LAVA MAN (Slew City Slew), a Grade 1 winner on both turf and dirt, will return to the green on Saturday in the $5 million Dubai Duty Free (UAE-G1) at Nad al Sheba. On Sunday, to prepare for that event, the Doug O'Neill-trained former claimer galloped over the turf course at Nad al Sheba for the first time.

"He loves it here," said exercise rider Tony Romero, who was aboard for the gallop. "He's doing really good."

The dark bay made his 2007 bow a two-length victory in the Sunshine Millions Turf before switching to the dirt to take the Santa Anita H. (G1) last out. It wasn't the first time Lava Man has flip-flopped between surfaces. Last year, he captured his first Big 'Cap, then moved to the green to take the Khaled S. and Charles Whittingham Memorial H. (G1), before moving back to the dirt to win the Hollywood Gold Cup (G1), Pacific Classic (G1) and Goodwood Breeders' Cup H. (G2).

The only knock against Lava Man is that he has yet to win outside of his native California, finishing seventh in the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) to end his five-year-old season and running 11th when flying to Tokyo for the Japan Cup Dirt (Jpn-G1) in 2005.

To combat that issue, O'Neill has tried to arrange for Lava Man to feel at home in Dubai, bringing over all the members of the Hollywood Park team who regularly cares for the dark bay.

Multiple Grade 1 hero ENGLISH CHANNEL (Smart Strike), also headed for the Dubai Duty Free, galloped on Sunday and is scheduled to train Monday night under the lights at Nad al Sheba to get a feel for the conditions of the 1 1/8-mile test.

"He hasn't run under the lights before," said assistant trainer Ginny DePasquale after talking on the phone with conditioner Todd Pletcher. "We'll gallop him."

DePasquale is in charge of Pletcher's five-horse string in Dubai until he arrives later in the week and said that John Velazquez will be aboard English Channel in the Duty Free.


All five Pletcher runners traveled to Dubai in good condition, although $5 million Dubai Sheema Classic (UAE-G1) hopeful HOST (Chi) (Hussonet) developed a slight cough following the trip. According to DePasquale, the seven-year-old's blood work has shown no problems. In 2006, Host ran fourth in the Dubai Duty Free and has made just one start since, finishing second by a head in the Canadian Turf H. (G3) on February 3. He'll be facing stablemate HONEY RYDER (Lasting Approval), who was second by a neck when taking on the boys for the first time in the Gulfstream Park Breeders' Cup Turf S. (G1) last out. In the Sheema, Velazquez will have the call on Host while Garrett Gomez has been tabbed to pilot Honey Ryder.

Grade 2 victor NIGHTMARE AFFAIR (Out of Place) appeared in good spirits Sunday morning as he galloped around Nad al Sheba in advance of the $2 million Dubai Golden Shaheen (UAE-G1). The gray six-year-old, who was third in both the Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) and Frank J. DeFrancis Memorial Dash S. (G1) during the fall, arrived Wednesday night and was making his first appearance on the course.

"He feels like he owns the racetrack," exercise rider Chris Morales said. "He's just showing off."

Though trainer and co-owner Gary Marano was delayed in leaving the United States, co-owner Ron Borgese, his wife and parents are already in Dubai to cheer on their runner.

"He looks like he's wearing the crown already; he looks like a champ," Borgese said.
Florida-based jockey Eddie Castro will also be making the trip to Dubai to ride Nightmare Affair.

Shaheen hopeful KELLY'S LANDING (Patton) has adjusted well to his new surroundings, but some different adjustments might be in the future for the Eddie Kenneally charge. It turns out that the six-year-old gelding is so big that Dubai racing officials want him to visit the Nad al Sheba starting gate to make sure they won't have to make some minor adjustments in the stall he's assigned in the six-furlong Shaheen.