NEWS
Well Armed back
on Dubai World Cup trail
Posted: Saturday, January 03, 2009 3:50 PM
WELL ARMED
Benoit & Associates photo
At this time last year, Well Armed was still in search of his first stakes win.
But after finishing second in January 2008 in the San Pasqual Handicap (G2), the Tiznow gelding scored a breakthrough win in the San Antonio Handicap (G2) on February 9 at Santa Anita Park. Well Armed used his first stakes win as a springboard for the Emirates Airline Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1) on March 29 at Nad al Sheba racecourse. He finished third in a 12-horse field that featured some of the top dirt horses in the world, including winner Curlin, the 2007 Eclipse Award winner as Horse of the Year.
This year, trainer Eoin Harty is pointing Well Armed to a return trip to Dubai for the 2,000-meter (9.94-furlong) World Cup, but the five-year-old boasts a much more impressive record that includes a Grade 1 victory.
“I just couldn’t be happier with him,” Harty told the Dubai Racing Club. “He’s going to run in the San Pasqual Handicap on January 10 and then probably the San Antonio Handicap [on February 8], and then we’ll take it from there.”
Well Armed flourished after returning from Dubai last year.
He won the San Diego Handicap (G2) and followed with a runner-up finish, beaten by a neck, to Go Between in the Pacific Classic Stakes (G1) on August 24 at Del Mar. Well Armed drove to a one-length win in the Goodwood Stakes (G1) in his final prep race for the Breeders’ Cup World Championships before closing his four-year-old campaign with a disappointing ninth-place finish in the TVG Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile.
“We just gave him a little break after that,” Harty said. “He’s really training well now, and I’d be surprised if he doesn’t run back to his old form.”
Other prominent horses on target for the Dubai World Cup card on March 28 include Albertus Maximus, winner of the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile, and 2008 Arkansas Derby (G2) winner Gayego.
Albertus Maximus was purchased privately by Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid al Maktoum and will be pointed to the 1,600-meter (7.95-furlong) Godolphin Mile (UAE-G2).
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum purchased Gayego privately after he set a track record at Hollywood Park in his final start as a three-year-old. The Gilded Time colt completed 6 1/2 furlongs on Hollywood Park’s synthetic Cushion Track surface in 1:13.37 on November 30.
Gayego, who has won stakes from 6 1/2 furlongs to 1 1/8 miles, could be a contender for either the 1,200-meter (5.97-furlong ) Dubai Golden Shaheen (UAE-G1) or the Godolphin Mile.
