Dubai: Japanese trainer Kunihide Matsuda believes that the Tapeta track at Meydan Racecourse will bring out the best in his $10 million (Dh36.72 million) Dubai World Cup (G1) hope Belshazzar.
Matsuda, who saddled the six-year-old to win the prestigious Grade 1 Japan Cup Dirt at Hanshin Racecourse in December, says his view is based on the fact that the all-weather surface has a lot of similarities to the polytrack at the Ritto Training Centre near Osaka, Japan.
The veteran handler, who is also based at Ritto, said Belshazzar looked “at home” when cantering for the first time at Meydan on Monday morning.
“He had a look around and went about his work naturally,” said Matsuda, who is no stranger to Dubai, having saddled runners at two previous Dubai World Cup meetings.
“His movement was smooth and it appears that the Tapeta has the same sort of grip that we have at our training facilities back home.
“He has travelled well, quarantined well, so we’re happy.”
Matsuda also believes that Belshazzar, who took top honours at the 2013 Japan Racing Association Awards, where he was named Best Dirt Horse, is physically stronger and more mature than he was last season.
He also disregarded his stable star’s third place effort in the prep race for Dubai World Cup, the Grade 1 February Stakes at Tokyo last month, saying the horse is closing strong on the front two.
“The Dubai World Cup was always the plan and we are very hopeful,” said Matsuda. “Everything has gone well so far and we like our chances for Saturday’s big race.
“We plan to give him a fast piece of work on Wednesday just to sharpen him up a bit, but otherwise he has done most of his work at home where we have options to train on turf, dirt and a woodchip polytrack.”
While the Japan Dirt Cup was the biggest win of Belshazzar’s career, Matsuda also rates his third-place finish behind Orfevere in the 2011 Japanese Derby, very highly.
Matsuda has once again roped in top French rider Christophe Lemaire, who was in the irons when Belshazzar won the Japan Dirt Cup. Lemaire won the Group 1 Dubai Sheema Classic in 2006 aboard Heart’s Cry.
Japan, who have dispatched a strong contingent to Dubai, are also represented by four-time Grade 1 winner Hokko Tarumae in the World Cup.
All of those wins came on dirt and Hokko Tarumae’s trainer Katsuichi Nishiura has also issed an upbeat bulletin on his big race hopes.
“He is the right sort of horse for Dubai because he is very adaptable and will be suited by the Tapeta at Meydan,” said Nishiura. “We think he will have a fair chance on Saturday.”
The Japanes pair are likely to face 14 rivals including seven other Group 1 winners led by Epsom Derby hero Ruler Of The World, Hong Kong stars Military Attack and Akeed Mofeed, and Godolphin’s Prince Bishop and African Story.
