Curlin shines in first Dubai work

Horse of the Year CURLIN (Smart Strike), the main attraction among a host of

the world's best racehorses working at Nad al Sheba Saturday morning, "went

very, very nice" in his first workout, according to assistant trainer Scott

Blasi.

Trainer Steve Asmussen had given strict instructions prior to the move that

Curlin should not exert himself too much with only five days before his first

scheduled start of 2008 in a $175,000 handicap going about 1 1/4 miles at Nad al

Sheba on February 28. With exercise rider Carmen "Carlos" Rosas trying to

quietly contain him, the well-built chestnut strode a half-mile easily in

:50.50.

"Curlin gets over the ground here really well," Blasi said. "And he's anxious

to do something. He did things the right way this morning and I think Steve will

be pleased. Carlos did a great job.

Blasi reported that Curlin was feeling so good after the workout that he had

to put a lip chain on the colt as he cooled out.

"I'm very happy with how he's acting. I see a lot of similarities with how he

has been before his previous races," he added.

Blasi noted that most of Curlin's serious training was accomplished at Fair

Grounds prior to his departure from the United States.

Curlin is scheduled to walk on Sunday and then gallop up to the race, with a

visit to the Nad al Sheba starting gate planned for Tuesday morning. Following

his prep race, the four-year-old is expected to show up next in the Dubai World Cup

(UAE-G1) on March 29.

Seachange will attempt to carry her Group 1 form into Dubai (Copyright Dubai Racing Club/Neville Hopwood) Earlier, New Zealand's champion mare SEACHANGE (Cape Cross [Ire]) worked on the grass and appears to have recovered well from her journey. The five-year-old mare could show up in the Jebal Hatta (UAE-G2) on March 6 prior to going in the Dubai Duty Free (UAE-G1) on March 29. YOUMZAIN (Sinndar) also worked on the turf under the watchful gaze of trainer Mick Channon. The five-year-old's main goal is the Dubai Sheema Classic (UAE-G1), in which he ran third last year, but the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (Fr-G1) runner-up could make an appearance in the Dubai City of Gold (UAE-G3) on March 6 to prepare for the big event. Mike De Kock's U.A.E. Two Thousand Guineas (UAE-G3) winner and runner-up, HONOUR DEVIL (Honour and Glory) and ROYAL VINTAGE (Rich Man's Gold), respectively, stretched their legs on the dirt. The pair are likely to show up in the listed Al Bastakiya before making their bids in the U.A.E. Derby (UAE-G2) on World Cup night. De Kock's ORACLE WEST (SAf) (Western Winter) followed his stablemates and will probably reappear in the Dubai City of Gold (UAE-G3), which he won in 2006 and ran second in last year, prior to starting in the Dubai Sheema Classic.