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Curlin tours Nad Al Sheba for Dubai World Cup |
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Written by Gohorsepower.com
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Wednesday, 20 February 2008 |
 Curlin has arrived in Dubai to prepare for the $6 million Dubai World Cup. The Horse of the Year and 2007 Breeders Cup Classic champion toured the Nad Al Sheba race course on Wednesday. Jockey Carmen Rosas was on board under the guidance of Steve Asmussen's assistant trainer, Scott Blasi.
Curlin will prep for the 2,000 meter (almost 10 furlongs) Dubai World Cup with a handicap race of the same distance on Thursday, February 28. The world's richest race, the Group 1 Dubai World Cup will be run on the last Saturday in March. ABC Sports will broadcast the Dubai World Cup card for North American television on that Saturday afternoon.
Curlin should be very competitive in his Dubai races, both covering nearly a mile and a quarter. As a three-year-old in 2007, his robust speed and stamina over classic distances was demonstrated repeatedly in all three Triple Crown races. After a troubled trip, Curlin finished a respectable third-place at 1 1/4 miles in Kentucky Derby 133--only his fourth lifetime start. He next beat Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense (and second place Hard Spun) in a Preakness Stakes that tied for fastest ever running of the 1 3/16 mile classic. In the 1 1/2 mile Belmont Stakes, Curlin was beaten by only a nose against one of the most extraordinary fillies in recent times, Rags to Riches--the first filly to win the Belmont in 102 years. His only surprisingly dull race was in the Haskell at Monmouth Park (won by Any Given Saturday), but he still finished no worse than third. Ultimately, he would have his revenge against the Monmouth track and all rivals except Rags to Riches when completing his 2007 campaign by winning the 1 1/4 mile, Grade I, Breeder's Cup Classic. He was honored with the Eclipse Awards Horse of the Year trophy in January 2008.
Never finishing out of the money, Curlin has been beaten only three times in a 9-6-1-2 record. Curlin's 2008 works have been mostly at par, with a sharp workout at the longer distance of 7 furlongs. So far this year, Curlin has worked 5 furlongs in 1:00.60; 7 furlongs in 1:25.20; and 6 furlongs at 1:13--in the company of this year's Risen Star winner, Pyro, a leading contender on the 2008 Kentucky Derby trail.
Recommended reading:
Curlin breezes at Nad Al Sheba - Thoroughbred Times
Curlin has first sighter of Nad Al Sheba - Dubai Racing Club
Curlin in fine fettle in Dubai - Handicapper's Edge
You Say Hello, Curlin says Dubai for 2008 debut - GoHorsePower.com
Curlin - NTRA bio and race replays
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