Indian Blessing ready to give the boys a run for their money

Dubai: No filly has ever won the Gulf News-sponsored Dubai Golden Shaheen but when two-time Dubai World Cup winning trainer Bob Baffert sends out Indian Blessing for the race on March 28, the boys had better watch out.

The four-year-old has arrived in Dubai with an awesome reputation as America's top female sprinter.

Baffert, who was has also trained Indian Blessing's sire and dam, was mighty impressed with her final workout before leaving for Dubai.

The Dubai Racing Club newswire reported that Baffert was satisfied with Indian Blessing's 0.59 seconds drill over five furlongs at Santa Anita Park.

"I'm happy with her," said the trainer. "She worked very well; so far, so good. She's ready.

"That was her major workout. Once [our horses] get over to Dubai, we don't do too much with them over there [prior to racing]."

Baffert has won the Dubai World Cup with Silver Charm in 1998 and Captain Steve in 2001.

The Golden Shaheen is a race which has been dominated by American horses ever since Big Jag won in 2000. Since then six speedballs from the US have won the sprint run over a straight 1,200 metres at Nad Al Sheba.

But Indian Blessing can reverse the trend and win for her generation.

Her dam Indian Charlie won the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby while her sire Shameful was also a classy sprinter who won four times.

Indian Blessing won her first five career starts and now boasts an impressive record of 9 wins including five at Grade 1 level.

Her last win came in December when she beat Ginger Pop in the $250,000 (Dh917,500) La Brea Stakes for three-year-old fillies at Santa Anita under John Velazquez.

However, Velazquez will not ride Indian Blessing on March 28 as he has reportedly opted to partner Quality Ride in the Florida Derby on the same day.

But whoever gets the leg up on the smashing five-year-old is in for the ride of his life.