NEWS
Tough challenge awaits Discreet Cat in Burj Nahaar
Posted: Wednesday, February 28, 2007 12:14 PM
DISCREET CAT
Photo by Z
Jockey Frankie Dettori realizes unbeaten Grade 1 winner Discreet Cat faces a tough challenge when he makes his seasonal debut in the $200,000 Lahan Burj Nahaar (UAE-G3), one of six stakes races that comprise the Super Thursday card at Nad al Sheba racecourse.
Sponsored by Derrinstown Stud, the $1.3-million card serves as a key prep for the Dubai World Cup program on March 31.
Godolphin Racing’s Discreet Cat will use the 1,600-meter (7.95-furlong) Burj Nahaar as a prep for the $6-million Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1), which also is expected to draw reigning Horse of the Year Invasor (Arg).
A Forestry colt, Discreet Cat is unbeaten in six career starts, including wins in the 2006 the Hill ‘n’ Dale Cigar Mile (G1) and Jerome Breeders’ Cup (G2) Handicaps.
“This is a big day for him, and it’s the next step to the Dubai World Cup meeting,” Dettori said. “It’s not going to be easy with a seven-pound penalty, which he has for winning a [Grade] 1 race, but we’ve got to start somewhere.”
Dettori has not ridden Discreet Cat since guiding the four-year-colt to victory in the 2006 S & M Al Naboodah Group United Arab Emirates Derby (UAE-G2). Following that victory, Discreet Cat won all four of his North American starts for trainer Saeed bin Suroor.
“I have not sat on him since winning the U.A.E. Derby last year, but obviously I watched him go on to really prove himself in America,” Dettori said. “I see him most days, though, and he has been training well. [Trainer] Saeed [bin Suroor] is very happy with him.”
Day Pass, a Grade 3 winner and Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) hopeful who, like Discreet Cat, is unbeaten, will face Group 3 winner Asiatic Boy in the $150,000 Bahri Al Bastakiya.
The 1,800-meter (8.95-furlong) race is the second leg of the Dubai Triple Crown and a prep for the $2-million UAE Derby (UAE-G2).
Darley Stable’s Day Pass concluded his juvenile campaign with a victory in the Nashua Stakes (G3) on November 3 at Aqueduct. The three-year-old colt won a maiden special weight race in his racing debut on October 7 at Belmont Park.
“He looks like a nice horse,” Dettori said. “But this will be his biggest test on Thursday as it looks to be a very competitive race.”
Mike de Kock trains Asiatic Boy, a 4 1/2-length winner of the 1,600-meter U.A.E. Two Thousand Guineas (UAE-G3) in his previous start on February 9 at Nad al Sheba.
De Kock will saddle defending winner Oracle West in the $200,000 Intikhab Dubai City of Gold (UAE-G3), a 2,400-meter (11.93-furlong) turf race that serves as a prep for the $5-million Dubai Sheema Classic (UAE-G1).
De Kock also has entered Irridescence, a South African champion three-year-old filly, in the $250,000 Haafhd Jebel Hatta (UAE-G2), and Money Bags, a South African Group 1 winner, in the $300,000 Elnadim Maktoum Challenge Round 3 (UAE-G2).
De Kock said Irridescence, a multiple Group 1 winner in South Africa, is not entering the Jebel Hatta in her best form. The Caesour mare finished fourth, 4 3/4 lengths behind Mandesha, in the Prix de L’Opera Casino Barriere D’Enghlien-Les-Bains (Fr-G1) in her previous start on October 1 at Longchamp.
“She had a bad case of colic, and doesn’t look at her best yet,” de Kock said. “So I think my second-best chance might be Oracle West, who will try and follow up last year’s win in the Intikhab Dubai City of Gold.”
Reigning champion sprinter Thor’s Echo, the winner of the TVG Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1)on November 4, will make his first start for trainer Satish Seemar in the $200,000 Marju Mahab al Shimaal (UAE-G3), a 1,200-meter (5.97-furlong) race that is a prep for the $2-million Dubai Golden Shaheen (UAE-G1).
“He’s acclimated well and has had an uninterrupted training schedule,” Seemar said. “We’ll find out a lot more about him on Thursday.”
Seemar also will saddle former Jeff Mullins trainee Choctaw Nation, a multiple Group 2 winner and third-place finisher in the ’06 Dubai World Cup, in the Maktoum Challenge, which is expected to draw stablemate Grand Emporium (SAf), winner of the ’05 Jebel Ali International Hotels Godolphin Mile (UAE-G2).
Seemar also trains Ace (Ire), runner-up in the 2005 John Deere Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1), who was entered in the Jebel Hatta.
Six-year-old Ace enters off a runner-up finish in the Dubai Al Rashidiya (UAE-G3) on February 1.
“Ace will improve 5% to 6% on his last run,” Seemar said. “Choctaw Nation has had a lot of problems, but should run well in the Maktoum Challenge.”
