in a good state

of mind. We just wanted him to get a feel for the course.

The Brazilian-bred, American-based six-year-old drew post 7 of 12 for

Saturday's race, with the likely speed of Amber Sky drawn just to his outside.

"There is a difference between his speed and our speed," Caramori said.

"We're going (forward). In races like this it's not common for every horse to

run straight. We expect to lean outside some but not too much."

Al Quoz Sprint rival Sole Power did a gentle canter around one circuit of the

all-weather track, having breezed down the straight on Wednesday. He will depart

from stall 2 on Saturday.

"He's thriving, which is the main thing," trainer Edward Lynam said. "I'd

rather have been drawn closer to Shea Shea (12) and Amber Sky, but then, I'd

rather have a horse in great form with a bad draw than the other way round. I'll

leave the tactics up to (jockey) Ryan (Moore) but the worst thing you can do is

ride to try and beat the draw."

Zee Bros, a contender in the Group 1 Dubai Golden Shaheen, galloped over the training track without incident on Thursday

morning.

"He blew out 10 days ago and was very, very sharp," trainer

Seth Benzel said. "He went :47 2/5 (for 800 meters) and galloped out (1000

meters) :59 2/5. So

at that point between the races we've had here and that work, we're really happy

where we sit. He's going in (to Saturday's race) nice and fresh."

Zee Bros drew post position 6 of 13 for the Golden Shaheen.

"I love the post, it's absolutely ideal," Benzel said.

"We'll tell Frankie (jockey Dettori) to go ahead and use his natural speed, put

him in a comfortable position, relax and let everybody else pretty much have

their game plan around us. I don't want him fighting it out the first part. Run

relaxed, have the race go as easy as possible the first part of it, then give

them a run."

Eclipse Award champion Dank, the British-trained winner of her last three

starts overseas, seeks to make it four straight in the Group 1 Dubai Duty Free,

was confined to light exercise on the all-weather track for regular work rider

Maria Doe.

"She worked

seriously over 800 meters on Wednesday, so this was a quiet day for her," Stoute

said. "She has

traveled well. It's probably a little early in the year for her, but this is a

very important race and very valuable."

Duty Free opponent The Fugue got a very early start under the floodlights.

Last year's Yorkshire Oaks and Irish Champion Stakes winner worked on the turf

track for the second day.

"We wanted to get her used to the lights before Saturday, which meant

being out at around 5:45 a.m.," trainer John Gosden said. "She did a nice, half-speed canter on her own, and

was back in her stable before 6 a.m."

Trainer Corine Barande-Barbe was

in high spirits after Cirrus des Aigles, her evergreen eight-year-old, breezed

on the all-weather track in advance of the Sheema Classic.

"He didn't get the best of the draws last night in gate 15

but it shouldn't matter too much over this distance," she said. "It would be

more important if it was the World Cup and he has plenty of time to drop himself

in. The horse is a dream -- all you dream about he gives you. He has been at his

best for three years, and who knows he now may be even better."

Sheema rival Dominant, invading from Hong Kong, is making himself very much

at home.

"You'd think he

was trained here full-time the way he swans around the place without a care in

the world," trainer John Moore said. "He's in great shape. Moreira rode him on the turf this

morning and said he strode out just how we wanted. The wide draw (14) is not ideal

but he was going to be ridden back anyway. We still feel we are going there with

a chance."

Twilight Eclipse, the lone U.S. shipper in the Sheema Classic, made a couple of

circuits over the Meydan all-weather surface on Thursday morning.

"He's doing good," West Point Thoroughbreds' President

Terry Finley said. "He's a calm horse but he does get a little excited coming to the

paddock. That's one thing the commentators talk about when he

comes into the paddock is that he'll get hot on you but it hasn't affected him

(in his races).

"The Euros don't mind the long walks before and after

training but the American horses get a little on the muscle after getting off

the racetrack but having so long to go (to get back to the stables)," he added.

"It is what it is but it's no big deal. He looks happy and he's carrying good

weight.

"We'll have no excuses from a physical standpoint. The big thing is if

he's good enough."

The five-year-old gelded son of Purim drew post 11 in the 15-horse

field and will be ridden by Jose Lezcano who was aboard Twilight Eclipse for his

victories in the W.L. McKnight Handicap at Calder and in the Mac Diarmida Stakes across town at Gulfstream Park.

"I think going a mile and a half, nobody should

send," Finley said of the race pace. "I don't see anyone coming out of there

race-riding. We're going to be very close to the pace, if not right on the lead.

I don't think the outside (15) would have been great and you can get caught in a

trap on the inside as long as we weren't (drawn) 1 or way outside.

"It's a big

pot ($5 million) but it doesn't matter how big the pot is if you don't get a piece

of it."

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