Dubai: As many as 14 of America's best horses are set to fly from the United States to the UAE tomorrow to compete at the $21million Dubai World Cup programme.
Two of the more interesting prospects - Grade 1 winner Idiot Proof, who will race in the $2 million Dubai Golden Shaheen (Gr 1), sponsored by Gulf News, and Massive Drama, who will try to make history as the first American-based winner of the $2 million UAE Derby (Gr2), sponsored by Saeed & Mohammad Al Naboodah Group - posted workouts on Saturday.
Idiot Proof, who set a Santa Anita Park record for six furlongs in 1:07.57 when winning the Ancient Title Stakes (Gr1) last fall and who has finished second and third in two stakes starts this year, worked an easy six furlongs in 1:15, handily, at Santa Anita for trainer Clifford Sise Jr. The workout time by the four-year-old son of Benchmark was 12th fastest of 15 at the distance.
Perfection
Massive Drama went the same distance at Gulfstream Park in 1:15.60 for new trainer Dale Romans, who took over from Bob Baffert when owner Ahmad Zayat decided to move his horses away from California's synthetic racing surfaces. The time was third fastest of five at the distance.
"He finished strong and did just what we wanted him to do," said Romans on the Dubai Racing Club newswire.
"We wanted to get him one good tightener before we ship." Since his previous Dubai travel and training pla worked to perfection with 2005 Dubai World Cup winner Roses in May, Romans said he will stick to the same basic scenario for Massive Drama, a burly colt by Kafwain. "We're not doing anything different," Romans said.
Destiny
"All the advice we got going over there with Roses in May was get all your training done before you get over there. That's what today's work was all about."
Massive Drama is one of seven horses slated to fly out of Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport in Florida on Tuesday evening.
Also on the Florida flight will be A. P. Arrow, who will try to win the $6 million Dubai World Cup, sponsored by Emirates, for the heirs of the late Allen Paulson, who bred and raced inaugural Dubai World Cup winner Cigar.
The most famous and most accomplished of the American runners, Horse of the Year Curlin, has been training in Dubai since late February for his brush with destiny in the Dubai World Cup.
The most famous and most accomplished of the American runners, Horse of the Year Curlin, has been training in Dubai since late February...
