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Nad Al Sheba Monday trackwork and Dubai news |
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3/21/2006 9:16:46 AM |
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 Charging down the stretch at Nad al Sheba Racecourse, Choctaw Nation surged under the finish line as the first of several American horses to breeze on Monday morning, getting 1,200 metres in an official 1:12.88.
Trainer Jeff Mullins said he was very pleased with the move, adding that he clocked the six-year-old gelding in about 1:11 in what will serve as his final serious workout prior to Saturday’s US$6,000,000 Dubai World Cup (Gr.1), sponsored by Emirates.
Perhaps more importantly, Mullins said he timed Choctaw Nation’s last furlong in “:10 and change” after a first eighth-mile in :14, indicating that he finished strongly; official time for his last quarter was :23.40.
Known as a powerful closer who likes to chase a fast pace, Choctaw Nation will be trying to improve on his third-place effort in last year’s World Cup in what will be his first start for Sheikh Rashid bin Mohammed al Maktoum.
Mullins discounted any extra expectations in this first step of what he hopes will develop into a regular working relationship with Sheikh Rashid. “I don’t feel any pressure,” he said.
David Romero Ocampo, an exercise rider for Mullins’ California colleague Doug O’Neill, was aboard Choctaw Nation for the workout.
Mullins also sent Robert Bone’s Captain Squire to the track for a scorching half-mile breeze that he timed in “:45 and change” prior to the seven-year-old Flying Chevron gelding’s start in the US$2,000,000 Dubai Golden Shaheen (Gr.1), sponsored by Gulf News. An official time was not available.
Both his horses have an advantage in that they have traveled to and run in Dubai previously, Mullins said.
Captain Squire finished third in the 2003 Dubai Golden Shaheen, and that may give him an edge over four American rivals, including Grade 1 winner Proud Tower Too and speedy Thor’s Echo, in this year’s prospective 14-horse field. The Golden Shaheen is a 1,200-metre (approximately six furlongs) sprint out of a chute and straight down the Nad al Sheba stretch.
“Proud Tower Too and Thor’s Echo have never run a straight three-quarters or traveled this far,” Mullins noted.
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