by K.T. Donovan

The $5-million Dubai Duty Free (UAE-G1) traditionally is one of the deepest races on the Dubai World Cup day card, and this year is no exception with horses such as Literato, Finsceal Beo, Bullish Luck, Vodka, and Creachadoir competing in the 1,777-meter (8.83-furlong) turf race. But French One Thousand Guineas (Fr-G1) winner Darjina, who ran mostly in one-mile races last season, will stretch out and attempt to become the first female winner of Dubai Duty Free since Ipi Tombe (Zim) captured it in 2003.

The Zamindar filly, who also annexed the Prix d’Astarte (Fr-G1) last season, carries more weight than many of the Europeans, but trainer Alain de Royer-Dupre waited until Wednesday to let her do more than gallop. Instead, he turned her loose for a more spirited work on the Nad al Sheba turf course.

Royer-Dupre cited her light weight after travel from Chantilly as the reason for the decision.

“Darjina is doing well, but I have to go with a work, just for her to see the turn, because she has never been left-handed,” he said as he waited for her to move down the long Nad al Sheba stretch.

Darjina has not run since a third-place finish in the Hong Kong Mile (HK-G1) in December.

“In Hong Kong, she had no time to adapt for the turn and she couldn’t get organized in time, so she was a little late in her run,” Royer-Dupre said. “But it was at the end of a long, hard season for her and she was not at the top of her form anymore. Now, she is doing very well.”

A start in this season's Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1) at Santa Anita Park is unlikely, with a return to Hong Kong as her year-end goal instead, Royer-Dupre said.

K.T. Donovan is a Thoroughbred Times contributing writer