DUBAI WORLD CUP UPDATES!

ASSISTANT trainer Steve Blasi has sent an ominous warming to the rest of the Dubai World Cup field after insisting American horse of the Year Curlin is in better shape for Saturday's 6million showpiece following his Breeders' Cup triumph.

The four-year-old son of Smart Strike completed his final drill before Saturday's climax to the 21 million World Cup meeting in impressive style on Monday to the delight of Blasi, number two to trainer Steve Asmussen.

With exercise rider Carmen Carlos Rosas, who has been labelled by Blasi as "irreplaceable," in the saddle, Curlin breezed 800 metres and galloped out 1,000 metres.

The top-rated horse in the world has been in scintillating form after arriving in Dubai over month ago and won the Jaguar Trophy on February 28 on his eagerly anticipated UAE debut.

"He came out of his last race in good order. I believe horses between three and four (years of age) are more mature and stronger and I see that in him," said Blasi.

"Physically there is more to him that there was last year and we are excited by the chance to run in the World Cup.

"So far the horse has gone accordingly and we like how he is coming in to this race. We just have to keep our heads about how confident he is and how good a horse he is.

"We just need to keep things the same, be consistent and go with what got us here and that is what we try and do everyday."

On Saturday under the lights at Nad Al Sheba, Godolphin duo Happy Boy and Jalil will lead the challenge with last year's runner-up Premium Tap and Mike deKock's UAE Derby winner Asiatic Boy also set to be in contention.
"You still need to show each other respect," added Blasi. "They are the best of their generation from where they have been competing and we are the best of ours and when you put that together you get a great horse race."

Godolphin four-year-old Jalil, who will have three-time World Cup winning jockey Frankie Dettori in the saddle on Saturday night, has been the more impressive of the contenders in the run up after the son of Storm Cat won the Al Maktoum Challenge Round Three.

Happy Boy also won the Al Maktoum Challenge Round One, while last year's UAE triple crown winner Asiatic Boy overcame traffic problems to score an impressive victory in the Al Shindagha sprint onhis first start in 2008.

However, he followed up with a disappointing run in the Burj Nahaar, finishing third behind the Saeed bin Suroor-trained duo of Elusive Warning and Blackat Blackitten.

But despite the setback in his World Cup preparations, leading Dubai Carnival trainer De Kock has insisted Asiatic Boy is in "great shape," while Jalil has been tipped to give Curlin a "run for his money."

"Jalil and Asiatic Boy are both quality horses, they haven't done what they have done without being quality horses," added Blasi.

"The great thing about the Dubai World Cup is that it brings the horses together and we don't have a measuring stick of who they are like they don't have a measuring stick to who we are.

"What makes it a great race is that they are all racing against each other on that night and past performances don't matter when you walk into the gate."

GODOLPHIN have finalised plans for Saturday's Dubai World Cup card, switching Champion Stakes winner Literato to the Duty Free after ante-post favourite Ramonti was ruled out.

Godolphin racing managerSimon Crisford said on Monday that Ramonti, four times a Group 1 winner for the Dubai team last season, will miss the $5million event over 1m1f owing to the setback revealed earlier this month.

Crisford said: “Sadly we have run out of time with Ramonti having given him every chance to recover from the leg infection in his hind leg. As a result, he will not run in the Dubai Duty Free as planned and he will be aimed at Royal Ascot where he won last year.”

As a result, Godolphin have juggled their plans, with Literato re-routed from the 1m4f Sheema Classic to make his debut for them in the Duty Free under Frankie Dettori alongside stablemate Creachadoir, the mount of Kerrin McEvoy.

Literato has been installed as 4-1 favourite for the Duty Free withWilliam Hill, while news of his defection from the Sheema Classic prompted the same firm to cut market leader Viva Pataca to 9-4 (from 11-4).
Prix de Diane winner West Wind (McEvoy) will now represent Godolphin in the Sheema Classic, having been switched from the Duty Free. She will be joined by stablemate Gravitas (Dettori).

Dettori has been confirmed aboard Jalil in the Dubai World Cup, with McEvoy riding ex-Brazilian Happy Boy, who own the first leg of this year's Maktoum Challenge.

Diabolical (Dettori) is Saeed Bin Suroor's only runner in the Golden Shaheen, but Godolphin have three in the UAE Derby, where Ted Durcan maintains his partnership with the filly Cocoa Beach, winner of both the UAE 1,000 Guineas and Oaks. Dettori rides My Indy here, with McEvoy on Numaany.

Dettori rides Blackat Blackitten in the Godolphin Mile, where McEvoy partners Elusive Warning.

HERMAN BROWN is optimistic of proving that Mike de Kock is not the only South African trainer on the world scene by posting his first win at the Dubai World Cup meeting.

Brown saddles a trio of contenders led by flagbearer Linngari, who he is aiming at the Group 1 Dubai Duty Free.

“If Linngari shows up like last year he will be hard to beat,” said Brown of the six-year-old's second place behind Admire Moon in last year's renewal.

The son of Indian Ridge ran fourth last time out in the Group 2 Al Fahidi Fort behind Archipenko, who is trained by fellow countryman De Kock. Brown admitted that run was a disappointment to connections, but added that Linngari is looking fantastic and has come on a lot from that outing.

“We didn't want to push him in his last race and he ended up running a little flat,” said Brown.

“The Dubai Duty Free is always a competitive race, but Linngari has good international form,having won the Group 1 Premio Vittorio di Capua in Italy last October, and has a great chance.”
Brown also saddles this year's Group 2 Jebel Hatta runner-up Jay Peg in the same race and has warned against dismissing the outsider who, he feels, is “in with a live chance”.

“Jay Peg has been steadily improving throughout the carnival and is peaking just at the right time,” said Brown.

“He is really fit and sound and has been training very well in the mornings. If he gets a good draw, I think he could definitely be in with a shout.”

Brown also holds an entry in the Group 1 Dubai Sheema Classic with Sushisan, who finished fifth to Vengeance Of Rain in the race 12 months ago.

He is confident the son of Fuji Kiseki can improve on last year's effort, saying: “He is much more mature now and is in the best form we have ever seen him.”

Brown, who has been bringing horses to Dubai since 2005, has enjoyed success at the carnival, but says a victory at the headline event would mark a fantastic achievement for him as a trainer and bring the worldwide exposure he craves.

“Just being represented in a prestigious event at the Dubai World Cup meeting is a bonus, but a win would mark an all-time career high,” he said.