Thoroughbred Racing Fan Association

Vol. LII March 23-31, 2009
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Dubai Journal
with Alan Garcia

About Alan Garcia...

Born 10/2/85 Lima, Peru
Attended the Peruvian jockey school.
Early aspiration: professional soccer player. His size and background set him up well for a career as a jockey.
Leading apprentice rider at The Meadowlands, 2003.
One of only four jockeys to win a Breeders’ Cup race at first asking: Lahudood, F&M Turf, 2007.
Won his very first Belmont Stakes on Da’ Tara in 2008.
Won the 2008 Saratoga riding title with 39 wins, and the 2008 NYRA riding title with 220 wins.

Leading rider

On Saturday, March 28th, 2009, Nad Al Sheba Race Course in the Emirate of Dubai will host the 14th running of the Dubai World Cup. Seven races of varying purses totaling $21.25 million dollars will be contested by horses representing as many as 12 countries. Headlining the day will be the $6-million dollar DWC, the world’s richest race. New York-based jockey Alan Garcia will be riding in this year’s events. His journal brings you one step closer to the action.

Dubai Journal
Monday, March 23, 2009

Hello to everyone,

My name is Alan Garcia and I am happy to be sharing this experience with you. This winter I have been riding regularly at Gulfstream Park, but this week I will be heading to Dubai. My agent Tony Micallef, and I will leave Monday night from New York. It is a long flight, 12 and a 1/2 hours, but I am very excited and happy to be returning. I was there a few weeks ago with my good friend and fellow jockey Fernando Jara. You may remember he won the World Cup with Invasor for Kiaran McLauglin back in 2007.

This year I will be on Albertus Maximus, who I believe has a very good chance in the World Cup. I rode him in the Donn Handicap at Gulfstream and I can say that he is a very nice horse, and a very honest horse. I am looking forward to the race and am hoping to do well for Kiaran and Shadwell Stables. I have another mount for trainer Doug Watson in the Godolphin Mile, although it's too early for the draw so I'll have to update you on that one in the next journal entry.

Since I have been riding in America I have enjoyed many wonderful moments like winning the Breeders’ Cup with Lahudood, and the Belmont Stakes on Da’ Tara, and also doing well at Saratoga, winning last year’s riding title. Now I have another chance and will again do my best. Dubai is a very beautiful place and I am so happy to return. This week I will be able to relax a little, go to the gym, and also be a tourist and see a little of the country. The important thing is to clear my mind and feel good so I will be able to focus completely on the races next Saturday. I will try to spend some time with Albertus, to make sure that he is doing well and will also be ready for the race. I will write again in a couple of days and tell you more about how things are going. Thanks for reading.

Regards,
Alan
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Journal update
March 25, 2009

The fields and post positions for the seven races comprising Dubai World Cup day at Nad Al Sheeba have been posted. Alan Garcia will ride Summer Doldrums in the Godolphin Mile. Summer Doldrums is a 5-yr-old son of Street Cry, by Dance for Dixie. He is trained by Doug Watson for owner Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum. “After two turf runs for us he is fit and raring to go.” offered Watson. “Of all the horses I’ve got from America I thought he was the least likely to make the race, but he’s really been pleasing me lately so we’re sneakily hopeful about him.”

In the 1&1/8 UAE Derby, Alan will be aboard Regal Ransom, for trainer Saeed bin Suroor and Godolphin Stables.

Alan’s final mount of the day will be current morning-line favorite Albertus Maximus. The Kiaran McLaughlin trainee drew post 10 on Wednesday. “We’re very happy with the draw,” remarked McLaughlin. “We wanted to be outside of Well Armed as he’s the speed in the race. If he goes to the lead we can take back a little. Now Albertus Maximus can break and relax and still be forwardly placed.” He further said. “There are five or six horses in here who can win, but I think they have him to beat. We like our chances. We wouldn’t trade places with anyone right now.”

Note: The entire Dubai World Cup day card will be carried live by HRTV and TVG, beginning at 9:30 am EST, this Saturday, March 28th. Approximate post time for the DWC will be 1:30 pm, EST.

-TFV

Dubai Journal
Friday, March 27th, 2009

Hello again,

We arrived Tuesday evening around 7:45. The flight was great. We flew Emirates Airlines and it was very comfortable. I'm not sure of the exact temperature but it is quite warm here. As it turns out we have had a full schedule of things to do this week. On Wednesday, I went to the barn at Nad Al Sheba to visit with Kiaran and his wife Trish. Albertus is doing well and Kiaran is very happy with how he is coming along. We also went to the post position draw. Albertus drew the 10 post which is a good spot to be in. Everyone is confident. The press has been quite attentive so far. When asked if there are any horses that I am worried about in the race, my answer was: yes, all of them!

I also met up with my good friend Fernando Jara. He is very happy and excited about this weekend. He does not have a mount in the DWC but has several other mounts that day. On Saturday morning I will meet with Godolphin Stables as I'll be riding Regal Ransom in the UAE Derby for trainer Saeed bin Suroor. After that I will head to the races. It should be an exciting day.

Regards from Dubai,
Alan

TRACK FACTS: Nad Al Sheba
Nad Al Sheba held its first race meeting in 1992, and in 1996 saw the inaugural running of the Dubai World Cup. It was won by Allen E. Paulson's Cigar, and the team of jockey Jerry Bailey and trainer Bill Mott. This year’s World Cup will be Nad Al Sheba’s last, as the event moves to the nearly completed and highly anticipated Meydan facility in 2010. The track is not an oval, in fact, its shape is somewhat unique. (see map). There are 3 chutes to accommodate the starting points for races of 2000 meters (~10 furlongs), 1600 meters (~8 furlongs) and 1200 meters (~6 furlongs). The track is a mixture of dune sand, silt and clay overlaying 3 inches of cushion. In the DWC, the field will exit the chute on the clubhouse side and enter a slight turn after about 3 furlongs. Then it’s another 3 furlongs of straight-away until a fairly tight second turn. Once into the stretch it’s 600 meters (~3 furlongs) to the finish.

The turf course is 2121 meters (~10.5 furlongs) in circumference and is composed of a hybrid Bermuda grass planted in local sand referred to as ‘sweet soil.’ In racing season it is manicured to a height of 6 inches.

One of the major differences between Emirates racing and racing in other parts of the world is there is no gambling. In his biography, The Perfect Ride, Gary Stevens puts it eloquently:

“Dubai is like Hong Kong in that it attracts an enormous number of travelers and expatriates. People from Middle Eastern and Western European countries flock there for Thoroughbred racing each year. What is still amazing to me is that they all come for the sport. There is a religious prohibition against gambling.”

DWC QUICK FACTS:
Leading rider: Jerry Bailey, 4 wins.
Leading trainer: Saeed bin Suroor, 5 wins.
Repeat winners: None.
Fastest time: 1.59.50. Dubai Millennium, 2000
Slowest time: 2.04.29. Silver Charm, 1998
Largest margin of victory: 7&3/4 lengths. Curlin, 2008
Only winner to sire a DWC winner: Singspiel, 1997/ Moon Ballad, 2003.
Only sire of multiple DWC winners: Machiavellian/ Dubai Millennium, 2000 & Street Cry, 2002.
Most wins on a single DWC card: Jerry Bailey, 1998, 3 wins; Lanfranco Dettori, 2003, 3wins.
Most training wins on a DWC card: Saeed bin Soroor: 1998, 3; 1999, 3; 2000, 3, 2003, 3.
All-time DWC day leading rider: Lanfranco Dettori, 13 wins.
All-time DWC day leading trainer: Saeed bin Suroor, 24 wins.

ANALYSIS:
Rains fell on Nad Al Sheba Thursday causing many to seek shelter. The forecast calls for continued showers throughout the weekend. Conditions at post time are expected to be wet and may favor front-runners. ASIATIC BOY is 6 for 9 at NAS, 9 for 9 ITM, and shows a win and a 2nd at the distance. In his last race, a Grade II, he closed from 5th to win, besting 15 others. This is his 3rd outing since March ’08, when 2nd to super-horse Curlin in this same race. ALBERTUS MAXIMUS has blown ascending triple-digit Beyers in his last 4 races, the last 3 being Grade I’s. Reports reveal he has been training exceptionally well. He can race on the lead or come off the pace. Versatile runner gets the services of 2008 NYRA rider of the year Alan Garcia for leading American DWC day trainer Kiaran McLaughlin. CASINO DRIVE, a game 2nd in the GI February Stakes in Japan out-finishing ’08 Japan Cup Dirt & multiple Grade I winner Kane Hekili. WELL ARMED may benefit from a wet track, 3rd here last year behind Curlin and ASIATIC BOY. HAPPY BOY, MY INDY have also been in good company. Long shots: MULLER, ARSON SQUAD, JOE LOUIS.

NOTE: A live broadcast of the Dubai World Cup events will be available on the web at www.dubaiworldcup.com, Saturday, March 28th, from 8am Eastern Standard Time to 2pm, EST.

-TFV

Journal update
Monday, March 30th

ThoroFan congratulates jockey Aaron Gryder, trainer Eoin Harty, and WinStar Farm’s Well Armed, the winner of the 2009 Dubai World Cup. Well Armed put on a dazzling display crossing the wire 14 lengths ahead of the field, establishing the largest margin of victory in Dubai World Cup history. The race set up well for the speed-loving 6-year-old. In fact, all 4 of Saturday’s dirt races could be summed with just two words: front-speed. In each contest horses that established early leads continued on to victory. The bias may have been the result of the steady rains which began on Thursday and continued into Saturday afternoon.

It was also a winning weekend for jockey Alan Garcia. He finished 4th on Summer Doldrums in the Godolphin Mile, 1st on Regal Ransom in the UAE Derby (above photo), and 6th aboard Albertus Maximus in the Dubai World Cup. Regal Ransom's UAE Derby win was another bright spot on the day for WinStar Farms, as he is a son of Distorted Humor, who stands at the Versailles, Kentucky facility. Trainer Saeed bin Suroor will ship both Regal Ransom and UAE Derby runner-up Desert Party to the United States for either this year’s Kentucky Derby or Preakness.

Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin has reported that Albertus Maximus came out of the DWC with an inflamed right tendon. He is to be shipped back to New York for a full veterinary examination.

-TFV

Dubai Journal
Tuesday, March 31th

I returned from Dubai on Sunday with many good memories. In the Godolphin Mile I was on Summer Doldrums. He broke a bit slowly but tried very hard. I don’t know how to put into words how good I felt to win the UAE Derby with Regal Ransom. He is a very nice horse. We broke well and he put me in a good position. From there I just tried my best and he was a bit better than Desert Party that day. In the winner’s circle I met Sheikh Mohammed. He was quite kind and congratulated me on the win. Regal Ransom is next headed to the Kentucky Derby, and as of right now I will have the mount. As for the World Cup, all I can say is that Albertus is a much better horse than he showed. I think it just wasn’t his night.

I look forward to next year and the opportunity to return to Dubai. It is a beautiful country and the people are all very nice. Next, I’ll be heading to Kentucky and then up to New York. Thanks to everyone for reading. I am happy I could share this experience with you.

Regards,
Alan

UAE Derby WC

Dubai Journal with Alan Garcia is a production of ThoroFan Voice.
Photo Credits: DGHPhoto.com; Breeders’ Cup Ltd Photo; Adam Coglianese; Michael J. Marten; Dubai Racing Club/Andrew Watkins. Nad Al Sheba map courtesy Emirates Racing Authority, all rights reserved.
Special Thanks: Alan Garcia & Tony Micallef; Lisa Jung, Dubai Racing Club; Mike Mullaney, Gulfstream Park.