O’Brien hopes Kew Gardens blooms at Dubai World Cup

Coolmore’s multiple Group 1 winner Kew Gardens will likely be making his 2020 debut in the $1.5 million Dubai Gold Cup sponsored by Al Tayer Motors (G2) on Dubai World Cup night on March 28, as per Aidan O’Brien, who will be leading a strong team for the Irish-based outfit.

It will be the bay 5-year-old’s first test outside of Europe after finishing off his 2019 season with arguably his most triumphant victory, cracking the mighty Stradivarius’ 10-race win streak in the British Champions Long Distance Cup (G2) at Ascot in October.

“I’m very happy with Kew Gardens,” O’Brien said. “It’s more possible at the moment that he’ll go for the two miles. He was at Dundalk (Stadium) recently (for a piece of work) and we’re very happy with him.”

With six wins from seventeen starts, the O’Brien trainee has faced and beaten many of Europe’s best, winning over distances from 1600-3000m. In a busier campaign at three, the strong son of Galileo showed his affinity for stamina tests by capturing his first Group 1 victory in the Grand Prix de Paris and later the classic St Leger (G1) over Dee Ex Bee, Old Persian and Loxley.

In the Dubai Gold Cup, he will likely face a formidable field, including defending champ and 2018 Melbourne Cup (G1) winner Cross Counter, as well as Call The Wind, Mekong and Charlie Fellowes-trained Prince of Arran, who defeated said Godolphin colour-bearer in last month’s Longines Turf Handicap in Saudi Arabia.

DWC Carnival runner Spanish Mission, as well as the locally based quartet of Dee Ex Bee, Ispolini (runner-up in 2019), Mountain Hunter and Secret Advisor are also all under strong consideration.

Ballydoyle could have a handful of others coming for the races, including Investec Derby (G1) winner Anthony Van Dyck and globetrotting star mare Magic Wand.

“Anthony Van Dyck and Fleeting are likely for the ($6 million Longines Dubai Sheema Classic) and Magic Wand has come out her (unplaced finish in the Saudi Cup) very well and the plan at the moment is that she will go in (the $6 million Dubai Turf), as well. I’m not sure if Sergei Prokofiev will get into the (Al Quoz) Sprint, but he will likely go if he does. I’m waiting to see who is accepted into the ($2.5 million UAE) Derby, but plan to be represented in that.”

Meanwhile, Raymond Mamone’s $2.5 million Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1) favourite Imperial Hint had his last serious work at Meydan toward the 2020 edition of the world’s richest dirt sprint, breezing 800m (four furlongs) last week in 47 seconds flat under exercise rider Jose Contreras.

The Luis Carvajal Jr. trainee broke off at the 800m pole and went his first 400m in about 24 seconds before finishing up final 400m down the Meydan stretch in about 23 seconds. His connections hope he can improve upon an off-the-board finish last out in the $1.5 million Saudia Sprint in Riyadh, as well as a third in last year’s Shaheen as the favourite.

“Jose was really impressed with the work and so was I,” Carvajal said.

“He hadn’t worked him before and said he went fantastic and his gallop-out looked great. I couldn’t be there, but Riley Mott gave me a great video. It seems like he really does like that track, unlike in Saudi, where I knew early that he wasn’t liking it. (Joel) Rosario was going after him to get involved after he broke and I knew right away were in trouble. Usually he just gets into the race. That track is deep and I think you need horses who are bigger with bigger feet and heavier (bodies).

“He seems to like Meydan and Dubai,” Carvajal said. “I could see that (in the work). He just loves to run and run into the bit and I know I’m in good shape when he works like that. He’ll work again next week; an easy work. He puts a lot into his work, so I try to space them out. He looks effortless, but he is going fast and we like to give him an extra couple days.”

As far as a jockey for the Shaheen, Carvajal said that Joel Rosario and Javier Castellano are the most likely candidates on March 28, but no plans have been made. Carvajal is set to arrive later this week from the US.

Per their connections, others considered possible for the race other than Imperial Hint are DeFrancis Dash (G3) winner Killybegs Captain, Dubawi (G3) first and second Gladiator King and Truck Salesman, Mahaab Al Shimaal (G3) winner Wafy, Garhoud Sprint (Listed) winner Ibn Malik, Palos Verdes (G2) victor Captain Scotty and Saudia Sprint runner-up Matera Sky.