Sport | Horse Racing
Well Armed can find the mark
With muscles bulging under his gleaming bay coat, Dubai World Cup (Gr 1) contender Well Armed strode back on to the Nad Al Sheba track for the first time in two years yesterday, looking very different than when he left.
- Staff Report
- Published: 00:16 March 23, 2008
- Dubai Golden Shaheen contender Idiot Proof stretches his legs at Nad Al Sheba racecourse in preparation for Saturday's big race.
- Image Credit: Michele MacDonald/Dubai Racing Club
Dubai: With muscles bulging under his gleaming bay coat, Dubai World Cup (Gr 1) contender Well Armed strode back on to the Nad Al Sheba track for the first time in two years yesterday, looking very different than when he left.
One observer who saw the gelding when he was a three-year-old winner during the 2006 Dubai International Racing Carnival, could not believe the change - noting how much stronger the son of Tiznow seems as the biggest race of his life approaches.
The WinStar Farm homebred, who emerged from the 2006 UAE Derby (Gr 2) with a fractured pelvis, handled the long return trip to Dubai from his California base well and appeared to be feeling right at home while jogging and cantering in his first exercise since the flight.
"He shipped better than we did. He drank his water and ate his hay. It's almost like he knew where he was going," said Jake Vinci, assistant to trainer Eoin Harty.
Previously trained by Clive Brittain, Well Armed was away from the races for about 19 months following his UAE injury, spending much of that time recuperating at WinStar Farm near Versailles, Kentucky.
After being sent to Harty, he blossomed, winning his second start back in November over 1,800 metres at Hollywood Park then finishing second in the San Pasqual Handicap (Gr 2) in January at Santa Anita Park.
Well Armed earned his ticket to Dubai by defeating eventual Santa Anita Handicap (Gr 1) winner Heatseeker with a front-running effort in the 1,800-metre San Antonio Handicap (Gr 2 ) on February 9 at Santa Anita.
Strong challenger
Although Vinci noted that the quality of horses in the Dubai World Cup makes the race very tough, he suggested that Well Armed's speed could make him a strong challenger.
"If he can get on the front and he's a length or two on the lead, he's hard to beat," Vinci said. After joining Harty in 2001 when the trainer oversaw Godolphin's American juvenile programme, Vinci helped cultivate American champion juvenile filly Tempera and eventual UAE Derby (Gr 2) winner Essence of Dubai.
He also developed an appreciation for the broad international profile of the Dubai World Cup programme. "I like Dubai World Cup day better than the Breeders' Cup," he said, referring to America's championship day of racing that this year will be conducted at Santa Anita.
"Everybody talks about harmony among nations, but it can't get any better than this. It truly is the Olympics of horse racing."
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