Mcpeek Invests In Dubai
American trainer Kenny McPeek is no stranger to the shores of Dubai. In 2004, he took Hard Buck across the world twice to finish second in the Dubai Sheema Classic Gr.1
Kenny has discovered and/or trained such quality racehorses as Kathmanblu, Dream Empress, Tejano Run, Harlan’s Holiday, Hard Buck (BRZ), Repent, Take Charge Lady, Sweet Talker, Leah's Secret, She’s A Devil Due, Wild Desert, Einstein (BRZ), Prince Arch, Noble's Promise, Sarava and Curlin, among others.
Led now by the aptly named Senior Investment (above), he is set to invade the Dubai World Cup Carnival with a trio of intriguing prospects, marking him as the first American trainer to come to the Carnival as early as January with the full intention of campaigning throughout the two-month affair.
His sights are now set on the DWC Carnival and he brings three diverse prospects who appear thoughtfully, if not cleverly, selected. Senior Investment is a consistent Gr.3 winner who should benefit from the longer dirt races available at Meydan, especially the 1900m and 2000m affairs.
Classic-placed when third in the 2017 Preakness Stakes Gr.1, the son of Discreetly Mine recently returned from a five-month layoff to finish third in a 1700m conditioned allowance and then fifth in the 2800m Marathon Gr.2 over Breeders’ Cup weekend. He has a trio of victories from 19 starts, but has dodged no one in the process competing in eight graded stakes (three Gr.1).
Similar to Senior Investment is Harlan Strong, a son of McPeek-conditioned Harlan’s Holiday who has developed deliberately for the operation over 17 starts and two seasons. Bred in Argentina, he maintains a positive trajectory, especially in grass races at and beyond 1800m and possibly as far as 3200m. Earlier this season, he was second in the Louisville Handicap Gr.3 behind banner-mate Vettori Kin.
The son of Not For Sale the sire of 2006 UAE Derby winner Asiatic Boy romped in June’s Estrellas Juvenile Gr.1, covering 1600m in 1:34.01. “He’s a southern hemisphere 3-year-old and we bought him privately out of the Estrellas,” McPeek explained. “He has been with us for a few months now and I think that’s important. The difficulty of going to Dubai is high, but a horse who’s had time to acclimate better to our training has a better chance of doing well once we go there and that’s what we’re trying to do.
Fern Circle’s principal is American billionaire businessman and philanthropist Paul Fireman, who led Reebok to becoming one of the most successful shoe companies in the world in the 1980s and 1990s before eventually selling it to Adidas. With 31 winners from 198 starts alone or in partnership and playing at the higher end Fern Circle has quickly made its red, white and blue silks known in stakes across North America.
Credit: Dubai Racing Club