RB Texas Hold Em to make UAE debut at Al Maktoum Challenge

All the cards are on the table for Byerley Racing’s American G1 winner RB Texas Hold Em, who will make his UAE debut in Thursday’s Group 1 $100,000 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 3 for Purebred Arabians.

Against what looks to be a top-class field, the son of T M Fred Texas seeks to replicate his sire, who used graded Delaware Park company en route to success in Meydan’s top Arabian affair, the $1 million Dubai Kahayla Classic (G1). T M Fred Texas won the 2011 Delaware Park Arabian Classic Handicap (G1) prior to winning the 2012 Dubai Kahayla Classic, while his son won the Delaware Park Arabian Derby (G2) when last seen in July.

One month prior, RB Texas Hold Em got his top-level score in the President of the UAE (G1) at Churchill Downs.

“When I got him, the owner said ‘take your time,’ with the main goal obviously being the Kahayla Classic (on Dubai World Cup night),” said Doug Watson, who has taken over training of the grey gelding.

“I’ll be disappointed if we don’t win, but I’d be okay to finish in the first three or four and then go on to the Kahayla. He’s a cheeky sort, but he’s very talented in his work. If you watched his last two races in America, he looks like a nice horse. I hope we stack up against them and he runs well. He hasn’t run in a while.”

The 5-year-old was sent to Red Stables three months ago, but had been in the country a few months prior to acclimatise. Unbeaten in his last four efforts, the six-time winner from 11 starts has finished out the top three only once. Watson has been successful in past Al Maktoum Challenges, winning with the likes of another US import, American Arabian Triple Crown winner Paddy’s Day. While he has never won a Dubai Kahayla Classic, Watson did finish second in 2005 with Al Saoudi.

Meanwhile, Reddam Racing’s Parsimony will try to stamp his ticket to the $12 million Dubai World Cup sponsored by Emirates Airline (G1) when he lines up in Thursday’s $175,000 Curlin Stakes (Listed), a course and distance opportunity to make up for his fourth-place finish five weeks ago over the same trip in handicap company. Unlike that day, when he was forced to set a hot pace from his rail draw, the Doug O’Neill-trained son of Dominus will likely be a more relaxed character this time, per assistant conditioner Leandro Mora.

“He can break second and he doesn’t have to kill himself with the speed horses this time,” Mora said. “But if the others don’t go, then we will. There is a Plan A and Plan B and he doesn’t have to be on the lead, but should be quick.

“He has always been a positive horse who ran with a lot of tough horses at home—that’s why he has seven seconds and one win,” Mora continued.

“He was a little immature last year and was growing, but has matured into a nice horse and loves Meydan.

“He has been galloping so strong, we decided not to gallop him (Tuesday morning) and are just going to jog him up to the race. He is coming into this race fresh and that’s what we like to see. We think he could be the next Pavel.”

Currently rated 100, the roan colt will be looking to prove his worth against some accomplished foes, but that is par for the course for Parsimony. In the past year, he has tackled some of the best of his generation in the USA, including champion Game Winner, multiple Grade 1-winning Omaha Beach and eventual Belmont Stakes (G1) winner and 2020 Dubai World Cup hopeful Sir Winston.

The Curlin has been a steppingstone to Dubai World Cup wins for its namesake (when contested as the Jaguar Trophy) and California Chrome prior to his 2016 victory. Last year, South Korean import Dolkong used a one-sided victory in the Curlin as a springboard to the Dubai World Cup, with a third in the Al Maktoum Challenge R3 (G1) in between.

With a big run on Thursday, Parsimony looks to give his connections a runner in the race for a third consecutive year, having finished fourth in the past two editions with Pavel.

“He has to win to make it into the big party,” Mora said.