By Alan Carasso
Wishful Thinker (Aus) (I Am Invincible {Aus}), who made Sunday's Class 1 Flamingo Flower H. (1200m) at Sha Tin his fourth victory from his last five runs (video), has received an invitation for the G1 Al Quoz Sprint on Dubai World Cup night at Meydan Racecourse Mar. 30, South China Morning Post reported Tuesday.
The 5-year-old, a two-time winner in six Victorian starts for trainer Mick Price, was successful in a pair of tries in Class 2 last November before finishing a luckless third in the G3 Bauhinia Sprint Trophy H. up the 1000-metre straight course Jan. 1 (video). He was off to a sluggish start in a 1200m Class 1 at Happy Valley Feb. 13, but darted through late to score a somewhat improbable win (video) and overcame a four-horse field and a paceless race Sunday to ultimately secure his spot in the Al Quoz, where he will face the likes of Godolphin's Blue Point (Ire) (Shamardal), two-time GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint hero Stormy Liberal (Stormy Atlantic) and G1 British Champions Sprint victor Sands of Mali (Fr) (Panis).
Wishful Thinker is set to be one of two runners on World Cup night for trainer Richard Gibson, who will also saddle Gold Mount (GB) (Excellent Art {GB}) against the likes of G1 Melbourne Cup winner Cross Counter (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}) in the G2 Dubai Gold Cup (3200m).
The consistent Caspar Fownes-trained Southern Legend (Aus) (Not A Single Doubt {Aus}) will represent Hong Kong against Japanese Horse of the Year Almond Eye (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) in the G1 Dubai Turf, while Fight Hero (GB) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}), second in the Keeneland Korea Sprint last September, was a surprise addition to the field for the G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen.
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
