Dubai: Trainer and co-owner William Currin feels that his Dubai Golden Shaheen contender Bushwacker is in 'razor-sharp fitness' and ready to run the race of his life tomorrow.
Even though Currin did not venture into the prediction business, he said the six-year-old has the qualities to be successful in the 1,200-metre race sponsored by Gulf News.
Bushwacker won the Grade 3 Vernon O. Underwood on December 2, but was a disappointment in the Sunshine Millions Sprint in January.
"He's a horse that has always been sound," Currin told the Dubai Racing Club website. "He's never had any real issues. Maturation has helped him also. As you can see, he's a good shipper."
"His last 13 workouts were bullets ranging from 45 (seconds) to 57 1/5, out in 1:11. He's ready. He's got a quick turn of foot. He's fast. Very fast. He's the fastest horse I've ever had."
Currin sent Bushwacker out for some light exercise on the main track and said: "He just backed up and had a nice, easy little gallop. Tomorrow we'll school him a little."
Trainer Clifford Sise Jr. was also delighted after watching Grade 1 winner Idiot Proof jog once around the Nad Al Sheba dirt track under California-based jockey Iggy Puglisi.
"That was good, very good. He acts about the best he's ever acted," Sise said of the Breeders' Cup Sprint runner-up. "That's the best I've seen him jog on a racetrack."
Sise also said he had never seen Idiot Proof, whose bay coat gleamed, look any better than he does in Dubai. "Of course, all the (American) horses here look good," he added. "They all seem to have taken the travel well."
Idiot Proof faces tough opposition in the 1200-metre dirt contest from fellow American raider Benny The Bull.
Local form will be represented in the race by Star Crowned, a winner at the Dubai International Racing Carnival this year, who has pleased owner/trainer Rashid Bouresly with his work ahead of the race.
Latest odds
7-4 Benny The Bull, 10-3 Diabolical, 4-1 Idiot Proof, 10-1 Barbeque Eddie, 12-1 Narc, 14-1 Bushwacker, 20-1 Munddam, Mutamarres (from 25), 25-1 Cobalt Blue, New Freedom, 33-1 Drift Ice, Esperamos, Sarissa, Star Crowned, 40-1 Calrissian.
