Kiwi Gallopers Poised for Dubai Campaign

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Kiwi Gallopers Poised for Dubai Campaign

New Zealand Bloodstock is set to be represented by a stellar selection of its sale-ring graduates at the prestigious Dubai World Cup Meeting this weekend.

New Zealand is no stranger to Group 1 success at the world's richest race meeting, with Karaka graduate Vengeance of Rain (Zabeel x Danelagh) winning the Group 1 Dubai Sheema Classic over 2400 metres in 2007.

In 2010 international performer and Karaka graduate Joy and Fun (Cullen x Gin Player) flew the NZ flag in Dubai, winning the Group 3 Al Quoz Sprint over 1200 metres. A prolific performer, he has now won over $3.8 million in stakes earnings.

This year New Zealand Bloodstock has three graduates racing in two of the feature Group 1 races on the World Cup Night card: Beauty Flash, Better Than Ever and Green Birdie.

The dominant performer on the Hong Kong circuit this season is arguably Kiwi powerhouse Beauty Flash (Golan x Wychwood Rose). The winner of the Group 1 Hong Kong Mile (1600m), the HK-1 Steward's Cup (1600m) and the HK-1 Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup (1400m) in succession, he has been a force to reckon with on the turf. His target is the US$5 Million Group 1 Dubai Duty Free Stakes, the richest turf race in the world.

The jockey of Beauty Flash, international Group 1 winning rider Gerald Mosse, rates the horse a superstar after his latest win, dropping back to 1400 metres to produce a brave effort and run a brilliant time. Trainer Tony Cruz has had the Dubai Duty Free in his sights for some time and is confident the 1800 metre trip is right for the five-year-old.

The Laurie Laxon trained Singapore superstar Better Than Ever (French Deputy x Songfest) is also targeting the US$5 Million Group 1 Dubai Duty Free Stakes and has come back in top form this campaign. He is now the winner of 13 of his 14 starts and ran a track record in his last race, the SPG-3 Polytrack Mile Championship, after winning fresh up in the SGP-3 Three Rings Trophy three weeks earlier.

Laxon has had the race on Better Than Ever's schedule for some time and the trip to Dubai will be the four-year-old's first race outside of Singapore.

The Dubai Duty Free Stakes has an illustrious history and has become one of the top turf races in the world. Previous winners include Jay Peg in 2008, VRC and Caulfield Cup winner Elvstroem in 2005, Right Approach in 2004, and Jim and Tonic who ran down the mighty Sunline in 2001.

International Group 1 winner of the Singapore Kris Flyer International Sprint (1200m) in 2010, Green Birdie (Catbird x Mrs Squillionaire) is a late entry into the Group 1 Golden Shaheen after his connections paid the late entry fee of US$200,000. His trainer Caspar Fownes is confident that the horse is up to the elite company as he beat the favourite, Rocket Man, in the Group 1 Kris Flyer Sprint last year. Although the Dubai tapeta surface will be new to Green Birdie, connections have high hopes for the horse and he should be very competitive in the meeting's premier sprint.

The Dubai World Cup Night will be held at the famous Meydan track which will also feature the world's richest race, the US$10 million Dubai World Cup, on Sunday morning (NZ time).

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