Respect 'Little Mike’ ahead of Dubai World Cup, says owner Carlo Vaccarezza
Owner Vaccarezza feels multi-group winner has not got its due
Dubai: A little more respect for Little Mike is all that owner Carlo Vaccarezza, who himself is a rags-to-riches-story, has sought from the racing fraternity.
Little Mike, trained by Dale Romans who won the Dubai World Cup with Roses In May in 2005, is a strong contender in the Dubai Sheema Classic (Group 1) turf contest on Saturday and speaking to the press at Meydan on Monday, Vaccarezza felt his horse has not been given its due credit.
Vaccarezza, who owns Wavering Monarch mare Hay Jude fell in love with Spanish Steps, a stallion that has never raced and Little Mike, named after his second son was born. Now a six-year-old gelding, Little Mike ran on the Tapeta under Kieren Fallon, who came in for some criticism for the way he handled America’s top turf horse, and has been switched back to turf with Vaccarezza hoping for a repeat “clunker” win from his prized possession.
The Italian said he landed at Kennedy Airport in the 60s with $60 (Dh220) in his pocket, with no education, no skills and no job and started off as a line horsewalker, then moved into the restaurant working as a bus boy, washing dishes and making pasta. “I was then introduced to a baseball player who wanted to start a restaurant and I got into the restaurant business,” said Vaccarezza, who then began to buy horses.
“I was so fascinated with the horse as an animal than with the racing part,” he said.
“For the horse [Little Mike] to win in one year the Florida Sunshine Millions Turf Stakes at Gulfstream Park, then won the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic [Grade 1] at Churchill Downs and the Arlington Million Stakes [Grade 1] at Arlington Park and then the Breeders’ Cup [Grade 1] at Santa Anita Park. But strangely even if Little Mike wins it is always about how Point of Entry lost or how some other horse came second. Nobody talks about Little Mike - he never gets the credit he is due,” lamented Vaccarezza, whose wife owns the horse. “What else you have to do… get a little bit of respect!”
Vaccarezza also felt Little Mike should have been named the Eclipse Award winner for 2012 instead of Wise Dan. “To be honest, I was really upset over the Eclipse Award… if the horse wins the three most prestigious races in America, at 1 and 1/8th mile, at 1 and a quarter mile and at 1 and a half mile,” he said.
“Wise Dan is a phenomenal horse. I would like to face him one day; if they win it is better. There is an outside possibility that will happen at the Woodford Reserve. I know that even for that we have just 35 days between the Dubai Duty Free here and Woodford,” said Vaccarezza, hoping to prove his horse’s ability.
While Vaccarezza may still come back next year for the World Cup, his target for now is the DDF though he did say that Kierren Fallon’s style did not suit his horse. Fallon was on Little Mike in the March 9 run on the Tapeta when he finished 8th.
“Fallon is a great friend of mine but his style of riding did not suit Little Mike. I don’t think Kieren [Fallon] was well informed or well prepared to ride him that day,” said Vaccarezza, who has now signed up Hall of Famer Gary Stevens, who recently returned to the saddle after a seven-year spell in retirement.
