Nayef pleases Tregoning ahead of World Cup
The five-year-old, winner of the Dubai Sheema Classic on the same card last year, pleased his trainer in a floodlit work out at the Nad Al Sheba track on Saturday night.
“Nayef worked under lights with Ekraar, who I had as a two-year-old, and he’s in good form,” Tregoning said. “He’s had a more straightforward preparation than last year because we were unsure whether or not he would perform on the dirt.
“He’s in pretty good shape at the moment and I’m happy enough with him.”
This week’s meeting is still set to go ahead despite war in the region.
According to the Dubai World Cup website the organising committee is working in close co-operation with local police, military and security services who will all be in close attendance on the race night to ensure the safety of all at the event.
Frankie Dettori meanwhile had to settle for seventh place on Helene Vitality as the Hong Kong Derby was won in decisive style by the Gerald Mosse-ridden Elegant Fashion at Sha Tin yesterday. It was Mosse’s third success in the mile and a quarter Classic.
The winner came home a length and a half ahead of Self Flit and finally broke the ice for trainer David Hayes in the $HK14m race by becoming the first filly to triumph since Corvette in 1976.
The classy Australian import, a triple group two winner ‘down under’, defeated the Ivan Allan runner, Self Flit, by a length and a half.
Beverly Green, one of four Hayes runners in the 14 runner field, was third.
Dettori was earlier second on Firebolt in a domestic Group One prize and middle leg of the local sprint Triple Crown, the Centenary Cup.
Dettori also had another second on Ho Choi and was third on Shanghai Friend.
He was also sixth on Golfing Partners in the opener.
Star hurdler Rhinestone Cowboy is unlikely to run again this season, his trainer Jonjo O’Neill said on Saturday. The gelding lost his unbeaten record over jumps when third to Rooster Booster in the Smurfit Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham earlier this month.
However, stablemate Intersky Falcon, fifth in the same race, may appear again before the end of the campaign. “The owners might want to go to Punchestown with Rhinestone Cowboy, you couldn’t rule it out, but I think I would say he is finished for the season now,” said O’Neill.
“Intersky Falcon will probably go to Sandown or maybe to Punchestown.”
O’Neill also revealed that Keen Leader had been put away for the remainder of the season after disappointing in the Royal & SunAlliance Chase.
“Keen Leader ran no sort of race,” O’Neill commented. “Something must have been amiss but nothing has come to light. It’s a mystery.”
