Dubai: India's champion racehorse Mystical was given the thumbs up by big-race rider Martin Dwyer as he continued his preparation for the Dubai Duty Free (Gr 1) with an impressive workout at Nad Al Sheba racecourse on Saturday.
The India-bred five-year-old, who is unbeaten in his last ten races, including two during the Dubai International Racing Carnival, pleased Dwyer and assistant trainer Philip Woods as he gave the impression he handled the work very easily.
English Derby winning jockey Dwyer, who has been booked to partner the horse in Saturday's $5 million race after regular rider Ryan Moore broke his shoulder in a nasty fall at Lingfield earlier this month, was aboard the horse for the first time.
Good attitude
The duo set off at the 1,600 metre marker and picked up from 800 metres to finish the work in 48.5secs. Mystical moved well within himself and clocked 23sec for the final two furlongs.
"Martin is very pleased and liked his attitude," Woods reported. "He was very excited with the work."
Commenting on the horse's build-up to Saturday's 1,777-metre contest Woods said: "He's had a straightforward preparation. He's in pretty good shape and I couldn't be happier with him.
"He's a horse that doesn't need a lot of work - he thrives on his races."
Mystical was bred at the Poonawalla Stud Farm. He created history by becoming the first Indian-bred and trained horse to win a race in Dubai.
Woods, a former jockey who has ridden in India and the UAE, believes Mystical could be the "surprise package in the race".
"Admittedly, the Dubai Duty Free is a very, very tough race. It has attracted some of the best milers from around the world. But knowing what a great horse Mystical is, I think we have got to be hopeful.
"It's every owner's dream to have a runner at the Dubai World Cup meeting and I think it's a great achievement for Indian racing to have been invited to the meeting," he said.
"All credit to Mr Zavaray Poonawalla, who has worked tirelessly to open the gates for Indian thoroughbred horses to race internationally.
"Also credit must be given to Mr (Subbaiah) Ganapathy who has trained Mystical to become the champion that he is." Woods said the plan was to keep the horse fresh and give him a "light" spurt on Wednesday, just to "sharpen him".
"Hopefully he will produce a big effort on Saturday and add another glorious chapter to Indian racing," said Woods.
