Dubai: Japan has three runners lined up for the Dubai World Cup and Katsuhiko Sumii, trainer of one of the runners does not mind his other two rivals winning as long as it is for his country.
Sumii's Victorie Pisa along with Buena Vista and Transcend run in the feature event on Saturday but in the backdrop of the suffering back in Japan following last week's earthquake, the trainer said it was more like a Japanese team that was here for the World Cup meeting.
"We have a very bad disaster and I am very sad," he said, adding, "All of the members from Japan feel that we must work together for the victory and give all of the victims of earthquake triggered tsunami hope."
Sumii, who also has Rulership running in the $5 million (Dh18 million) Dubai Sheema Classic (Group 1), arrived here yesterday and attended the morning track work and watched both his horses do a lap and then breeze over a six furlongs.
"Since Victoire Pisa arrived in Dubai, he has already had three steady gallops at Meydan, so he has become more muscular physically. Rulership always shows flexible strides and runs very lightly, and I think he is satisfied with the surface. Both of them run in the different races, so I decided to give them galloping together," said the Japanese trainer.
Strong contender
Trainer Hiroyoshi Matsuda, who won the DDF in 2007 with Admire Moon saddles Buena Vista, a strong contender from Japan. Buena Vista, a Dubai World Cup runner, cantered easily for two laps on the Tapeta yesterday morning. Tsuyoshi Matsuda, the work rider of Buena Vista said, "She had a piece of work this morning. She will be galloping tomorrow. She is in a good form."
Transcend the third Japanese runner in the World Cup put in a slow work for a lap on the All-Weather course. Work rider Hisami Yamashita said, "He is in a very good condition and has full of energy. Everything is good for him."
While Japan has had success in other races they are yet to strike in the Dubai World Cup with the best effort being a second-place finish by To The Victory to Bob Baffert's Captain Steve in 2001.
