Barbaro Updates: 548
updates are now here.
Update 3268: Positive news for the first two finishers of the Florida Derby: Big Brown Fine, Smooth Air to KY Derby.
Update 3267: Plans for the Dubai World Cup victors (thanks Sue McMullen):
DWC victor Curlin earns well-earned break
Curlin, the mightily impressive winner of the US$6million Dubai World Cup, sponsored by Emirates, will have a well-deserved rest before returning to the track for the second part of the year.
Trainer Steve Asmussen reported Curlin to be full of energy after his winning effort and said his class act would be sent to New York on April 2 to clear quarantine at Belmont Park.
On April 6, the four-year-old son of Smart Strike will be shipped to Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky, where he eventually will resume light training on the Polytrack surface.
"From there, we'll plan a course for the second half of the year," Asmussen said, adding that he, Curlin's owners and assistant trainer Scott Blasi and exercise rider Carlos Rosas will confer about what they think would be the best plan for future races.
"It will be decided collectively and based on what's in the best interest of the horse and his legacy," Asmussen said of his star, who has come out of the race without any problems.
Sun Classique, winner of the US$5million Dubai Sheema Classic, sponsored by Nakheel, is bound for Hong Kong and the UK now.
"She's absolutely fine," said her trainer Mike De Kock this morning. "We will probably go the Irridescence route, and take her to Sha Tin for the Queen Elizabeth II Cup.
"She'll then spend the summer in the UK, with the rest of my string from Dubai, and we'll think about Royal Ascot, although that might be a big ask as we won't have much time.
"There are other races like the Nassau and Sun Chariot Stakes to consider, so we don't have to rush her."
De Kock enjoyed an incredible night to remember as he also saddled the first two in the US$2million UAE Derby, sponsored by Saeed & Mohammed Al Naboodah Group, Honour Devil and Royal Vintage.
"They both have come out of the races well and done us proud," he said. "We might think about some races in America with Honour Devil and Royal Vintage could be our Dubai World Cup horse next year."
Fellow South African winner Jay Peg, who landed the US$5million Dubai Duty Free, sponsored by Dubai Duty Free, is also bound for the same Hong Kong race and then possibly the Singapore Cup.
Terry Fripp, assistant to his trainer Herman Brown, said: "The horse is fine and he pulled out in great shape this morning."
Richard Dutrow Jr was also in double form, training the winners of the US$2million Dubai Golden Shaheen, sponsored by Gulf News, and the US$1million Godolphin Mile, sponsored by Etisalat, in Benny The Bull and Diamond Stripes.
Dutrow has a lot to look forward to as he also won the Florida Derby on Saturday at Gulfstream Park with Big Brown, who now will be a leading chance for the Kentucky Derby.
"They both came out of their races in good shape, they cooled out well and they're fine this morning," said Dutrow's assistant Michelle Nevin.
Both horses are scheduled to be shipped to New York on April 2, and will remain there with the rest of trainer Dutrow's stable.
"We haven't thought of any long-range plans," Nevin said. "It's going to take (Dutrow) a couple of days to just calm down from all the excitement. He was just so happy."
It is likely that Benny the Bull will be put on a path to get him to the Breeders' Cup Sprint (Gr.1), while Diamond Stripes could eventually be aimed at the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile, she said.
Update 3266: Media reports of the two most impressive wins yesterday:
Dubai World Cup
Curlin romps by record margin
Curlin crushes competition on global stage in World Cup
Curlin Conquers the World
Florida Derby
Big Brown looms large for Derby
Big Brown Huge in Florida Derby Rout
Big Brown delivers dominant Florida Derby triumph
Update 3265: Big Brown dominated the Florida Derby overcoming the outside post and setting wickedly fast fractions in the process. A banner day for his trainer, who had two winners on the Dubai World Cup card, and a great day for horse racing in general.
Update 3264: You can watch all today's Dubai World Cup races here.
Update 3263: Another presser thanks to Sue McMullen:
Curlin crowned the best in the world
America's champion Curlin put his rivals to the sword when an emphatic winner of the Dubai World Cup, sponsored by Emirates.
Such was the sheer command and authority of his performance, his jockey Robbie Albarado can hardly have had an anxious moment as the US Champion travelled supremely well throughout the race, stalking the lead before the American rider let him go to the lead in the straight.
The race was over in a matter of strides as Curlin pulled clear of his toiling rivals to take the US$6million showpiece by seven and three quarters lengths without being fully extended.
There was a long fought out duel for second place between Johnny Murtagh on Asiatic Boy and another US challenger Well Armed and Aaron Gryder, with the runner-up spot eventually going to Asiatic Boy, but by then Curlin had flown.
AP Arrow finished fourth, but none of the others could get in a blow. The disappointment of the race was the Japan Cup Dirt winner Vermillion, fourth in the race last year, who finished last of all, with jockey Yutaka Take unable to offer any reason for the run.
Afterwards a delighted Robbie Albarado said: "It's a great privilege for me to be on him. What a horse. I just show up and ride him and get the glory but everybody works so hard behind the scenes and he does it all on raceday. It's easy when you ride a great horse like Curlin. He's not even tired."
Winning trainer Steve Asmussen was delighted with the win which he described as "awesome".
"He's spoiled us with his consistency and brilliance. Pre-race the horse was in great shape and he stepped from the stalls and just spoiled us again. Since his Breeders' Cup Classic win, he's shown us that he can do things quicker and I think he's proved that again tonight.
"For someone from a racing family to have the best horse in the world is really awesome. It's a dream come true," Asmussen said.
Success in the Dubai World Cup took Curlin's lifetime earnings to over US$8.8 million and he is unquestionably the best horse in the world.
Curlin will be shipped back to Keeneland on April 6 and no decision has yet been made on plans for the rest of the season.
Update 3262: World Cup Jockey quotes (courtesy of Sue McMullen):
Curlin, Robby Albarado: "It's a great privilege for me to be on him. What a horse. I just show up and ride him and get the glory but everybody works so hard but I am the one that's seen. He does it all on race day. It's easy when you ride a great horse like Curlin. He's not even tired."
Asiatic Boy, John Murtagh: "My horse has run a marvellous race and he fought and fought to get his second place. The winner is a monster."
Well Armed, Aaron Gryder: "He ran fantastic. He broke well and had horses on him the whole way and never really got a big breather. But at the same time he was relaxed doing it. We turned for home and he was able to sneak away a little bit and I saw Curlin on the outside of us. He fought as hard as he could for second money. He's just a very talented horse."
A.P. Arrow, Ramon Dominguez: "We were following Curlin every step of the way. We were closer to the pace than he usually is. The fractions were pretty quick and I'm sure that took a little of the run out of him."
Great Hunter, Garrett Gomez: "I was very happy with the way he was travelling. Just when we turned for home, the last 3/8 mile he gave me some good excitement. I thought I might have a chance to run them down. About the eighth pole he flattened out. He ran really well."
Lucky Find, Kevin Shea: "He ran a cracker. Two furlongs (400m) out I thought I would be fourth but the last 100m just found him out."
Jalil, Lanfranco Dettori: "He was too young. It was a year too early for him -- we will have to wait for next year."
Gloria De Campeao, Christophe Lemaire: "He ran to his very best. We were right there with Jalil who beat us last time so his run was good but just not good enough for here."
Premium Tap, Sebastian Madrid: "He doesn't seem as good as he was last year. He was never in with a chance in the race."
Sway Yed, Olivier Peslier: "He wasn't good enough in this class of company".
Kocab, Stephane Pasquier: "He's not good enough in this class."
Vermilion, Yutaka Take: "I didn't expect such a result. I don't know what happened to him. Connections have been really confident and well prepared for this race and I am sorry for them it didn't turn out better."
Update 3261: The Dubai World Cup was an exceptional showcase for horse racing at its best, with horses from around the world. Congratulations to South Africa for its three wins and also of course to the United States. Curlin, what can you say ? He won a terrific race with ease. I am a bit biased, but I think it was a great sporting decision to keep him in training as a 4yo and today was a small pay back for that decision. The day also highlighted (again) that US racing can hold its own on the world stage without the need for racing medication. Awesome show all around.
I did spend the morning at Fair Hill catching up with people. Another good friend (Andy Durnin) was also visiting so we got together and after visiting Fair Hill, Prizzios (breakfast) we went to watch the World Cup races. A great morning (It looked like Better Talk Now had traffic trouble when making his run).
Update 3260: Excellent racing today in Dubai (Spotlight shines on Curlin on Dubai World Cup day and Better Talk Now better be ready in tough Sheema Classic) and Florida (Florida Derby draws mix of experienced stakes horses, rising talent). HRTV and TVG are both carrying the Dubai World Cup, ESPN2 is carrying the Florida Derby.
HRTV takes its weekly look at the murky Kentucky Derby picture: Target Louisville: March 27, 2008.
A very nice story that could have developed very differently (second story): Medaglia d'Oro's sibling rescued.
Safe home to all brave horses who put hooves to track today all over the world...on or off the boards, just be safe and know that I love you all!
Posted by: Nancy in CT at March 29, 2008 1:16 PM