International Diary

INTERNATIONAL DIARY

MAY 1, 2007

by Kellie Reilly

In this edition, I'll take a glance backward at Dubai, touch upon the

outstanding races at Hong Kong this past Sunday featuring a pair of Dubai

winners, and look ahead to upcoming highlights on the European scene.

The March 31 Dubai World Cup card promised to offer riveting action, and the

six Thoroughbred contests did not disappoint. American-based horses starred in

the three dirt events for older horses, with INVASOR (Arg) (Candy Stripes)

scoring in the World Cup (UAE-G1), KELLY'S LANDING (Patton) capturing the Golden

Shaheen (UAE-G1) and SPRING AT LAST (Silver Deputy) romping in the Godolphin

Mile (UAE-G2), but the internationals dominated the other three races.

While European form, and Breeders' Cup form, took a beating on the Nad al

Sheba turf, Far Eastern form was upheld in spectacular style. To be sure, there

were extenuating circumstances for some of the Europeans, but the results

underscored the emergence of Japan and Hong Kong as world-class racing centers.

In the nearly nine-furlong Dubai Duty Free (UAE-G1), Japan's own

ADMIRE MOON (End Sweep) raced in midpack early, found a seam in the stretch

and produced a devastating turn of foot about 1 1/2 furlongs from home to settle

the issue in a matter of strides. LINNGARI (Indian Ridge), who had been

marooned out in post 16, almost overcame his rotten luck at the draw. An Aga

Khan-bred racing for South African connections, he had no other choice than to

drop far back and make one run. Linngari struck top gear late and rapidly

reduced Admire Moon's margin, but the wire came too soon, and his lunge fell a

half-length short.

Admire Moon was scoring by far the biggest victory of his young career,

although he had come agonizingly close to nipping the terrific Pride in the Hong

Kong Cup (HK-G1) last December. At Nad al Sheba, the four-year-old emphatically

turned the tables on his older countryman, Japan's supposed first-stringer

DAIWA MAJOR (Sunday Silence), who had beaten him in the 1 1/4-mile Tenno Sho

Autumn (Jpn-G1) in October. In his defense, Daiwa Major didn't have the easiest

of runs in the Duty Free, trapped wide while prompting the pace, and he fared

the best of all the forwardly placed horses by staying on for third. With a

different trip, the supremely classy chestnut could well have finished a lot

closer. Still, it's hard to discount that image of Admire Moon bursting past him

as if he were standing still. The Duty Free has plainly reversed the pecking

order. No longer second fiddle, Admire Moon is just reaching the peak of his

powers, while the six-year-old Daiwa Major has already arrived at his plateau.

Linngari has some solid European form to his credit, but his best

performances have arguably come in Dubai. Those with flashier European form,

such as STORMY RIVER (Verglas [Ire]) and BEST NAME (King's Best),

didn't advertise its merits when checking in ninth and 11th, respectively.

Stormy River had a bona fide excuse, being short of room in the stretch, and

Best Name probably wants to go much farther.

As frustrating as the Duty Free was for the European formbook, it was even

more abysmal for us Americans, as outlined in my April 10 Turf Diary. Suffice it

to say here that the Breeders' Cup Mile (G1) form wasn't well represented by

MIESQUE'S APPROVAL (Miesque's Son), who was but a shadow of himself when

finishing 15th in what turned out to be his final start.

The 1 1/2-mile Dubai Sheema Classic (UAE-G1) rendered a similar

judgment on the transatlantic brigade, as Hong Kong champion VENGEANCE OF

RAIN (Zabeel) powered to a 1 1/4-length victory. Tactics, however, played a

significant part in the outcome. Reminiscent of last year's Sheema, there was

precious little early pace, and Vengeance of Rain took full advantage of his

rail-skimming trip just behind the pacesetter. The New Zealand-bred gelding

angled to the outside for a clear path, seized command in the stretch and drove

clear. South Africa chalked up another runner-up effort when the unheralded

ORACLE WEST (Western Winter) grabbed second.

Europeans filled the third and fourth spots, both emerging with plenty of

credit in defeat. YOUMZAIN (Sinndar) was the only closer who made his

presence felt. Although he had effectively no chance of winning after racing

well off the dawdling tempo, he made up enough ground to snare third, signaling

that he'll be a serious horse to follow this season. Epsom Derby (Eng-G1) hero

SIR PERCY (Mark of Esteem [Ire]) finished a short head back in fourth,

tiring a bit late after tracking the pace. I think he would also have preferred

an honest tempo to set up his late kick, and his effort is all the more

commendable considering that he was struck into by a few rivals and suffered

cuts to his legs. Sir Percy will likely reappear at Royal Ascot in June, perhaps

in the Prince of Wales's S. (Eng-G1).

Breeders' Cup Turf (G1) hero RED ROCKS (Ire) (Galileo [Ire]) had his

share of problems in the Sheema as well. Already compromised by traveling too

far off the pace, he was then caught in traffic, and in the stretch, he suffered

interference from POP ROCK (Helissio) and had to steady. Japan's Pop Rock

couldn't close sufficiently and wound up sixth, while Red Rocks crossed the line

in ninth after his travails.

Red Rocks returned to action in Friday's Gordon Richards S. (Eng-G3)

at Sandown and proved that his Dubai run is best forgotten. Ridden by Frankie

Dettori for the first time since the Breeders' Cup, the Brian Meehan charge

settled in the back as a strong pace unfolded in the 10-furlong event. Despite

shouldering the co-top weight of 133 pounds, Red Rocks stormed home to win

decisively by two lengths.

Meehan is committed to defending his Breeders' Cup Turf title at Monmouth

Park, so we'll be keeping tabs on him all summer. Red Rocks could turn up next

in the May 27 Tattersalls Gold Cup (Ire-G1), where he could meet DYLAN THOMAS

(Ire) (Danehill). Last year's Irish Derby (Ire-G1) and Irish Champion S.

(Ire-G1) victor was a disconsolate last on the dirt in the Jockey Club Gold Cup

(G1) in October, but that left no lasting marks on the Aidan O'Brien trainee.

Dylan Thomas has been invincible in his 2007 outings, taking the April 15

Alleged S. at the Curragh and Sunday's Prix Ganay (Fr-G1) at Longchamp, the

latter in stakes-record time.

Dubai victors Vengeance of Rain and Admire Moon also reappeared over

the weekend, clashing in the 10-furlong Queen Elizabeth II Cup (HK-G1) at

Sha Tin on Sunday. Their exertions at Nad al Sheba had exacted a toll on them,

however, and neither of them could cope with the blistering finish of Hong

Kong-based VIVA PATACA (Marju), who exploded from just off the pace to

score by 1 3/4 lengths.

Trainer John Moore freely admitted that "it was probably a blessing that

(Viva Pataca) didn't race in Dubai, as he was fresher...with the edge still on

him." His long-term goal could be the Cox Plate S. (Aus-G1) in October.

The Dubai heroes were far from disgraced. Vengeance of Rain ran his heart out

for second, staying on stoutly while cutting back in trip. A few days before the

QEII, jockey Anthony Delpech had revealed that Vengeance of Rain didn't have

quite the same energy level that he had in Dubai, so his performance is all the

more admirable. Admire Moon was a close third in the QEII after breaking from

the far outside 10 post. He was definitely disadvantaged by his wide trip, and

according to the South China Morning Post, his connections were privately

displeased with Yutaka Take's ride.

Also at Sha Tin on Sunday, the Champions Mile (HK-G1) became the first

race in the new Breeders' Cup Challenge program. Under the "Win and You're In"

formula, the 32-1 shock winner ABLE ONE (Cape Cross [Ire]) earned an

automatic berth into the Breeders' Cup Mile at Monmouth. Like Viva Pataca, Able

One is trained by Moore, who said that he will consider accepting the

invitation.

I would be a bit surprised if Able One actually shows up in the Breeders'

Cup, considering that it would be a tall task to travel all the way to Monmouth

for October 27 and then be in suitable shape for a presumed bid in the Hong Kong

Mile (HK-G1) in early December. Moreover, Able One was a longshot for good

reason, as he had yet to win at anything near this level and was exiting a

last-place finish in a Group 3 event. His startling form reversal came courtesy

of a change in tactics, with Mick Kinane engineering a brilliant, front-running

ride, lulling the field to sleep through slow fractions and then kicking away in

the stretch. It remains to be seen whether he can duplicate this success.

The Champions Mile was also notable for the reappearance of a few other Dubai

runners, none of whom did well. Linngari was compromised by the early

crawl and checked in sixth in a total throw-out. Two-time defending champion

BULLISH LUCK (Royal Academy), who was coming off a respectable third in the

Dubai World Cup in his dirt debut, was likewise undone by the pace scenario and

checked in eighth.

Another Dubai superstar who is traveling far afield is ASIATIC BOY

(Not for Sale). An Argentinean-bred trained by Mike de Kock, he destroyed the

field by 9 1/2 lengths in the U.A.E. Derby (UAE-G2) on World Cup night, racking

up his fourth straight victory. Asiatic Boy's performance was extraordinary in

that he lost ground early while chasing a demanding pace, yet he galloped clear

with contemptuous ease and was seemingly unextended. De Kock will have a base at

Newmarket in England this summer, and Asiatic Boy has Royal Ascot on his agenda,

with a likely tilt at the Queen Anne S. (Eng-G1).

Also eyeing the Queen Anne is GEORGE WASHINGTON (Ire) (Danehill), the

European champion who was famously found to be subfertile after entering stud

this year and was returned to trainer O'Brien's yard. According to a report in

the Racing Post this past weekend, the brilliant miler is sending

positive signals in his work.

As much as I welcome George Washington's comeback, I deplore that Coolmore

summarily retired the three-year-old Holy Roman Emperor (Danehill) to

stud so that he could take over George's harem. A multiple Group 1 winner as a

juvenile, Holy Roman Emperor was reportedly sound and training sharply in

advance of a classic campaign. He'll never get the opportunity to take part in

these hallowed contests, and we'll never know how good he could have been this

year.

We'll certainly miss him in Saturday's Two Thousand Guineas (Eng-G1), where

he would have tried to derail the Triple Crown ambitions of the undefeated

champion TEOFILO (Galileo [Ire]). Trained by Jim Bolger, Teofilo had Holy

Roman Emperor's measure last season. A shadow was briefly cast over his

Guineas hopes when he came up sore in his right knee recently. Teofilo appears

to have recovered from that momentary setback, and Bolger remains bullish about

his charge's prospects in the one-mile classic at Newmarket. I hope he's right.

It would be marvelous to hail an unbeaten Guineas winner who aims to follow in

the footsteps of the immortal Nijinsky II, the last to sweep the English Triple

Crown -- the Two Thousand Guineas, Derby and St Leger -- in 1970.

On Sunday, Bolger will also send out the favorite in the fillies' equivalent,

the One Thousand Guineas (Eng-G1), in FINSCEAL BEO (Mr. Greeley).

Europe's champion two-year-old filly last season, the chestnut will be making

her three-year-old debut at Newmarket.

Our next installment in four weeks' time will recap the Guineas and look

ahead to the Derby at Epsom.