$12 Million group 1 Dubai World Cup
William Buick has a glittering book of rides on the April 5 Dubai World Cup card and spoke of glowing terms after partnering his Dubai World Cup (G1) mount Rattle N Roll on Thursday morning.
Godolphin's number-one rider was mobbed by the international press at trackwork before and after partnering his big-race ride on Meydan's dirt surface, with both the jockey and American trainer Kenny McPeek delighted with his enthusiastic workout.
"He felt good," Buick said. "Kenny was keen for me to sit on him and Danny who rides him every morning says he's been taking him on a bit. He's fresh and he felt very comfortable on the track. He was quite strong with me this morning, but he feels super. He's a really good ride to pick up and I'm looking forward to it."
Rattle N Roll was an eye-catching fourth in the Saudi Cup (G1) last time and Buick is hopeful more forceful tactics can see him close the gap on the winner Forever Young, who is a strong favourite on Saturday, and runner-up Ushba Tesoro, who won the Dubai World Cup in 2023.
"He ran a really good race in the Saudi Cup," he said. "In another few strides he would have picked up third. I think the extra furlong in the Dubai World Cup will suit him and he's got a good draw in two, so hopefully he'll be able to position himself just in behind the speed. That's going to be a big help to him.
"He's a closer and I don't think you can take that away from him, but if I can try and sit that length or two closer in touch it will help him. It's an ideal scenario and we'll have a plan, but the most important thing is that he seems very happy. I got a good feeling off him this morning."
He added: "It's an amazing race. It was a privilege to have won it in 2015 and every year you want to get a ride in the race with a good chance and that's just what I've got."
$6,000,000 Group 1 Dubai Sheema Classic
Calandagan ended last year as joint-fifth highest-rated in the end-of-year Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings, just 3lb behind world champions Laurel River and City Of Troy.
The Aga Khan's hombres son of Gleneagles owed his lofty position to running two huge performances in defeat to City Of Troy and Annmat, both over 2000m.
Now trainer Francis Graffard has elected to step Calandagan back up to the 2410m of the Sheema Classic, the same trip as when roaring away to a six-length success at Royal Ascot last June.
"He did surprise me and I think he surprised a lot of people that day," Graffard told a media conference at Meydan. "He slept at the back of the field and quickened very strongly before keeping going. It was a very strong performance at a very strong meeting.
Graffard added: "We decided to go to York and to drop back in distance and it was a fabulous run that day.
"It was his first attempt in a Group 1 and it was a very strong performance.
I think the first and second broke the track record that day so it's a shame that City Of Troy was there."
Calandagan has been drawn in stall two, though Graffard said he will "learn from my mistake" and not ask Mickael Barzalona to exploit the inside berth on a horse that "needs to get into his own rhythm."
Graffard said: "Hopefully he doesn't find himself too far back but I'm not going to make the same mistake as at Ascot and use the draw to get too close to the pace and force him.
"We will ride him for himself and if he's relaxed, we know he has a chance to come home strongly."
Graffard said he doesn't expect Calandagan to race in France this season but he will have to clock up plenty of international experience to get anywhere near the exploits of Godolphin globetrotter Rebel's Romance.
William Buick has formed a unique relationship with Rebel's Romance and the seven-year-old will go in search of history on Saturday when he bids to become the first back-to-back winner of the Dubai Sheema Classic.
Rebel's Romance was not among the highest-profile challengers for the $6 million contest last year, but would add three more Group 1 wins to his resume in the Champions & Chater Gold Cup in Hong Kong, Preis von Europa in Germany and Breeders' Cup Turf in the United States.
"He's the defending champion and he's had a very similar prep this year winning the race in Qatar," the rider said of his victory in the H H Amir Trophy last time. "I saw him in Newmarket and he looked great and he's shipped over well again.
"His CV is remarkable. I don't think people quite realise how hard it is to travel a horse and compete in those races at that level. It's not an easy thing to do. It shouldn't be underestimated. It's amazing and he seems to be getting better."
Rebel's Romance will face the best from Europe and Japan when he bids for a seventh Group 1 victory on Saturday, with Calandagan, Giavellotto and Shin Emperor in opposition. Nevertheless, Buick is confident his mount will deliver another world-class performance.
He said: "It's a tough race, as it always is, and you've got the best horses from around the world. We always look forward to him running and he's super consistent. He's always going to do his best."
Trainer Owen Burrows and owner Ahmad Al Shaikh of Green Team Racing feel an improved performance can be expected from Deira Mile after his reappearance in Saudi Arabia last month, in which he was sixth in the Red Sea Turf Handicap over 3000m.
The colt, who was fourth in last year's Derby at Epsom and in the Doncaster St Leger, exercised on the turf course just after 7am.
"It wasn't anything serious, we just wanted him to have a leg stretch and we thought it would be good for him to have some experience of the course," Burrows said.
"It's all been going well. I'd like to think he'll come on for the run in Saudi. He was a bit keen and didn't really see the race out over that extended trip.
"We've dropped him back in trip to a mile and a half [2400m], I've always thought between that and a mile and six [2800m] was the sort of trip he wanted.
"The opposition is very strong but hopefully he can pick up some of the pieces."
Al Shaikh said: "He's in good form. He's more ready than Saudi Arabia. They have the Aga Khan and Godolphin horses [Calandagan and Rebel's Romance] as favourites but in my opinion the race is very open. Deira Mile can be top four, I have confidence in that."
2024 Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks) winner Cervinia brings different formlines to the race and is the biggest of five interesting rides for multiple champion jockey Christophe Lemaire.
"She's powerful, she's got the stamina and for me she is a true Group 1 mare," Lemaire told a Dubai World Cup press conference, before going on to complete furthe rmedia commitments in English, Japanese, French and Spanish.
"You have to forget about her last run. I don't think she was in racing mode, she was still on vacation.
"When she came back after a long break she was not as good as she could be. With a bad track [surface] and a very slow pace, she was not comfortable and she couldn't run well.
"For sure in Dubai, on this beautiful track, she will be more competitive.
"I saw her working yesterday and what I saw really makes me think she will run much better than last time."
$5,000,000 Group 1 Dubai Turf
Lemaire watched both Cervinia and Dubai Turf contender Brede Weg breeze on turf from his vantage point in the grandsatnds on Wednesday and was extremely positive about the latter's chances as well.
A Grade 1 winner in October 2023 in the Quen Elizabeth II Cup, Brede Weg arrives here off a promising run in the Grade 3, and was only a length away in fourth on her return to action at Tokyo in February:
"I also saw her work yesterday and she is a very talented filly," said Lemaire. "I think the mile was a bit short for her [last time] so the extra 200 metres will suit her.
"She's got a very good turn of foot and it will be her second race of the year. As with Cervinia, she should perform very well.
"Even in such a competitive field she has a very good chance in my opinion."
Buick believes Nations Pride continues to be underestimated as the six-year-old chases a fifth Group 1 win in the Dubai Turf.
A winner at the highest level in Germany (twice), America and Canada, Nations Pride will have to take on one Hong Kong superstar Romantic Warrior in Saturday's contest.
However, Buick is hopeful his ride can improve on a course-and-distance success in the Group 2 Singspiel Stakes success over the same course and distance last month.
"He's had a nice break since his last run," he said at trackwork on Thursday morning. "I think we can expect a little bit of improvement in him.
"We've got Romantic Warrior in the race and he's going to be a tough opponent, as well as others.
"Nations Pride always does his best. He's uncomplicated and he's got genuine Group 1 form. He doesn't quite get the credit he deserves, but he's taking on one of the world's best."
$2,000,000 Group 1 Dubai Golden Shaheen
Eight-time UAE champion trainer Doug Watson is hoping the ever-reliable Colour Up can upset his odds in a red-hot running of the Dubai Golden Shaheen.
The seven-year-old's sole below-par run came in the contest last year but he has been remarkably consistent otherwise, with a wind operation proving the catalyst to three consecutive runner-up efforts to Tuz this season.
He finished fourth to that rival in the Mahab Al Shimaal last time and while Watson admits it will be tough to reverse the form, he is confident he can run up to his best from draw two.
"That's a very tough race with Tuz and Straight No Chaser in there," Watson said. "He's performed well for us, he's never missed a check except for World Cup night last year. He had a little breathing issue so they did some surgery and it seems to have worked well. I can imagine him being in the placings."
As well as Colour Up, Watson will be represented by Rafid in the UAE Derby, Oasis Boy in the Godolphin Mile and First Classs in the Kahayla Classic.
"All four of my World Cup night runners are training extremely well," he said. "I'm very happy with their condition.
"We got our final works in on Sunday, apart from First Classs, who ran recently. The other three worked very well, nothing special, but good works for them. We wouldn't have wanted to do too much with them. They're bouncing, on and off the track."
Connections of two of Japans's leading chances in the race had contrasting opinions about how they had fared 24 hours earlier in Wednesday's barrier draw.
Remake will break from stall eight of 12, with stable representative Masafuni Matsuda observing: "His draw is between American Stage and Straight No Chaser. It is a very good draw. I will leave it to Frankie [Dettori]."
Though housed next door, Yoshito Yahagi was less enamoured of stall seven for American Stage: "An inside draw would have been ideal but this is not too bad."
$1,500,000 Group 1 Al Quoz Sprint
Last year's Group 1 winner of the Lockinge Stakes and the Group 2 Lennox Stakes at Goodwood, Audience heads for the 1200m of the Al Quoz Sprint sponsored by Azizi Development.
The six-year-old is considered highly versatile and was watched in a canter around the synthetic training track by representatives from Cheveley Park Stud, his owner-breeder.
"It's Audience's first time abroad but he's taken it all in," joint-trainer Thady Gosden said.
"He won the Lockinge over a mile [1600m] last year, and seven furlongs [1400m] at Goodwood and he's always had a great deal of speed. You see the build he has, he's a very strong horse with a quick action and plenty of gears. The six furlongs here should suit him well.
"It's very much an open race, as with every race on Dubai World Cup night, they're pretty deep and strong fields, but we'll see how he goes."
The best could yet to come for Believing according to William Buick, who has received the last-minute call-up to ride the mare in Saturday's Al Quoz Sprint.
The consistent five-year-old came close to Group 1 success in a demanding season last year, recording near-misses in the Nunthorpe and Flying Five Stakes. She also competed admirably in both the major sprint prizes at Royal Ascot and the Prix de l'Abbaye.
She will run for the first time since being purchased by Coolmore on Saturday, with the organisation's retained rider Ryan Moore in action in Australia. Buick was only too happy to pick up the ride and is optimistic she can build on last season's heroics after a winter off.
"I was fortunate to come into the ride," he said at trackwork on Thursday. "I spoke to George [Boughey, trainer] about her and he seems very happy with her. She's been knocking on the door in Group 1s now and she probably deserves to win one.
"I think the fast ground and the flat six furlongs will really suit her. Sprinters at her age develop and improve physically and she looks like she's filled out."
$1,000,000 Group 2 UAE Derby
Though there was more than three lengths between them on their most recent outing in the Grade 3 Hyacinth Stakes in February, Christophe Lemaire is hopeful a previous meeting with Luxor Cafe is a more reliable guide to the chances of Japan's Admire Daytona.
"He has very good form because if you go back two starts, the horse that beat him is probably the best three-year-old on Dirt in Japan, and maybe a contender for the Kentucky Derby.
"We were only beaten a s a nose and broke the record time for the track, which shows he has potential."
Lemaire added: "Last time he was a bit unlucky when he slightly missed the kick and suffered a lot of kickback.
"It was a good experience even if he wasn't in the best spot to win the race.
"Maybe it will help him on Saturday. He's a nice ride who is able to find his rhythm easily and keep that rhythm as well."
$1,000,000 Group 2 Dubai Gold Cup
Trawlerman casts his net for a third time at the Dubai Gold Cup sponsored by Al Tayer Motors in an attempt to build on a stellar career.
The John and Thady Gosden stable, so regularly in the spotlight at this meeting, saddled Trawlerman to finish a solid third 12 months ago before he ran excellent races in behind the divisional champion Kyprios in the Gold Cup and at Champions Day at Ascot.
The Godolphin homebred cantered alone on the synthetic training track just after 8am on Thursday.
"Trawlerman has been here before and knows his way around, he's a very laid back character anyway and has taken it all well," said Thady Gosden after watching the gelding going through the motions.
"He's an older horse now, those staying races can be pretty hard races in general, so the less you run them hopefully the fresher you can go to each one.
"He ran a great race last year, and again through the season back in the UK, and hopefully he's in with a good chance."
Buick added: "It was a super run last year and he probably took his form to another level after that as he was just beaten in the Gold Cup by Kyprios and then finished third to him in the Long Distance Cup.
"He's in good form. John and Thady seem happy with him. He ticks a lot of boxes."
The Dubai Gold Cup has been won by Britain, Ireland, France and Japan and there is a leading chance Germany could be added to the honour roll on Saturday with Straight.
The dual Group 2 winner came within a neck of defeating the Dubai Sheema Classic-bound Rebel's Romance in the Preis von Europa in September and caught the eye when a running-on third to Shin Emperor in the Neom Turf Cup in Saudi Arabia in February.
While those races came over intermediate distances, connections have decided that now is the time to step up to staying trips and are looking forward to seeing how he fares against a new crop of horses.
Holger Faust, representing Straight's owner/breeder Gestut Karlshof, has been pleased with the horse since arriving in Dubai, and on Thursday he stepped up from a series of routine canters on the main dirt track to have a hitout over the Meydan turf.
"We're very happy with him," Faust said. "We were a bit scared because of the hot weather, but he ran well in Saudi and he seems to enjoy it. Whether he can handle the temperature on the day we don't know as he's never run in weather like it, but I think it will be a factor for all horses.
"He was beaten by Shin Emperor, Calif and [scratched runner] Al Riffa in Saudi and while we expected him to beat Calif and Al Riffa in the Sheema Classic, we thought he may not be able to beat Shin Emperor.
"Even if he could beat him, there are still better horses like Rebel's Romance, Calandagan, Danon Decile and Giavellotto in the race. It might be one of the best Sheema Classics ever and we didn't want to come and run like a 50-1 outsider.
"We came up with the idea to run him over two miles because we were looking at the field and he's the second highest-rated horse in the race, two points behind Trawlerman and level with Double Major. He's got the class to compete with those horses, so there's only a question mark about the distance."
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