This year's Dubai World Cup Carnival has lacked a certain exotica, but Tashbeeh's quest to become an Australian winner in Dubai will be of interest at Meydan on Thursday night.
Last week, Suzi Gold of Turkey failed to enhance her reputation, and next week Sir Fever will attempt to hog the limelight for Charlie Appleby as the Uruguayan Triple Crown winner is set to make his UAE bow.
Tashbeeh is not quite in their league, having won two average races this winter over 1,400 and 1,600 metres. He warmed up for Dubai by winning a barrier trial two weeks ago before he shipped to the UAE.
Tashbeeh may lack the credentials in the form book, but trainer David Hayes has his eyes on World Cup night and sees the Meydan Classic as a chance to showcase his horse.
“He travelled direct to Dubai well and has put on weight and I think he will run well,” Hayes said. “If he wins, I’m looking at the Jebel Hatta next week.
“The distance of the Dubai Turf on World Cup night over 1,800 metres would be ideal and is a better race for him than the UAE Derby, which is over further and on dirt, which he has never seen before.
“To be honest, 1,400m of the Meydan Classic is a little short of his best, but it is a good starting point and he won well last time over the distance.”
Tashbeeh is one of 28 horses owned by Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid in the care of Hayes and his nephew Tom Dabernig in Australia. He will be the stable’s only runner in Dubai after Hayes ruled out two stablemates from making the trip.
Sheikh Hamdan’s retained rider Paul Hanagan said it was a tough choice between Tashbeeh and Mastermind, who, like Tashbeeh, was bred in the southern hemisphere and will carry four kilograms more than the other runners because of a maturity advantage.
Tashbeeh is a bit of an unexpected arrival in Dubai, after Caravan Rolls On was the sole Australian entry among the nominations to the Dubai World Cup Carnival.
No Australian horse has won at Meydan since Ortensia won the Al Quoz Sprint in 2012, and there have been high-profile failures, such as Godolphin’s Helmet and Sepoy.
Overall, however, Australian horses have the best strike rate of any country with six wins from 29 runners in the past decade, and Hayes just missed out at Nad Al Sheba in 2002 when Helene Vitality was second in the Dubai Sheema Classic.
Elsewhere on Thursday’s seven-race card, Saeed bin Suroor seeks an astonishing 10th win in the UAE Oaks and saddles favourite Local Time, the UAE 1,000 Guineas winner, and Good Place. Godolphin will also be represented by Charlie Appleby’s Yodelling, while Sheikh Hamdan’s silks will be carried by Mike de Kock’s Shahrasal.
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