3 minute read
It has been a "hit the ground running" experience the last couple of days.
We've had to deal with technology problems and lost luggage. And then be on a bus at 4 am to go to Meydan for trackwork at Meydan and then over to the training track to catch the babies go through their paces for the Breeze Up Sale.
That will take place Wednesday evening and there are some Aussie interests with 4 progeny from Exceed and Excel and a couple from American Pharoah. There are 72 horses to go through the sale ring, a new activity for Dubai, and they have been very impressive both in looks and performance.
However our main mission is the flat racing and Tuesday night has been the barrier draw.
The most problematic from that has been the gate for pre-race favourite Life Is Good who got gate 1. This means that he will probably lead and whether he can stay there for the whole trip is a big question. General consensus on the bus coming back is that Country Grammer, who ran a blinder to finish second in the Saudi Cup (described as a $20 million prep race for a $12 million race) could well be in a position to pounce. He will be ridden by Frankie Dettori who knows Meydan better than anyone.
Hot Rod Charlie is the people's pick and has a wonderful group of owners who resemble the cast of Dream Horse in many ways. Charlie (NOT Chuck) is looking great on the track in the mornings – a very happy, fit and relaxed horse who will be the favourite for many but while he is competitive he may not have the fighting qualities say of Country Grammer. We have a slight bias towards him as one of his connections came on the same flight as we did from Doha and was a wonderful help with sorting out the luggage shambles (there was a case with our tag on it but it wasn't ours which turns out subsequently to have been left behind in Melbourne) and sorting sim cards for the phone etc.
Midnight Bourbon, Aero Trem and Chuwa Wizard are not without chances either. General consensus is that this is one of the best World Cup fields ever and we should be in for a great race.
The Japanese have a huge contingent in town – we will discuss them in due course. And we should mention that Rodrigo Diaz, who runs in the Gold Cup, has Aussie ownership and will carry the flag which is great as the two sprinters from South Australia just failed to qualify.