DUBAI Thursday 5th February

Why is shea not riding asiatic boy??

The plan is to have Murtagh riding on World Cup night, Shea will ride Hounour Devil?

Puffin - All the best with Noddy tonight. About to watch the race and noticed that he is still noding

I think he nodded off to sleep in the race....definately not the same horse we had here...will have to get him checked out thoroughly tomorrow as there has to be a problem of some sort.....

All the best Puffin.

My Indy takes Maktoum Challenge for Godolphin


MY INDY became only the second horse to win the first two rounds of the Maktoum Challenge as he held the late challenge of a resurgent Happy Boy to take the Group 3 highlight of the fourth night of the 2009 Dubai Carnival.

The Godolphin winner was cut to 8-1 for the Dubai World Cup after scoring by three-quarters of a length, much to the delight of Sheikh Mohammed.
Sheikh Mohammed



"He is a nice horse who has improved a lot over the summer and obviously we are very pleased with that," said the Sheikh.

"The World Cup is a long way off and we will certainly think about it.

"We will see how he is in the morning and map out a plan for him but it is far too early to say we will aim at the World Cup. But we will certainly consider it."

The Godolphin Mile offers a potential alternative target on dirt for the winner.

Although My Indy was sent off 5-6 favourite in Britain, there was to be no repeat of the runaway success in the first leg as he bravely held 33-1 shot Happy Boy, who at last showed some of the form that enabled him to win the first round of the Maktoum Challenge for Brazil in 2008.



Dubai regular Asiatic Boy, runner-up to Curlin in last year's World Cup, raced a triflekeenly after a layoff and was softened up by a duel for the lead with outsider Military Power.

Dettori actually led early on before deciding the pace was too generous after a furlong and wisely reining back a shade to track the speed.He challenged and passed Asiatic Boy two furlongs out and ran on strongly, although both the placed horses were closing in determined fashion at the line.

The Godolphin team of Dettori and Bin Suroor are leading the way at this year'scarnival and it did not take them long to follow up as Hatta Fort just held the late challenge of Imbongi in the Marju Trophy, a 6½f turf handicap.

Bin Suroor now has seven winners at the carnival, one more than Dettori.

Dubai World Cup betting

Blue Square: 9-4 Albertus Maximus, 9-2 Colonel John, 5 Daiwa Scarlet, 6 Asiatic Boy, 8 My Indy, 10 Kane Hekili, 12 Honour Devil, Well Armed.

Puffin - Maybe he likes the right hand turn Greyville more than the left of Dubai and Kenilworth. I wasnt overly excited with how he was placed. Every time he started to make a bit of ground he got crowded out by runners and went backwards again.In fact if you watch the race again you will notice that he made progress three times got crowded and went backwards again. He has all the stamina in the world as proven in the Gold Cup and he should be kept off the rail even 3 or 4 wide and a little more handy. This will give him a better chance in my view. This is how Greg road him in the Gold Cup and it worked. He doesnt seem to like the crowds too much.

Jaypeg also had an up and down sort of Dubai season which eraned him the 50/1 status last year in the big race. we all know what he went on to do. Have faith he will bounce back if there is nothing physically wrong.

Both sound as a bell.....Peg needs to run himself fit and we'll put Links over some more ground.....PEG fri 19th....

Good news Puffin.