Dubai World Cup notes: Platinum Warrior brings Sadler to Meydan

John Sadler does not ship from California often, but when he does, he can be quite a force with which to reckon. Fresh off a brilliant 2018 in which his Accelerate was an absolute star, including a victory in the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic, Sadler looks to add some gloss to his 2019 season when returning for Dubai World Cup night for the first time in a decade.

“It’s been a while, but I think this horse will run well,” he said. “It was Nad Al Sheba the last time I was there and this will be my first runner at Meydan.”

This horse is Platinum Warrior, who has quickly taken to Sadler’s program, including a smart victory last out in the San Marcos (G2) over 2,000m on Santa Anita’s turf course. The effort was his fourth for Sadler, 12th overall and fifth since coming to the U.S. Previously, the horse was based in Ireland with Mick Halford.

Next is a try at the Dubai Gold Cup (G2).

“We got him in the summer and he looks like a real stayer,” Sadler said. “He won at a mile and a quarter in the Grade 2 the other day and I think he has a lot more there. He’s already won well in Europe as a 3-year-old and just took a bit of time once he got here.

“He ran off the plane when fourth in the Secretariat (G1) at Arlington and was unlucky not to be third that day,” Sadler continued. “He shipped to California and was unlucky again in a couple races and then ran really well. We saw that he’s a very good horse.”

The gray son of Galileo and Group 2-winning miler Laugh Out Loud will try to overcome this big step up in trip, but in his favor he does have a barn behind him with success in the region. Sadler has only had two starters in Dubai, but won with his first when landing the 2004 Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1) with Our New Recruit. He was also eighth in the 2009 edition of said event with Machismo.

Topping those expected to take on Platinum Warrior is the daunting Godolphin-Charlie Appleby duo of Melbourne Cup (G1) hero Cross Counter and Group 2 winner Ispolini, as well as Prix du Cadran (G1) winner Call the Wind. Other probables are Melbourne Cup-placed Prince of Arran, South African G1 winner Marinaresco, Hong Kong-based Gold Mount and locally based trio Team Talk, Sharpalo and Red Galileo.  

'We might as well try' with Caribou Club

After much debate, the connections of $2 million Al Quoz Sprint (G1) contender Caribou Club initially decided they would bypass a trip to Dubai this year with the chestnut gelding. Thanks to some extenuating circumstances, the veteran runner who already owns a win over a divisional champion this year will get to flaunt his talents on an international stage after all.

In his seasonal bow, Caribou Club handily bested two-time Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1) hero and 2018 Al Quoz Sprint runner-up Stormy Liberal in the Joe Hernandez Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita Park on Jan. 1. It was a victory that took on greater significance when Stormy Liberal earned the Eclipse Award for Champion Turf Male later that month and with momentum on their side, plans called for Caribou Club to try and earn his first grade 1 score with a start in the Kilroe Mile originally slated for Mar. 9 at Santa Anita.

When racing was suspended indefinitely at Santa Anita to address concerns over the track surface, the Kilroe Mile had its date on the calendar shifted to March 30 – the same day as the Group 1, $2 million Al Quoz Sprint over 1,200m at Meydan. Though Caribou Club is proven at 1,600m and beyond, the Glen Hill Farm homebred is most effective when shortening up. Hence, the Al Quoz Sprint became his new objective and another showdown with expected race favorite Stormy Liberal now looms—not to mention a host of the world’s top grass sprinters.

“(Trainer) Tom (Proctor) and I were really on the fence between the Kilroe Mile and Dubai and we actually decided on the Kilroe Mile because it was March 9 and we were just anxious to run the horse,” said Craig Bernick, president and chief operating officer of Glen Hill Farm. “But then when all of the issues happened at Santa Anita and they pushed the race back, the Kilroe Mile became the same day as Dubai and he’s probably a little better sprinting than he is going a mile. The horse can do both. But we thought the horse is doing so well, we might as well try.

“I know it’s a tough race, but he can go from cruising to top speed probably as fast as any horse we’ve ever had,” Bernick continued. “I think he’ll kind of suit a straight course and we think a lot of the horse. We’re really looking forward to running him.”

One of the deepest races of the card, the Al Quoz Sprint is topped by local star and Royal Ascot G1 winner Blue Point, as well as Australian G1 winners Brave Smash and Viddora, UK sprint star Sands of Mali and top-class American mare Belvoir Bay. Others in the running are 2017 winner The Right Man, as well as Mazzini, Ekhtiyaar, Wishful Thinking, Illustrious Lad and Lost Treasure.  

'Fingers crossed' for Without Parole

When John Gosden sends a horse to the racecourse, no matter where in the world that may be, it is easy to assume he is not in it for the gallop. The conditioner has proven himself as a master of his craft time and time again and enjoyed a stellar 2018 courtesy of Roaring Lion, Too Darn Hot, Stradivarius, Cracksman, Enable and Without Parole.

Although runners in Dubai are relatively rare for Gosden, he has had marked success here with Dar Re Mi and Jack Hobbs in the $6 million Longines Dubai Sheema Classic (G1). This year it looks likely that his St James’s Palace (G1) winner, the aforementioned Without Parole, will make the trip and is being aimed at the $6 million Dubai Turf (G1).

Owned by John and Tanya Gunther, Justify's breeders at Glennwood Farm, the good-looking son of Frankel looked as if he could develop into one of the stars of the 2018 season when annexing his Royal Ascot Group 1, as the victory came after only three runs and made him a perfect 4-for-4 at the time. Since then, however, he has struggled when racing against older horses, with three disappointing efforts in competitive Group 1 races.

Last seen when finishing sixth behind Recoletos in the Prix du Moulin (G1) in September, the bay colt worked at Chelmsford Racecourse on Saturday and appears in good form going into the race — and he will have to be. Heading the field for the 1,800m test will be one of the stars of the racing world, Japan’s Almond Eye.

“The horse is pleasing John Gosden, as otherwise he would have waited for flat racing to commence in England,” Tanya Gunther said. “Grade 1s are never easy and there will be a top-class group of contenders in all Dubai World Cup races, including the Dubai Turf.

“Firm ground should suit Without Parole well,” she continued. “We would love to continue the dream with him and fingers are crossed as always.”

A victory would be the cherry on top of an amazing past year for the owners, who have bred multiple top-class horses, including the Triple Crown winner, from their quality-over-quantity operation. They earned the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Breeder of 2018.

Others currently aiming toward the Dubai Turf are Dream Castle, I Can Fly, Southern Legend, Yulong Prince, Lord Glitters, Wootton, Century Dream, Deirdre, Vivlos, Majestic Mambo and Mountain Hunter.