News

Dubai riches appeal Down Under

18th Jan 2009

Dubai Racing Club - Press Release - 18 January 2009

The 2005 Dubai Duty Free victory of Elvstroem, whose half-brother Haradasun won the Group 1 Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot on his second and final run in Europe last year, remains Australia’s Nad Al Sheba highlight.

However, who can forget the impact Tony Noonan had when saddling their first Carnival runners in 2007 with Benedetti and Smart and Mighty winning their first three races between them.

Leading Australian trainer Danny O’Brien is hoping to repeat the trick with Valedictum, fourth in last Saturday’s Chester Manifold Stakes at Flemington and Barbaricus was unlucky when unplaced over a trip on the short side.

Both are set to fly to Dubai on Tuesday and one will run on each 5th and 6th February.

Valedictum is a Group 1 winner, while Barbaricus was third in the Group 1 Caulfield Cup before a narrow second in the Group 1 LKS Mackinnon Stakes and O’Brien explains that prize money is a major reason behind the raid: “It is impossible to ignore; prize money in Australia has been static for five years so it makes sense and I intend to go to Dubai every year now.”

Barbaricus, who could develop into a Dubai Sheema Classic contender on Dubai World Cup night, will run over 1777m, 2000m and 2400m, while Valedictum, will concentrate on handicaps around 1600m.

Stable companion Master O’Reilly, winner of the 2007 Caulfield Cup, will have two or three more starts at home culminating in the Australian Cup on March 7 before shipping to Dubai for the $5million Dubai Sheema Classic on Dubai World Cup night where he is likely to be joined by multiple Group 1 winner Weekend Hussler, who is being aimed at the Dubai Duty Free.

Trainer Ross McDonald visited Dubai in November and was impressed by the facilities. “We checked it all out and it all looks good for him," he said.

Australian sprint sensation, Apache Cat, is another possible Dubai World Cup night runner with the Dubai Golden Shaheen his target.