DUBAI // Graham Motion is under no illusions as to the difficulty of the challenge that lies before Main Sequence in the Dubai Sheema Classic tonight.
One thing he is certain about, though, is that the lack of Lasix will not be an issue.
Lasix, or furosemide, is a potent diuretic, which is administered to horses to prevent bleeding and is not permitted in the UAE on race day.
When asked whether he was concerned at the lack of the drug in Dubai, the American trainer told the Dubai Racing Channel: “No, I’m not worried about that at all.”
Main Sequence left Britain after he finished a lowly eighth to Godolphin’s Farhh in the Champion Stakes at Ascot Racecourse in October 2013. Now, under Motion’s patient guidance in the state of Maryland in the United States, he is a rejuvenated character.
In July last year, Main Sequence finally ran on turf in America and won the Grade 1 United Nations Stakes at Monmouth Park.
Since then, the horse is unbeaten in four races. His winning run included his defeat of tonight’s rival Flintshire at the Breeders’ Cup when he came with a late flourish reminiscent of sprinter Sole Power, who runs in tonight’s Al Quoz Sprint.
Motion attributes the improvement to the flatter racecourses in America and the end of constant travel to the track, which is a significant factor of racing in Britain.
When David Lanigan, Main Sequence’s former trainer, sent the horse to Motion “I knew he was a good horse, but could I have imagined he would go undefeated in that calibre of race? No way”.
Motion said: “It is pretty hard to win races like that consecutively at that level.
“Every time he has run, he has got a little better.”
If Flintshire is Main Sequence’s principal rival, there are five other horses that have struck at the highest level.
Designs On Rome has long been aimed at the Sheema Classic by Hong Kong trainer John Moore, and will be once again ridden by Joao Moreira, the Brazilian jockey.
Also from Asia is the Japanese Derby winner One And Only, while British mare Just The Judge will represent the new axis of Qatar Racing and the China Horse Club.
Also from Britain is Sheikhzayedroad, who won the Northern Dancer Turf Stakes at Woodbine in September.
Harp Star, last season’s Japanese 1t000 Guineas winner, was sixth behind Treve and Flintshire in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in October, and was one place behind Dolniya, who has yet to score at Group 1 level.
Both fillies were relatively inexperienced in Paris and, of the two, it is Dolniya who has started her four-year-old season better when she beat Flintshire in a prep race at Chantilly.
“She has improved a lot and she has a real turn of foot,” trainer Alain de Royer-Dupre said at Meydan yesterday.
“I am confident she will run a good race.”
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