NEWS
Curlin connections plot summer campaign following Dubai triumph
Posted: Sunday, March 30, 2008 1:28 PM
CURLIN
Racing Post photo
by Steve Bailey
Now that Horse of the Year Curlin has conquered the Arabian desert, the runaway winner of the $6-million Emirates Airline Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1) will make his way back to the United States to face a new challenge.
The four-year-old Smart Strike colt will clear quarantine in Dubai on April 4 and is scheduled to arrive on April 6 in Lexington, where he will remain with trainer Steve Asmussen's string at Keeneland Race Course until plans are made for his next start.
"We'll train him there, monitor how he comes out of the race, and plot a course from there," Asmussen said following the colt's awe-inspiring 7 ¾-length victory—the largest in the 13-year history of the 2,000-meter (9.94-furlong) race—on Saturday in the world's most lucrative Thoroughbred race.
Asmussen and majority owner Jess Jackson have made no public statement regarding a summer course of action for Curlin but have said in the past they would like his four-year-old season to culminate with a second straight victory in the Breeders' Cup Classic Powered by Dodge (G1) in October at Santa Anita Park.
Asmussen has often lauded Curlin's consistency ever since the horse arrived in his barn following a 12 ¾-length maiden special weight victory in his career debut on February 3, 2007, at Gulfstream Park.
Following the impressive World Cup performance, however, Asmussen admitted that Curlin has undergone a slight transformation.
"He's matured both physically and mentally, certainly," Asmussen said. "And the indication he's given us during the break he had since the Breeders' Cup are is that he is faster. You saw [Saturday] how he was a little more aggressive and really took it to them."
Jockey Robby Albarado said his trip was extremely similar to the one he had in Curlin's 2 ¼-length victory in the $175,000 Jaguar Trophy on February 28 on Nad al Sheba's triangular main track.
"He's such a special horse," said Albarado, who said he savors every moment aboard Curlin because he knows it is unlikely he will ever mount another horse with so much raw power.
"That was a great field, and he showed once again that he is the best horse in the world. He's stronger and he's matured since last year, and I think his best is still yet to come."
That is a scary prospect, certainly, for trainers considering running against Curlin when he makes his return to the track.
South African trainer Mike de Kock, whose Asiatic Boy finished second to Curlin, is glad he will not have to make that decision.
"I've got a feeling Curlin is going to be seeing a lot of three- and four-horse fields the rest of the year over there," he said with a chuckle.
Steve Bailey is Thoroughbred Times deputy news editor
