Saudi's top horse to skip Dubai World Cup

Dubai: Joe Louis, Saudi Arabia's champion horse and winner of the prestigious King's Cup (Gr 1) two days ago, will not run in the Dubai World Cup (Gr 1).

Gulf News learnt yesterday that the connections of the Argentine-bred horse are set to reject an invitation to compete in the $6 million (Dh22 million) race at Nad Al Sheba on March 29.

Instead, Joe Louis, who takes his name from one of the greatest heavyweight boxers of all time, will be targeted at all the major races in Saudi Arabia.

Speaking from Riyadh, trainer Stephane Chevalier said: "Prince Sultan (Mohammad Saud Al Kabeer) believes that at this stage in his career, it will be better to keep the horse in Saudi Arabia.

"He does not want to subject the horse to any gruelling challenges. He does not want to push him over the limit at this stage.

"Everybody wants to win the Dubai World Cup, but there is a time for everything. Inshaallah we can come next year."

Joe Louis, racing under the name Kharimes, won the 2,400-metre King's Cup, (also known as the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Cup) by three-quarters of a length from Shabel Almidaan.

Demolished

German Group 3 winner Omikron, racing as Aloqhuwan, finished third, a head in front of defending champion Premium Tap, who has raced as Allam since sons of Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz purchased him from his American owners.

Premium Tap, who is a 5/1 second favourite with English bookmakers for the World Cup after finishing second, 1 3/4 lengths behind Invasor, in last year's race.

Joe Louis was winning his third consecutive race at the King Abdul Aziz track and also demolished the course and distance record of 2:28.08secs set by Premium Tap. He clocked 2:28.01secs in the King's Cup.

Chevalier, a former assistant trainer to Kiaran McLaughlin, replaced fellow American Ian Jory as the principal trainer to Prince Sultan in April. He took out his first trainer's licence the same month and has trained more than 24 winners since.

"Obviously, as a trainer, it is a big disappointment to miss the Dubai World Cup," said the Frenchman. "But that's the way it is in horse racing."