Dubai: Champion jockey Aaron Gryder is confident his mount Well Armed is peaking at the right time for Saturday's challenge at the Dubai World Cup.
"I feel so good about him at this moment. He's been improving steadily especially over the past seven months or so. I feel he couldn't do anything better that what he's doing right now," Gryder told Gulf News at the Nad Al Sheba racetrack yesterday.
Gryder will be onboard Well Armed, one of the six American challengers at the $6 million Dubai World Cup this Saturday.
"Over the past few months, Well Armed has shown the quality of the animal within him. And to our great satisfaction, I have fared very well with him," stated Gryder.
Amazingly successful
The California-based jockey has had an amazingly successful career. In 2007 alone, he has won 102 races from 889 mounts for earnings in excess of $5.5 million, enough to be ranked in the top 40 jockeys by earnings for last season.
Gryder comes here with a lot of experience, and has ridden in the Breeder's Cup twice, finishing ninth aboard Smokey Stover in 2007.
"It is different riding here. You cannot ride like you do in America. As a jockey, you have to be more patient here so that you can give your horse its best chance to go for the final stretch," Gryder observed.
"Basically, the jockey has to be a good passenger, getting comfortable and staying happy and easy to keep the horse in the right spot for the final stretch," Gryder noted.
This will be the fifth time that Gryder will be riding Well Armed.
"I have a good feeling about him even though Curlin is proving to be a huge favourite.
And if we need to respect Curlin, we also need to have the same respect for all the other horses as they are the best in the world," Gryder stated.
"When you are in Dubai, you have to know that you are dealing with the best horses in the world. I can only hope that our horse is able to rise up to the occasion," the jockey commented.
Two more rides
Besides Well Armed, Gryder has another two rides on World Cup night - Barbecue Eddie in the Dubai Golden Shaheen and Green Coast for UAE trainer Doug Watson.
Trained by Eoin Harty, who arrived here last week, has been pleased with the way the horse has travelled and settled in here for the big race night.
"I'm really happy," Harty said. "He can be a little tough to gallop as he's kind of a tough customer, but he looked great out there," Harty said.
