Welcome to the diarised account of the days before a race to decide the age-old question: “Just who is the best all-weather track horse in the world?” It’s a question that has kept me and, I’m sure, many other fans awake at night, and started many a bar-room argument. But never fear: the day has arrived for the all-weather world championships - otherwise known as the Dubai World Cup. Let’s recap the week through a series of observational tidbits that hopefully will not get this blogger deported before, not only the running of the US$10 million main event, but also the Seal concert on the infield after the last. After that we can leave.
Tuesday, 26/3. Meydan racetrack. Trackwork.
We love headcase horses with character and one of the first we see on arrival at morning trackwork is the US-trained Golden Shaheen contender Private Zone. This former Panamanian sprinter could have easily have been nicknamed the Panamaniac.
Douglas was reportedly a brilliant rider who won the 1996 Belmont Stakes, but was left wheelchair-bound after a horrific fall in 2009. He has been an absolute credit to the sport with the time he has given to the media this week - he even had the good humour to wind up a couple of Aussie journos when he said his horse could beat Black Caviar.
Here’s a couple of Private Zone’s greatest hits, complete with over-the-top Spanish commentary.
Watch closely as Private Zone - a 9-1-on favourite - shows blistering pace, then dumps his rider when he takes a U-turn and decides he wants to head up a chute around the cutaway rail