Dubai: Freddy Head, the first man ever to win Breeders' Cup races both as a jockey and trainer, says he is hoping to realise an ambition when two of his stable stars take their chances at the Dubai International Racing Carnival.
The good-humoured Frenchman has three horses based in Dubai, with Marinous and Rajsaman being prepared for a shot at the Dubai World Cup meeting.
"You need to have the right horse to send over to Dubai and I'm hoping that they are Marinous and Rajsaman," said Head when he visited the Emirates to oversee their preparations.
"They've settled in well over here and I believe that both tracks, the Tapeta or the turf, will suit them. They travel well and tough horses don't mind the change of conditions.
"Marinous worked nicely the other day when we took him to the Meydan training track while Rajsaman has been doing well too. They are both nice horses who can hopefully do something in the Carnival, and who knows, on the big day in March."
Head, who retired as a jockey in 1997 after winning six French championships, made history when he trained Goldikova to win the first of her three Breeders' Cup Miles in 2008.
Music fan
A self-confessed Rolling Stones fan, Head said he was particularly looking forward to seeing Rajsaman perform in Dubai.
"He's a very smart four-year-old who ran an absolute cracker in the Hong Kong Mile last December. I have a lot of confidence in the horse and will be looking to see how he performs on the all-weather track."
A son of Linamix, Rajsaman finished just over a length behind Beauty Flash in the hotly-contested Mile at Sha Tin racecourse, before being shipped to Dubai for the Carnival. Head hinted at the Dubai World Cup but would not commit the horse to a race of this stature.
"He's got plenty of potential, perhaps a race like the World Cup someday, but we'll have to wait and see," he said. "He's got my attention, now its his turn when he runs here."
Talking through the plans for Marinous, who was a close sixth in the Prix De l'Arc De Triomphe at Longchamp, France last October, Head said that the horse was on course to take his place in the $5 million Dubai Sheema Classic (Gr 1).
"He's in full work and there have been no problems with him so far," said Head. "He likes the turf track here which I think is in his favour. The important thing is to get that first run over with and then see how everything goes.
"I'm hoping he can continue his improvement from last season and we can take a serious horse to the Sheema Classic."
The Frenchman also revealed that his wonder-mare Goldikova was in good health and ready to being preparations for the new season, as she bids to win a fourth consecutive Breeders' Cup trophy.
