Dubai: Carl O'Callaghan is delighted to be back in Meydan where Kinsale King catapulted him to a new high last year.
The six-year-old is back to defend his title and so is O'Callaghan who told Gulf News: "Coming here means a lot for us. For the owners, for myself. I got a career boost to a different level."
"It was nice to win races at home but to come half way across the world and beat some of the nicest horses in the world, it means a lot. It's another page in my life," said the 34-year-old Irish trainer who is now based in the US.
It was a fairytale win on the inaugural Dubai World Cup meeting at Meydan last year when O'Callaghan's Kinsale King won the Gulf News-sponsored Dubai Golden Shaheen (Group One) sprint.
The 50,000 strong crowd and millions worldwide watched the wiry O'Callaghan dance his way to the winner's enclosure as Kinsale King had given him the biggest win of his fledgling career.
Life changing
"Everybody asks the same question about how it has changed my life. It was good. I drive a better car and I live in a better house," said O'Callaghan.
O'Callaghan, who also used to double up as a singer and has released four albums, said he still takes time out for his music.
"I still do my music on the underside. Last week I played for my local church before I left home on Sunday. I am still doing a bit of music on the side."
Kinsale King will line-up with nine others in the Shaheen, a 6-furlong sprint on the all-weather Tapeta with a prize fund of $2 million (Dh7.34 million).
Commenting on the King's title defence, O'Callaghan said: "There is no pressure at all. We are here, the horse is in good health. We will just do our best and try and do it again."
Commenting on the threat to Kinsale King, the Irish trainer said, "I would think Rocket Man would be a danger. We watched him all year and he does pretty good. He had a great year. We have the California horse Euroears. He is also a very fast horse. We have Dynamic Blitz. It's very close for a short contest race. So I don't think it is going to be easy this year."
