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For the third consecutive edition of the $12 million Dubai World Cup (G1), prominent North American owner Charles Fipke and his go-to trainer Dallas Stewart will take a swing at the world's second-richest race.
This round is slightly different for the affable team, as they do not bring a known champion like Forever Unbridled (2018) or a Breeders' Cup- and Pegasus World Cup-placed runner like Seeking the Soul (2019). Instead, an improving sort getting very good at the right time will head to Dubai in the form of an appropriately named Title Ready .
A homebred like the aforementioned, the son of More Than Ready is from the immediate family of Seeking the Soul and is a grandson of one of the greatest race-mares of all time, undefeated Breeders' Cup-winning champion Personal Ensign. Title Ready exits a smart victory for Stewart in the Louisiana Stakes (G3) on Jan. 16 at New Orleans' Fair Grounds over G2 winner Wells Bayou, a culmination of six starts focused on refining the dark bay since he was received in the spring of 2020.
After competing 19 times for Steve Asmussen, he was switched to Stewart, resulting in a pair of good-looking wins, an excellent third to Mr Freeze in the Fayette (G2) and unplaced efforts in the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) and Clark Stakes (G1).
"Chuck is excited to come and I am too," Stewart said. "We ran him in the Breeders' Cup and there wasn't enough pace, so he really ran pretty good that day. I probably ran him back a little quick in the Clark at Churchill, but I think he's good enough for those, so I gave him a little time after that and took him down to the Fair Grounds. Then he won in New Orleans and he looked really good that day. He's just doing great and he looks awesome.
"He's a beautiful horse with a great pedigree, by More Than Ready and with Personal Ensign on the bottom side, and is related to Seeking the Soul. That whole family is so strong. " Stewart continued. "He's training great and is a wonderful horse to have in the barn, so I really wanted to give him a shot in this race."
Blunt and charismatic, as always, Stewart knows he is diving once again into deep waters with the good-looking 6-year-old, but that has not stopped him from taking home a big check before. His proficiency with aiming toward a big race and placing with long-odds runners has been document ad nauseam, so his eagerness to send Title Ready should be noted.
Stewart: "He doesn't look six, that's for sure. He's a young-looking dude. He's a true grinder and really just keeps coming and keeps trying. He's a real happy horse and trains well.
"I think we got outrun the two times we were there so far, but I believe the approach we have is solid. We just have to get there and run the race. It's $12 million, it's a mile and a quarter, we're hoping he will be better at that distance and we're game to try.
"It's the only way I know to approach races. You have to be game to do it, train for it and then you go for it. We really want to thank Sheikh Mohammed for having the race and allowing us back to run. We really appreciate it."
Master Of The Seas Resurfaces In Meydan Classic
While Thursday's Dubai World Cup Carnival meeting has a pair of well-matched Group 3 affairs to enjoy, it is the resurfacing of Godolphin's Superlative Stakes (G2) winner Master Of The Seas in the Meydan Classic (Listed) that is gathering the most attention. Such is justified, as he is the highest-rated 3-year-old in the UAE (112) and seems full of world-class potential.
Highly impressive on debut at Newmarket over seven soft furlongs in June, the son of Dubawi and half-brother to UAE Oaks (G3) winner Falls of Lora returned on the July course and defeated next-out Vintage Stakes (G2) runner-up Devious Company by a dismissive three lengths in the Superlative.
When last seen, he was fourth by two lengths as the joint-favourite in the National Stakes (G1) at The Curragh behind bona fide Group 1-level types Thunder Moon, Wembley and St Mark's Basilica. Returning Thursday, the Charlie Appleby pupil kicks off his campaign toward the 2000 Guineas (G1), a classic for which he is currently 16/1 on the market.
"Master of the Seas is the class horse in the race, but as I said to the whole team, the focus is very much on Europe and pointing him toward the Guineas. He's had a long time off and he's going out there to hopefully get a nice experience, but whatever he does, he'll improve a lot for it.
"He was very keen in the National Stakes and did it the wrong way around, so I'd like to see him get into a nice rhythm and see the race out, doing it the right way around, with very much an eye on Europe."
If Master of the Seas has not turned the corner from juvenile to sophomore as well as his connections would like, they have a firm back-up plan in Naval Crown, who has thrice placed in G3 races, including his dirt debut last month in the UAE 2000 Guineas.
"Naval Crown ran a great race in the Guineas. He's probably a seven-furlong horse, for sure, but he's there on his own merit. If Master of the Seas should falter, Naval Crown should be the one they all have to beat, as well. Two nice colts to run and one horse in Master of the Seas who very much has a European season ahead of him."
Nine Arrive Early For DWC Meeting
On Sunday afternoon, Dubai World Cup (G1) hopefuls Sleepy Eyes Todd (pictured) and Tacitus led nine arrivals to Meydan from Saudi Arabia who have eyes on competing in the international meeting on March 27. Said pair were joined by two other American horses, Channel Maker and Cowan. Bill Mott-trained Channel Maker will surely be one of the favourites in the $5 million Dubai Sheema Classic (G1), while Steve Asmussen-conditioned Cowan holds nominations for both the $750,000 UAE Derby (G2) and $1 million Al Quoz Sprint (G1).
Channel Maker was a good second to True Self in the $1 million Neom Turf Cup, while Cowan was runner-up in the $1.5 million Saudi Derby.
A quintet of Japanese runners joined those four on the two-hour flight, led by Saudi Derby winner Pink Kamehameha and $1.5 million Riyadh Dirt Sprint one-two finishers Copano Kicking and Matera Sky. Dubai World Cup-bound Chuwa Wizard, winner of Japan's top dirt race, the Champions Cup (G1), was also aboard, as well as another dirt sprinter, Justin.
Pink Kamehameha will attempt to pull off the 'Middle East Derby Double' in the UAE Derby and may possibly be joined by Hideyuki Mori-trained stablemate France Go de Ina in the gate. Copano Kicking, Matera Sky and Justin will likely get a rematch if all goes well leading up to the $1.5 million Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1). Matera Sky was second in the race in its last running (2019).
