Look Ahead: Dubai World Cup

The Dubai World Cup 2010 will have the smallest field in its history with only 5 entrants, and this is the only year in which a 3 year old has not been entered. This field is also unique as it only has one male entrant against the four females.

The Dubai World Cup had its inaugural race in 2004, when Revenge was the winner. As I said earlier, at least 1 three year old has been entered, before this year; but only 1 three year old has managed to capture a win - the legendary War Machine who would later become the first Triple Crown winner and Horse of the Year (2006).

A year later, in 2007, the first filly walked into the winner's circle Madam De Francais the 2006 Fillies Triple Crown Winner. Since then, fillies have dominated the World Cup. With Pegasus Song winning in 2008 and Broken Dream winning in 2009. Pegasus Song recorded the fastest time for the World Cup of 1:58.28 which is also the Track Record.

For 2010 we have 2 past winners of the Dubai World Cup - last year defender and Canadian Triple Crown Winner 5 Year Old Broken Dream (pictured right) trained by Long Island Hayburners and 2008 Winner, 3 time BC winner, 3 time Eclipse Champion 6 Year Old Pegasus Song for the Gorforwand Stables.

Also in the field is the 6 year old stallion Lazy Loper from the illustrious Bonai Farms who ran 2nd in the last two Dubai World Cups to Broken Dream and Pegasus Song. As a thre year old Lazy Loper won the United Arab Emirates Derby. Lazy Loper has had prolific career with a record of $12,732,500 43-22-11-5 placing him 9th for overall career earnings.

The youngest and most inexperienced in this race is DrivingMissDaisy a 4 year old filly from FDL Lodge who has trained past Dubai winner Madam De Francais. This filly has a career record of $810,100 28-4-6-3 and this season has a record of 3:0-1-0-2 bringing home $80,000.
Rounding out the field is the five year old filly Mystic River who is trained by Alydar Stables. She has a good career record of $3,487,500 32-13-6-5 with notable placings in the Hong Kong Mile last year (2nd) and as a 3 year old placed 2nd in the Breeder's Cup Distaff behind Pegasus Song.

For me the choice is clear on the winner - Pegasus Song. At 6 years old she is looking sharper than ever, and if she can keep it up for the year she will be well on her way for a Champion Older Female and perhaps Horse of the Year.

Earlier this year she won the Santa Anita Handicap with an amazing record time of 1:57.23 beating Lazy Loper by a length who came in with an impressive time of 1:57.40. These two six year olds are showing us what it really means to have a long peak and the skill of veteran racers.

Broken Dream has a record of 2:1-0-1 for the season, racing in two 9 furlong races with her best time clocked in at 1:46.47.

DrivingMissDaisy lost earlier this season to Mystic River in the 7 furlong Santa Monica Handicap. Mystic River found her 2nd win in as many starts in the 9 furlong Santa Margarita Handicap winning in a time of 1:46.03.

Matt's Prediction of Finish:

1st: Pegasus Song
2nd: Lazy Loper

3rd: Broken Dream
4th: Mystic River
5th: DrivingMissDaisy

This year will be a year of the veterans as 6 year olds Pegasus Song and Lazy Loper go 1-2 in the richest race of the year. Broken Dream will finish off the top 3, a game filly who perhaps is starting to lose her spark at 5.

December: What makes it so special?

December; it is the time for de-stressing from the past year and looking to the new one with fresh hopes. It is a time spent with family and loved ones during the holidays. The snow is out blanketing the trees, egg nog by the fire, and many other grand and wonderful traditions around this time of year. By many it is considered one of the best times of the year. In fact, it has been proven that suicide rates actually go down during the holidays because of time spent with the family; however, it is also proven that because of that very reason it is why depression rates actually increase… however, this isn’t a Health or Psychology forum…



In horse racing December (and a few months before… namely November) brings about the decision of the champions for the year. Who is the best? But, on our PF calendar we are not in December. We are in the Spring, looking forward to Dubai, Santa Anita, and in a few weeks time the pinnacle of spring the Kentucky Derby!

So why am I still talking about December? This is why…

December for college students means the dreadful finals. A time when professors decide that for students sleep is a commodity that they just cannot afford. It is a time when tempers run high, stress is a norm, and coffee is like oxygen.


One just has to love the air of a college campus at December. Thus, this is where I am; stuck learning things that really have no point. Who really cares about derivatives and anti-derivates? Perhaps only our Statman… Or does anyone really learn anything in Organic Chemistry, except how not to sleep?


December. This is the only excuse that I offer to you. I have about 5 drafts that I started for you to read. A few recaps, a preview of Dubai, Kentucky, and a few other odds and ends. Instead, here I am at 12:20 AM procrastinating on studying yet again, by giving you a dull piece to read about why I’m not writing an article. I sense the irony… I also sense the overload of caffeine and the very sleep deprived self.



But, at the end of the final week(s); there is a bright spot. Winter Vacation, and the start of a new term. So until then, I bid you adieu. Until I recuperate from this study coma that I find myself in.

A Perfect Ending

We decided to go to Australia this weekend to the Caulfield meeting for making our way back to the Stats for the inaugural G2 Revenge Stakes at Shenadoah Downs. There were two races at Caulfield that caught our attention from the Pre-Race Card – The Caulfield Guineas (G1) and the Caulfield Stakes (G1).

The first race on the card was The Guineas a test of 8 furlongs for 3 year olds with a purse of $500,000. There were 6 colts entered for the 8 furlong race, but for me there it was a 3 horse race between – World Record Holder and Eclipse Champion Run Missy Run (Missy’s Bridle x Pharien) from Golden Acres, the talented Quick Step (Troll Tower x Golden Ballet) trained at Moose Hollow Farm, and the lightly raced Perfect Picture (Handsome Man x Change of Scenery) owned by Hopeful Farm.

Also entered was Bellfast Lad (Bellbuster x Classy Lassy) from Elite Thoroughbreds, Just Cause (Giant’s Causeway x Ha Ha) from Spartan Racing Stables, and Light Granite (Kingston Town x Macedon Lady) trained by Port Pirie Racing Stables.

Run Missy Run never ran worse than 3rd in his last 11 races, including big wins at the Golden Slipper Stakes (2 years old) and his World Record performance earlier in the year. He is looking ever impressive and was the clear favorite to win the Guineas going off at 3/5. The bettors backed Troll Tower colt Quick Step and sent him off at 5/2. He managed to win a G1 last year and a strong 4th in the Magic Millions. In his last start Quick Step managed an impressive win in the slop at a mile. The bettors sent out the very lightly raced (only 2 previous lifetime starts) Perfect Picture at 5/1. He raced only one as a two year old where he won running away, and placed 2nd in a 6 furlong race earlier in the year.

At the start Bellfast Lad broke the fasted and began a duel for the lead with Light Granite early in the race. Perfect Picture broke badly and his jockey wasn’t rushing him and he fell back to 6th early on. Run Missy Run positioned himself perfectly in 3rd waiting, with Just Cause and Quick Step between him and Perfect Picture.

Light Granite won the early duel and was holding about a length lead over Bellfast Lad. However, both Run Missy Run and Perfect Picture were not to be left behind. Run Missy Run was splitting the leaders going in between, and Perfect Picture was going wide. Quick Step was behind Light Granite and Run Missy Run on the inside, content to wait to make his bid with Just Cause tailing him a few lengths behind.

As they entered the turn Perfect Picture had taken the lead from Light Granite with Run Missy Run on his heels. Quick Step had slid past Bellfast Lad on the inside, still stalking the leaders. Just Cause was 6th, but still within striking distance.

As they travled around the curve Perfect Picture held a 2 length lead as Run Missy Run inched into second. Quick Step had fallen directly behind Light Granite and had to be pulled up slightly then taken around. Bellfast Lad was getting a small breather for the homestretch, with Just Cause a length behind.

With just 2 furlongs to go Perfect Picture held a length over Run Missy Run and was running well within himself (pictured right). Quick Step went wide and was starting to make up ground having nearly caught Light Granite who was third. Bellfast Lad and Just Cause were trying hard, but with little to show for it 6 and 7 ½ lengths off of Perfect Picture.

In the final drive Perfect Picture and Run Missy Run hit another gear and started to pull away from Quick Step who had overtaken Light Granite in a few strides. Perfect Picture was slowly increasing the daylight between him and the Golden Acres colt.

With less than a furlong to go Light Granite had begun to fall back fast, while Quick Step had started to close the distance between him and Run Missy Run. However, Perfect Picture ran under the wire by himself 3 lengths ahead of Run Missy Run with a time of 1:34.33 which was a new Track Record.

Bellfast Lad came home 4th behind him was Just Cause, with Light Granite finishing a very fast fading 6th.

*Matt’s Notable Mention: Okay, so maybe I had to go to Australia to see Perfect Picture run because I was his breeder; but still an excellent 3rd run for this colt. I actually didn’t think that he was going to pull off the win – I had the finish of Run Missy Run and then Perfect Picture and Quick Step battling for 2nd. But the added furlongs seemed to do him some good – a 9 point PSR jump and his biggest purse to boot. Light Granite made a good run, until he hit a wall in the last few furlongs. I want to say that it was the injury that made the jock pull him up – he is slowly getting better with each start though. He should do better the next time out (and maybe a G2?).

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I was going to post this as one long recap of 3 races - with a nod towards a 4th - however, due to some computer problems I hope to post the others later this week.

Good Luck and Happy Racing!