Dubai by Desert

[Horny Harry]

Aussies Combine In Dubai World Cup
Tuesday, 19 March 2002: Trainer John Sadler and jockey Craig Williams will combine to fly the flag for Australia in the $US6 million Dubai World Cup at Nad Al Sheba on Saturday.
The former Melbourne pair will combine with Royal Tryst, owned by Sheikh Hamdan.
Royal Tryst will be Sadler’s second runner in the World Cup, having started the fourth placed State Shinto in last year’s race in his first season of training in Dubai.
Williams rode Royal Tryst for the first time in a trial at Nad al Sheba on Monday morning.
Royal Tryst beat three stablemates by eight lengths when they worked over 1200m out of the gates, Sadler arranging the trial in a bid to restore winning confidence in the five-year-old.
Royal Tryst, in his first season of racing in the Emirates, has prepared for the World Cup with minor placings in the three legs of the Maktoum Challenge over the last seven weeks.
"If Royal Tryst runs to his best I am confident he will beat home State Shinto," Sadler said, referring to his former charge who is now in the Godolphin stable.
A field of 12 is expected to start in the World Cup with the race dominated by Godolphin champion Sakhee and the Japanese star Agnes Digital.
Agnes Digital had his first look at Nad al Sheba on Monday morning.
Trainer Toshiaki Shirai reported that the Hong Kong International Cup winner was tired on arrival because of a seven-hour delay on his flight.
"He has settled in well now and is back to the same condition as when he won in Hong Kong" the trainer said.
Japan is also represented by To The Victory, who finished second to Captain Steve in last year’s World Cup.
Sadler will also be represented in the $US2 milliion Sheema Classic by Lightning Arrow, the former Godolphin stayer who finished 17th in the 2000 Melbourne Cup.

[imaufo]

Dubai World Cup and Dubai Sheema Classic
to be Broadcast on ATV and Cable TV
The Dubai World Cup, the first leg of the 2002 World Series Racing Championship,
will be held at Nad Al Sheba Racecourse on Saturday, 23 March. Dubai World Cup
Day has seven races on the card, and Hong Kong's sole representative Helene Vitality
will clash with the world's best in the 4th race, Dubai Sheema Classic.
Cable TV Channel 18 and ATV Home Channel will show a recording of the Dubai
Sheema Classic before live broadcasting the Dubai World Cup (7th race) from 1:25
a.m. to 1:55 a.m. on Sunday. Tune in and be sure you won't miss these exciting

[imaufo]

Agnes brings smile to trainer
Japanese confidence from the trainers of Agnes Digital and To The Victory shone through the darkness yesterday on the eve of the $US6,000,000 Dubai World Cup sponsored by Emirates Airline.
For more than a week track watchers have called the Japanese raiders the dark horses for the US$6,000,000 Group I Dubai World Cup, sponsored by Emirates Airline, although their world standard ability is crystal clear, the pair has worked each morning in pre-dawn darkness.
The Japanese have been the least-sighted raiders chasing a slice of the $US15,250,000 prizemoney for the world's richest racemeeting. But connections, and the strongest international representation of 50 Japanese media, is sensing some of the racing world's spotlight tomorrow night.
Some Japanese journalists said there was a wordless message yesterday from Toshiaki Shirai, trainer of Agnes Digital... “For the first time at trackwork he is smiling.” Reason for relief was a sizzling gallop that confirmed Agnes Digital had regained peak fitness after losing weight from a delayed flight from Tokyo.
Agnes Digital rounded off an exercise gallop with a final 200 metres in 12.8 seconds, with the track rider not using his whip. Shirai said the trackwork pointed to Agnes Digital having a winning chance. As late as Thursday Shirai had rated Agnes Digital at 70 per-cent fitness level.
The five-year-old has won $US6,564,206 with 11 wins and seven minor placings from 23 starts. Two of Agnes Digital's five wins at Group I level have been on dirt tracks, the surface for the Dubai World Cup.
To The Victory's trainer Yasuo Ikee said his six-year-old mare was in career-best condition. Last year To The Victory finished second to USA stayer Captain Steve in the Dubai World Cup.
"She might not be the best racehorse in the field, but she is the most powerful," Ikee said, "She enjoys the Dubai dirt surface more than any dirt track in Japan."
Japan also is represented by Broad Appeal, an eight-year-old mare, in the $US2,000,000 Dubai Golden Shaheen, sponsored by Gulf News and Hot Secret, a six-year-old entire, in the $US2,000,000 Dubai Sheema Classic sponsored by Ports, Customs & Free Zone Corporation.
John Sadler, whose first Dubai World Cup runner State Shinto finished fourth in last year's race, is hoping his longshot Royal Tryst will earn prizemoney. He is well aware the total purse is split down to the sixth placegetter ($US120,000).
Royal Tryst had missed trackwork and was taken to the beach for race-eve exercise.
Martin Talty Emirates news release
By: Racenet - Friday, 22 March 2002