Japan's 2018 Horse of the Year and Triple Tiara victress Almond Eye (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) trotted a half-mile before cantering another 1400 metres over the Meydan dirt at 5:00 a.m. on Monday. The Silk Racing colourbearer then schooled in the gate and will contest the G1 Dubai Turf on Dubai World Cup night, Mar. 30.
“She lost a bit of weight while traveling, but not more than we expected,” said assistant trainer Keisuke Miyata. “She has settled in and is eating well now.”
A winner of six of her seven starts, the 4-year-old has won four Group 1s in a row, with a victory in the G1 Japan Cup at Tokyo on Nov. 25 sealing her Horse of the Year title. However, the $6-million 1800-metre contest will be her first start on foreign soil.
“I had considered the Dubai Turf first as it is a one-turn race and will be easier on her since it will be her first start back,” trainer Sakae Kunieda told Kate Hunter of the Meydan notes team on Monday. “Even I don't know where her limit is yet. She means a lot to me, giving us this opportunity to travel with her. She is a really special filly.”
Silk Racing Co. president Masashi Yonemoto added, “We took Mr. Kunieda's suggestion for her and since horses like 2014 Longines World's Best Racehorse Just a Way (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) have won this race and it is so highly rated each year that it would be a good option for her. She has run so well from 1600m to 2400m that 1800m will be a good distance for her.”
Another Dubai World Cup night headliner, G1SW North America (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) who is the likely favourite for the $12-million Dubai World Cup, worked 800 metres at trainer Satish Seemar's Zabeel Stables on Monday morning. The Ramzan Kadyrov-owned 7-year-old has won the Jan. 10 G2 Al Maktoum Challenge R1 and the Feb. 7 G2 Al Maktoum Challenge R2 in succession this campaign.
“He had his final workout this morning,” said Seemar. [He] went over 800m and did it nicely. Richard [Mullen] was happy with him and everything is good. We just have to get through the next five days. The horse will have an easy day tomorrow and then just do little hacks for the rest of the week.”
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
