Champion American trainer Doug O'Neill has made a created a strong buzz for the Dubai World Cup Carnival with his string of 11 strong horses.
“Knock on wood—all have travelled well, we don’t have any temps at all and they all have good appetites,” said the trainer of 11 millionaires.
“They look good and we’re really happy about everything. Normally we bring one or two for the World Cup, so it’s so different with 11, but I like it".
Gr.3 San Francisco Mile winner-Blitzkrieg will contest the Gr.2 US$250,000 Al Fahidi Fort (G2) this weekend. “I had to freshen him up after the summertime. If he stays injury-free and keeps doing well, he’s a DubaiWorld Cup night kind of horse for us. The Americans seem to do best in the turf sprints, but we’ll let him tell us, said the international Group One-winning trainer.
Reddam Racing owned Prodigal son lines up for the US$175,000 Dubai Dash.
The son of Square Eddie is “coming off a nice win at Santa Anita around a bend” and will be running a straight course for the first time. However, the trainer believes that “the distance or setup here will be an issue for him.”
Parsimony Arsimony is a Dubai World Cup race hopeful. The tall, well-built grey son ofDominus lines up for the US$135,000 Jebel Ali Port.
O’Neil believes in his charge, “He has shown us in the mornings that he has Grade 1 talent, we just haven’t seen it in some of his afternoon races.”
“I’ve watched (the surroundings) here the last couple days—it’s such a European, tranquil and horse-friendly setup.I’m really excited to see how this guy performs with that.”
Fight On, the 5YO son of Into Mischief, owned by C T R Stables and Steven Keh, is being aimed at the Gr.2 Godolphin Mile on the Dubai World Cup undercard.
“He’s a cool horse who had to freshen up and had a sprint comeback race. He’s also a tough horse who should be ready to run a good 1600m here.” Said the trainer who already has one Godolphin Miletrophy in his case.
High-rated Reddam-owned Fore Left is a promising 3YO having won the Tremont (Listed) and Sunny Slope Sprints in America.
He will run in the Gr.3 UAE 2000 Guineaswith the ultimate aim of winning the Gr.2 UAE Derby. “I think he will do well and he has tremendous gate speed that will get him into position early in the race and we’re excited to see how that works out. I guess we’ll see on Feb. 6.”
Homebred Wildman Jack, owned byW.C. Racing, (which also owns his sire Goldencents), is being aimed at Gr.3 Al Shindagha Sprint.
"He’s a talented horse and we’re excited about him and seeing what he can do here."
“He’s fast and talented, but he shows it on the track. He’s given us 110% and he’s really been good here. He loves the windows here in the stalls and looking around at Meydan.”
Owned by Abbondanza Racing, Neil Haymes, Mark Schlesinger and assistant trainer Leandro Mora. Ocean Fury is likely going in the 90-105 1600m turf handicap.
The lightly raced 4YO, One Flew South and is likely to feature in either the US$175,000 Listed Dubai Sprint or the 1400m US$135,000 90-108 turf sprint handicap next month.
Truck Salesman (93) is pointing toward the 1200m dirt handicap for horses rated 90-108 on the seventh night of the DWCCarnival.
“Truck Salesman is a fast horse we brought over thinking about the dirt sprints. His first race, if all goes well, is going to be on Feb. 13, I believe. I’m looking forward to seeing how he does here,” said O’Neil.
Torosay is another talented son of Goldencentsand is like to make his UAE debut with the US$135,000handicap for horses rated90-105 at 1000m on the turf.