Michael Chang’s confidence is on the up heading into Saturday’s G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen (1200m, dirt). The first and only Hong Kong trainer to have saddled a G1 winner on US soil is hoping to notch another overseas G1 success, and a second Dubai triumph, in the US$2 million sprint.
Rich Tapestry, successful in the G3 Mahab Al Shimaal (1200m, Tapeta) at Meydan last year en route to a fine second in the 2014 Golden Shaheen (1200m, Tapeta), has since added the G1 Santa Anita Sprint Championship (1200m, dirt) to his resume and heads into the weekend’s event as a leading contender.
The Holy Roman Emperor gelding had been a touch under the weather upon arrival last weekend but Chang is now pleased with his charge.
“He is settled and he is well, everything is back to normal, he just had a little bit of a stomach ache – I think he was just dehydrated – but since then he has recovered well. My confidence is about seven or eight out of 10,” said the handler.
Rich Tapetsry has not raced since a below-par effort in November’s G1 Breeders’ Cup Sprint (1200m, dirt) at Santa Anita, but that could prove to be beneficial.
“He always goes very well fresh,” said Chang, who watched Vincent Sit guide his stable around the dirt track at a smooth canter this morning. “The track is fairly similar to Santa Anita. When he runs on the dirt or all-weather I am never worried about him. I saw him canter around this morning and he was nice and loose, he is enjoying the surface.
“He is drawn in four so the tactics are easy, he can just jump and go and sit behind the pace. I don’t want to lead. There is pace outside him – I will ask the jockey to just slip in behind them.”
Rich Tapestry’s fellow Golden Shaheen contender, the Tony Millard-trained Super Jockey, was once again one of the first out at around 5am.
“He has kept to the same routine all week and he is coping exceptionally well with the new environment. The only negative is being drawn 12 so Ryan Moore will have to weave his magic wand,” said Millard.
Lucky Nine, the third of Hong Kong’s Golden Shaheen runners, remained stable side as planned and Caspar Fownes is pleased with his Champion Sprinter.
“Everything’s great with him – all on target for a big run.” said Fownes.
Al Quoz Sprint
Amber Sky blazed to a brilliant win in last year’s G1 Al Quoz Sprint (1000m, turf) but the Ricky Yiu-trained gelding’s current campaign has been blighted by niggling setbacks. With no win in three starts this term, he heads into Saturday’s speed test with something to prove.
“After the Jockey Club Sprint in November, we found that he had developed a cyst on his left hind leg, on the hock, but we’ve been treating it and it doesn’t bother him when he gallops,” said Yiu, who watched his stable star circuit the Meydan dirt track at a slow pace. “When we galloped him yesterday he was okay, he was floating. Just when he comes out of his box he can be a bit stiff, it’s the same in Hong Kong. Right now I’m more than happy with him.”
Amber Sky posted a blistering 57.1s 1000m barrier trial at Sha Tin on 3 March that convinced Yiu to target Dubai once again.
“Before his last trial I wasn’t too optimistic about coming back here to Dubai but after the trial he pulled up okay, everything has gone well since, so that put us in a position to participate here,” he said. “He’s as healthy as possible, he’s drawn better than last year in 10; we have got a world class jockey, so there’s not much more we can ask for.”
Peniaphobia followed Amber Sky around this morning at a slow tempo and trainer Tony Cruz remains happy with the four-year-old going into the Al Quoz Sprint.
“His final canter was good; he got a lead off Amber Sky because he’s better when he has a lead. He’s spot on, we’re very happy with him,” he said.
David Hall had stated that Bundle Of Joy would not be seen on the track again before Saturday’s race and the chestnut remained stable side this morning.
“No problems,” said the trainer, who has the services of last year’s race-winning jockey Joao Moreira.
Dubai Sheema Classic
Joao Moreira this morning got the leg up on Designs On Rome who will be a leading contender in the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic (2410m, turf). Hong Kong’s Horse of the Year worked a circuit of the turf track.
“He’s looking awesome,” said Moore. “Joao came back this morning with a gleam in his eye. He looks a picture of health.”
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Photo 1:
Joao Moreira gives a piece of exercise for Dubai Sheema Classic runner Designs On Rome on the turf track at Meydan this morning.
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