by K.T. Donovan

While Horse of the Year Curlin is basking in the world's limelight, there is another American entrant in the $6-million Emirates Airline Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1) who is demanding his share of attention.

When Well Armed gallops at Nad al Sheba, his bay coat shining and ears pricked, he draws raves from onlookers. Well Armed's trainer Eoin Harty is about as happy as a man can be for a man who has to watch Curlin train each morning.

 “I don’t know if he can beat Curlin, but he deserves to be here,” Harty said. “Just because I’m confident doesn’t mean I’m not nervous.”

Well Armed worked a strong half-mile on Monday, fulfilling Harty’s desire that the five-year-old Tiznow horse simply maintain his current form.

“He was perfect,” he said with a grin. “He has a tendency to do too much in his works, so I just wanted to keep him going without overdoing it.”

The bay WinStar Farm homebred has traveled a long road in order to return to Dubai.

WinStar President Doug Cauthen previously worked as an assistant to Clive Brittain. When he was back in England in 2004 looking at possible training surfaces with WinStar co-owner Bill Casner, they met up with the British trainer and decided to give him a couple of horses, including Well Armed.

After a juvenile season in England, the handsome colt made his desert debut in the 2006 UAE Derby (UAE-G2) and experienced such a rough trip that he exited with a cracked pelvis and a chip that later had to be removed from his knee. He recuperated at WinStar and Kesmarc, and a year later WinStar opted to run him on the kinder synthetic surfaces in California, placing him with Harty.

“This whole endeavor begins with Bill Casner, who took a personal interest in his recovery, and actually before that to Clive, who had him ready for the UAE Derby,” Cauthen said. “He ran up against a good horse in Discreet Cat [winner of the 2006 UAE Derby], but he has always shown us talent and an ability to be a 1 1/4-mile horse.”

He made his American debut at Oak Tree at Santa Anita, finishing fourth after a troubled trip in the 6 1/2-furlong allowance race. He followed a month later with a 4 1/4-length victory in an allowance race at Hollywood Park. At that point, the light seemed to go on for Harty—and for Well Armed.

“That’s when I first thought about taking him to Dubai,” Harty said. “The way he trains, he’s a tank. He just keeps going and going. And $6-million is a great motivator.”

Well Armed finished second in the 1 1/16-mile San Pasqual Handicap (G2) and then won the San Antonio Handicap (G2) as he progressed toward an opportunity to redeem himself following his disappointing 2006 UAE Derby performance.

“The horse led us here,” Cauthen said. “It’s an international competition so it’s a great honor to be invited, and it’s exciting that he has a legitimate shot.

"It’s also great for us because he’s a son of Tiznow, and to be able to showcase our stallion in front of the world is very exciting for us.”

Harty said jockey Aaron Gryder most likely will send Well Armed right to the front and await all challengers from there.

“He’ll be in front for a while, or they’re going too fast,” Harty said.

K.T. Donovan is a Thoroughbred Times contributing writer