Japan’s Taisei Legend bids for Shaheen success at Dubai World Cup

Dubai: Horses from Japan have tasted success in all the Group 1 races on Dubai World Cup night except the sprints, but trainer Yoshito Yahagi feels Taisei Legend stands a good chance of changing that in the Group 1 $2 million (Dh7.34 million) Dubai Golden Shaheen, sponsored by Gulf News, on Saturday.

“We understand this race is really tough. But Taisei Legend won the turf race in Japan and he also won the dirt race,” the trainer said yesterday.

Saturday’s Golden Shaheen sprint will be contested on the Tapeta and Yahagi is confident the surface is to his horse’s liking.

“We have a poly track in the training centre in Japan and he worked really well on the poly track so that gives us the confidence. I believe he will be really good on this track that is why I have brought him here,” he said.

Taisei Legend worked for 1 1/2 laps on the all-weather track. According to Yahagi, Taisei Legend was tense and little nervous on Monday, but seemed to get familiarised with the new atmosphere in Dubai.

“This morning we had really good training and that has given me more confidence. He seems to like this track,” he said.

Yahagi marked out the Breeders’ Cup sprint winner Trinniberg and defending champion Krypton Factor as the ones to beat and added, “We want to beat them which means we want to win!”

Meanwhile American sprinter Private Zone from Doug O’Neill’s yard returned to main track yesterday after remaining in the Quarantine area. The 4-year-old gelding galloped one lap over the Tapeta surface under exercise rider Antonio Romero.

“With the walk all the way from the barn to the track plus the gallop, it’s like he went two miles,” Romero said.

“He doesn’t need to do that much and he seems to be handling the track pretty good. He’s doing great and he’s very happy here,” he added.

Irish raider Balmont Mast, who has been in Dubai since the beginning of the Carnival and having run on four occasions, had gentle exercise yesterday.

“He has been here all Carnival and did half-speed on the main track this morning,” said his trainer Edward Lynam. “He is in good form but it looks a tough assignment on Saturday.