By Emma Berry
Thursday morning at Meydan was billed as Breakfast With The Stars but the real star of the show was out way before the coffee was brewing, with Dubai World Cup favourite Arrogate (Unbridled's Song) appearing on the main track with Dana Barnes just after 5am.
A huddle of connections, which included Bob, Jill and Bode Baffert and Juddmonte's Garrett O'Rourke, looked on as Arrogate had a practice run with the starting stalls before heading out for a sedate canter on the dirt, looking relaxed with his head hold low. As the valuable colt left the track after an uneventful exercise, his trainer let out a sigh of relief, saying, “One more day, just one more day.”
The nerves may be jangling in the Arrogate camp but Baffert, ever the professional, soon recomposed himself to spend the next hour chatting with the media and posing for selfies as he waited for Barnes to bring Hoppertunity (Harlan's Holiday) to the main track for a very similar exercise.
The amiable O'Rourke, who patiently answered umpteen question about his role in the purchase of Arrogate while skillfully deflecting attempts to compare him to Juddmonte's other superstar, Frankel (GB), added, “Everything seems well with [Arrogate]. He seems to be pushing all the right buttons and enjoying his celebrity status. He had a nice, easy swagger this morning.”
The army of owners, trainers and their representatives in town continues to grow, with Georges Rimaud and Nemone Routh both having arrived overnight to see the Aga Khan's duo of Zarak (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Vazirabad (Fr) (Manduro {Ger}) exercise together, with the imposing Zarak, an intended starter in the G1 Dubai Turf, continuing to take the eye.
Arrogate aside, the greatest interest of the morning was reserved for the nine horses from Aidan O'Brien's powerful Ballydoyle stable, who ventured onto the main track for the first time since their arrival on Tuesday. The trainer was due to arrive yesterday afternoon, had been delayed owing to unseasonal snow in Ireland, so his trusted lieutenant Pat Keating was charged with masterminding the exercise from the ground, with G1 Dubai Sheema Classic runner Highland Reel (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) leading his stablemates down the chute before heading out to the track for a warm-up trot.
Having only recently arrived and with the noisy backdrop of the Breakfast With The Stars action hotting up on the other side of the track, it was understandable that the newcomers were a little on their toes as they filed out for exercise, but by the time they had completed a circuit and changed direction for a hack canter, they had settled into their work and enjoyed a useful introduction to the sights and sounds of Meydan.
The G1 Yorkshire Oaks winner Seventh Heaven (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who joins Highland Reel in the Sheema Classic, whipped in the boys and the strong, well-made filly appears to have done really well over the winter.
War Front's son Long Island Sound is another powerful individual and is one of a trio, along with Deauville (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Cougar Mountain (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Ire}), who will break from consecutive outside stalls in the G1 Dubai Turf.
Tommy Berry, who has ridden John Moore's G1 Golden Shaheen entrant Notlistenin'tome (Aus) (Dylan Thomas {Ire}) just once when he was third in the G2 Centenary Sprint Cup in January, reacquainted himself with the 6-year-old on the dirt track.
“It was quite nice work,” said the Australian. “He got through the track really well. It's very deep, you can feel him working on the surface and not just flying over it. But I was very pleased with him, he's a happy horse and he went through his paces very well.”
As the action on the track wound up and the seats filled for the lavish breakfast, Godolphin trainers Charlie Appleby and Saeed Bin Suroor arrived to issue updates on their teams for World Cup night, who are trained away from the Meydan track.
Appleby's Jungle Cat (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}) is set for the G1 Al Quoz Sprint after his victory over stablemate Baccarat (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}) on Super Saturday. “Ertijaal and Limato are two classy horses and will be hard to beat,” said the trainer.
“But Jungle Cat got his head in front last time and he's danced plenty of dances in the past. I'm pleased with Baccarat too, and they have both come forward since their last run, Jungle Cat more so.”
Saeed Bin Suroor knows that Move Up (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) has a mountain to climb if he is to beat Arrogate in the World Cup but issued an upbeat bulletin on his progress, saying, “He's by Dubawi and he can handle the dirt and the turf. He did his last piece of work five days ago and I was very happy with him. He's ready to run a huge race. Arrogate is a terrific horse and of course I have huge respect for him but my horse is improving all the time so we'll see how we go.”
Godolphin stable jockey William Buick had earlier partnered the John Gosden-trained Jack Hobbs (GB) (Halling) for an easy workout on the training track ahead of his start in the G1 Longines Sheema Classic.
“We just cantered but he felt great,” he advised. “He's wearing blinkers for the first time which should help. It's a tough race but if things work out for him he should be considered. You have to respect the whole field–– Highland Reel will be very dangerous and Postponed as well. It's a huge race.”
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
