It'll be all right on the night. That is Ivan Allan's fervent hope as he sends his three raiders into battle later this evening at the US$15 million Dubai World Cup meeting. Hong Kong racing fans will join a huge worldwide audience tonight to see Fairy King Prawn, Daliapour and Indigenous fly the flag on a glittering card at Nad Al Sheba - but Allan's stars must overcome the after-effects of jet lag if they are to triumph against some of the biggest names in the world of racing.
Allan has been worried all week about the condition of the Hong Kong trio following their eight-hour flight to Dubai, but each day has brought a little improvement and the trainer was in more optimistic mood yesterday. 'I had a hollow feeling in my stomach when I arrived on Tuesday and saw the horses because they did not look right. But they seem much brighter now and I think they will all run well.'
The three completed their preparation on the dirt at Nad Al Sheba yesterday morning following another walk round the parade ring. As he did on Thursday morning, Allan brought the horses to the paddock for a brief spin and this time all three had their big-race jockeys on board. Robbie Fradd and Johnny Murtagh, who arrived in Dubai on Thursday night, renewed acquaintance with Fairy King Prawn and Daliapour respectively, while Weichong Marwing again rode Indigenous.
Daliapour looked in particularly good condition as he breezed 500 metres in impressive style under Murtagh, with the other two having only light exercise. 'That was a good piece of work from Daliapour and I'm very happy with him,' Allan said. 'He was not at his peak for the Gold Cup, but he has come on a lot since then and I think he looks better now than he did before he won the Hong Kong Vase.'
Daliapour lines up alongside Indigenous in the Dubai Sheema Classic, due off at 10.40pm Hong Kong time. The opposition includes Hong Kong Cup winner Fantastic Light, who took the 2,400-metre race last year, and his well-fancied Godolphin stablemate Mutafaweq. Fairy King Prawn takes on his Hong Kong Mile conqueror Sunline and three-time Hong Kong winner Jim And Tonic in a mouthwatering Dubai Duty Free, scheduled for 12.30am Hong Kong time. The 1,800-metre race will be shown live on Cable TV Channel 18 and Jade, along with a recording of the Sheema Classic. Recordings of both can also be seen tonight in a special edition of TVB Pearl's Trackside programme.
The two races are each worth US$2 million, and Allan is in no doubt they will take some winning. 'The prize-money is so attractive that horses have come from all over the world for this meeting. It is the best day's racing of the whole year and I just hope my horses have got a place chance. If I win, I'll be over the moon.'
