5, 2012 732-747-8060 $ TDN Home Page Click Here RAPID REDUX TAKES 22; HONORED with DUBAI CARNIVAL BEGINS TODAY SPECIAL ECLIPSE AWARD the Race to the Cup Is On
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THURSDAY, JANUARY 5, 2012 732-747-8060 $ TDN Home Page Click Here RAPID REDUX TAKES 22; HONORED WITH DUBAI CARNIVAL BEGINS TODAY SPECIAL ECLIPSE AWARD The race to the Cup is on. This evening at Meydan The National Thoroughbred Racing Association, Daily Racecourse, the 2012 Dubai World Cup Carnival begins Racing Form and the National Turf Writers and a 16-fixture stand that kicks off with a weekend double Broadcasters revealed that Rapid Redux (Pleasantly header and concludes with one of the sport=s most Perfect), who made headlines as the winner of 19 prestigious days of racing on Mar. 31, a day capped by consecutive races in 2011, will be honored with the the $10-million Special Eclipse Award. The Special Award honors G1 Dubai World extraordinary service, individual achievements in, or Cup. AThis is contributions to the sport of Thoroughbred racing. always an exciting Baltimore-based owner Robert L. Cole Jr. will accept time of year with the trophy on behalf of his charge during the 41st the start of the annual Eclipse Awards, which will be held Jan. 16 at Carnival, and the the Beverly Wilshire in Beverly Hills, California. Claimed wonderful build up for $6,250 in October 2010, Rapid Redux began his to the Dubai World now 22-race winning sequence Dec. 2, 2010. AIt=s a Cup,@ said Meydan Victoire Pisa MJM photo top award in this sport and a dream come true,@ said Chairman of the Cole. ARapid Redux has shown the greatest in durability Board and CEO Saeed H Al Tayer. and consistency. He hasn=t thrown in a bad race. To A new age of racing dawned in Dubai two years ago win like this over a 13-month period is nearly when Meydan, born from the vision of Sheikh impossible. He=s Maryland home-grown, running in Mohammed, opened to rave reviews. The 60,000- Maryland. We wanted him to stay close to home as he capacity facility, which cost $1.25 billion to build, set a relates so well to the average fan. It=s not like going to new standard for racetracks around the world, and has the sales and paying a million dollars. He=s a blue-collar since held two stirring World Cup cards, including an horse.@ Alex emotional 2011 renewal. Waldrop, Dubai Carnival preview cont. p2-5 president and CEO of the ATDN Rising Stars@ Secret Circle, Hierro part of NTRA, GIII Sham S. sextet...................................p5 added, AThe achievements of Rapid Redux in 2011 were remarkable. Winning 21 consecutive MJC/Jim McCue photo races, including 19 of them in a single year--at distances ranging from five furlongs to a mile and an eighth--is something we won=t soon again see. We congratulate Robert Cole, trainer David Wells and the jockeys who rode Rapid Redux for all they did to help Rapid Redux earn this Special Award.@ Soon after the announcement was made, the chestnut grittily held on to post his 22nd win in a row in Laurel=s sixth race (video). Trainer David Wells breathed a sigh of relief after the finish. AHe has been placed really well,@ Wells admitted. ACondition books win races and that is what it is. He is not a stakes horse. He is not an allowance horse. People want us to try it, but he is not that quality.@ P TDN HEADLINE NEWS • 1/5/12 • PAGE 2 of 8 • thoroughbreddailynews.com During a truly international night of racing in 2011, J J The Jet Plane (SAf) (Jet Master {SAf}) won the G2 Al Quoz Sprint, Skysurfers (GB) (E Dubai) captured the G2 Godolphin Mile, and the filly Khawlah (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}) took the G2 UAE Derby over Master of Hounds (Kingmambo). But it was the card=s four Group 1 races the crowd came to see, and they didn=t disappoint. In the G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen, Hong Kong=s Rocket Man (Aus) (Viscount {Aus}) beat the Bob Baffert-trained Euroears (Langfuhr) in the G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen. The 7-year-old gelding Presvis (GB) (Sakhee) beat the veteran mare River Jetez (SAf) (Jet Master {SAf}) in the G1 Dubai Duty Free, before the ill- fated Rewilding (GB) (Tiger Hill {Ire}) landed one for the home team in the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic. In the Dubai World Cup, Japan secured a one-two finish, with Victoire Pisa (Jpn) (Neo Universe {Jpn}) confirming his victory in the G1 Japan Cup over Transcend (Jpn) (Wild Rush). The win came just weeks after Japan was devastated by a massive earthquake and resulting tsunami. On Tap for 2012... Japan could once again be well-represented in Dubai this year. The country=s pro-tem Horse of the Year Orfevre (Jpn) (Stay Gold {Jpn}), who became Japan=s seventh Triple Crown winner last season, is coming off a victory in the G1 Arima Kinen at Nakayama Dec. 25, and trainer Yasutoshi Ikee said afterward he is mapping out a 2012 international campaign that could include a start on World Cup night. Trainer Bob Baffert has never been shy to send a runner to Dubai. In 1998, the previous year=s GI Kentucky Derby hero Silver Charm (Silver Buck) won the G1 Dubai World Cup, and Baffert doubled up three years later with Captain Steve (Fly So Free). In 2009, he shipped over dual champion Indian Blessing (Indian Blessing), and the fleet filly ran a game second in the G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen to Big City Man (Northern Afleet). Baffert could have an imposing duo for the 2012 World Cup card. The Hall of Fame trainer indicated that The Factor (War Orfevre Horsephotos Front) was being considered for the Golden Shaheen after his lights-out win in the GI Malibu S. at Santa Anita Dec. 26. Baffert is also mulling a run in the World Cup itself with Game On Dude (Awesome Again). Last season, Baffert requested and received an invitation for the GI Santa Anita H. winner, but ultimately left the gelding in his stall in Southern California after he developed a foot abscess. Since then, Game On Dude has raised his profile even higher. He won the GI Goodwood S. last October and finished second in the GI Breeders= Cup Classic. P TDN HEADLINE NEWS • 1/5/12 • PAGE 3 of 8 • thoroughbreddailynews.com Dubai Carnival notes cont. Dozen for Jockeys’ Challenge... Another prominent horse who could show up in The World Cup Carnival begins with cards today and Dubai is the ABudapest Bullet,@ the European sprint star tomorrow. The double header features the third annual Overdose (GB) (Starborough {GB}). Owner Zoltan Meydan Masters International Jockeys= Challenge, Mikoczy is reportedly considering a number of which pits 12 of the world=s top jockeys against Dubai World Cup Carnival races in the lead-up to each other in a series of four races. A points his ultimate goal, the G1 Emirates NBD Al Quoz system based on placings determines the winner. Sprint on World Cup night. AWe have gone to The 12 confirmed riders are: Mickael Barzalona, Dubai independently, but will be there to apply for Maxime Guyon and Christophe Lemaire from an invitation to the World Cup meeting,@ said France; William Buick, Ryan Moore, Colm Mikoczy. AIt would be a very proud moment to O'Donoghue and Tom Queally from Great Britain and Ireland; Italy s Mirco Demuro and Frankie take part, as to our knowledge, no horse from = Dettori; Kenichi Ikezoe from Japan; Andrasch Eastern Europe has ever participated at the Starke from Germany; and Australia=s Craig meeting.@ Now seven, the Hungarian-based Williams. The UK=s Richard Hills won in 2010, while the Overdose has won 16 of his 19 career starts. He U.S.=s Calvin Borel hoisted the trophy in 2011. Today=s capped his 2011 season with a win in the G3 Premio first post is 6:30 p.m. local time, while tomorrow has Carlo & Francesco Aloisi at Capannelle in November, his an early 3 p.m. start. Gates open each day 1 1/2 hours first start since running fourth in the G1 King=s Stand S. before the first race. at Royal Ascot. AHe is entered in races in Dubai on Highlights of opening weekend include no fewer than Jan. 20 and Feb. 3, but races on either Feb. 23 or six handicaps worth six figures each this afternoon, as Mar. 1 would probably be better, as they would give us well as tomorrow=s UAE 1000 Guineas Trial over 1400 more time to prepare him,@ said Mikoczy. meters on the main track. Six 3-year-old fillies will line up in the $50,000 conditions event, which features All horses in the TDN are bred in North America, Alsindi (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}), winner of the G3 Oh unless otherwise indicated So Sharp S. at Newmarket last September. For more information, visit www.emiratesracing.com. Inquiries to Kyle Wilson [email protected] P TDN HEADLINE NEWS • 1/5/12 • PAGE 4 of 8 • thoroughbreddailynews.com Godolphin Geared Up for Carnival... Trainers Mahmood Al Zarooni and Saeed bin Suroor are in positive mood ahead of the Dubai World Cup Carnival. Al Zarooni provided updates on his more high-profile prospects, including four-time Group 1 winner Xin Xu Lin (Brz) (Wondertross). The South American star makes his next start in the Royal Blue in next Thursday=s round one of the G3 Maktoum Challenge. AXin Xu Lin didn=t run a bad race when he was fifth behind Khawlah (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}) in the [G2] UAE Derby last year,@ Al Zarooni commented.