Crisford’s Quartet Head For Oaks
Head conditioner of Crisford Racing, Simon Crisford, has a high-quality group of four horses at Dubai World Cup Carnival race meeting this Thursday.
The trainer is quite a well-known face on the Dubai Racing scene as he was earlier the racing manager for Godolphin for more than two decades. He has set up a satellite yard in Dubai, poised for a game-changing Dubai World Cup Carnival.
“I believe the whole idea of racing in Dubai is very positive. The rewards are immense and it is a fantastic place to train a horse during the winter. I've been in Dubai for much of my life since 1990 and was here when we raced at Nad Al Sheba. For me, it's a second home and this was always something I've wanted to do since I started training. We started off relatively small and we will try to do the best we can. Dubai Racing Club has been incredibly helpful setting this up. It's been a great experience,” said Crisford in an interview with the Paulick Report.
The former racing manager to Godolphin (for an impressive two decades) will lead his charge Gr.3 Diomed Stakes winner Century Dream, into the Gr.2 Zabeel Mile. The 5YO son of Cape Cross will be going up some big names like Chris Waller’s Australian Comin’ Through and Gr.1 Durban July Winner Marinaresco.
The gelding will be ridden by Oisin Murphy in the Gr.1 Dubai Turf prep.
“We are really pleased with him and looking forward to the race,” Crisford said. “He’s doing absolutely fine, he’s traveled very well to Dubai and trained really well since being there. Things have gone according to plan.”
Crisford’s other pupil Starry Eyes, is having her second start on the dirt at Meydan. The Animal Kingdom filly has been entered in the Gr.3 UAE Oaks.
His third charge, African Ride bred by the secretive billionaire brothers Wertheimer and Frere (who also own the global Chanel empire) runs in the US$135,000 Handicap. The son of Candy Ride is pointed towards The Gr.2 Godolphin Mile on the Dubai World Cup undercard
And lastly, Mutawathea concluding Crisford’s quartet for the evening will be lining up in the US$135,000 1600m turf race.
Credit: Curated from a press release by Dubai Racing Club