Well Armed, Indian Blessing work toward Dubai targets

Well Armed "thrives" in Dubai (Dubai Racing Club) At Nad al Sheba on Monday, Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1) entrant WELL ARMED (Tiznow) worked a half-mile in :49, according to trainer Eoin Harty. The Grade 1 winner looked keen as he commenced the work into a stiff head wind with jockey Aaron Gryder, who customarily works the horse, aboard. "I got what I expected," said Harty, who watched the work from the grandstand. "There was a pretty strong head wind." Harty took the opportunity to respond to the charge that Well Armed is a synthetic specialist because his most important wins have come over artificial surfaces in California. "He has a win and a third in (four) outs at (Nad al Sheba); that's pretty good," Harty said. "I think he is a top runner on the dirt."

The trainer also remarked that Well Armed feels at home in Dubai.

"He enjoys his environment here," Harty said. "He thrives over here."

World Cup contender ARSON SQUAD (Brahms) turned in a five-furlong drill

beneath assistant trainer Michelle Nevin, who said that the move was "just to

open up his lungs." The gelding was officially credited with a half-mile spin in

:54.10.

"He went very easily and he was very happy with himself," Nevin reported.

Jim Cornes of the Dubai Racing Club clocked Arson Squad's last quarter in

:26.21, which Nevin said was just what she and trainer Rick Dutrow had been

looking for with the workout.

Nevin also guided Dubai Duty Free (UAE-G1) threat KIP DEVILLE (Kipling) as he

galloped around Nad al Sheba with his typical enthusiasm. Plans call for the

six-year-old to blow out on Tuesday.

Likely World Cup favorite ALBERTUS MAXIMUS (Albert the Great) galloped 1 1/4

miles after standing quietly and surveying Nad al Sheba from the finish line.

With exercise rider Rob Massey aboard, Albertus Maximus exhibited eagerness

with a strong stride, evoking memories of Sheikh Hamdan's 2007 Dubai World Cup

winner Invasor (Arg) as he turned his head to look around while galloping.

Massey reported that Albertus Maximus felt "awesome," according to assistant

trainer Trish McLaughlin.

"He said (Albertus Maximus) was watching himself on the big screen as he went

past it; he was just taking everything in," McLaughlin said. "He's been great

since he's been here. He hasn't missed a beat."

Casino Drive goes for a stroll (Dubai Racing Club) Japan's hopeful CASINO DRIVE (Mineshaft) had a gentle outing over the dirt course under his exercise rider Naruhito Kasai.  "Our horse has been in good condition since he arrived in Dubai." said Nobutaka Tada, the racing manager for trainer Kazuo Fujisawa. "He's eating very well, and there are no concerns about him so far."  In Dubai Golden Shaheen (UAE-G1) news, two-time champion filly INDIAN BLESSING (Indian Charlie) delighted her connections with a half-mile work in :47.80, according to the time clocked by assistant trainer Jimmy Barnes. Exercise rider Janell Gruss kept her close to the rail and described the work from her perspective as "perfect." "I couldn't ask for anything else," Gruss said. "She just scoots over this surface. She did that super easy and she galloped out strong."

The Dubai Racing Club reported that Indian Blessing zipped three furlongs in

:33.94, with her final quarter in a brisk :22.67.

Barnes observed the workout from a perch in the Maktoum Grandstand. As he did

on Sunday, when Indian Blessing galloped, Barnes delivered a live account of the

filly's every movement to two-time Dubai World Cup-winning trainer Bob Baffert,

who is in Southern California, via mobile phone.

"He was very pleased," Barnes said. "She goes over this surface really well;

she just loves the dirt, so that's a plus for her. Although she's raced well

over the synthetic tracks, the dirt is a better surface for her. She just looks

more comfortable."

Although Indian Blessing has never run a straightaway six furlongs such as

she will do in the Golden Shaheen, Barnes said, "It shouldn't bother her,"

adding that the field could go more quickly as some jockeys might not be able to

gauge the pace without any turns. Speed is Indian Blessing's forte as she has

been on the lead by the half-mile mark in most of her races, with the fractional

time in her last five starts never slower than :45.33.