Red Cadeaux has sights set on Meydan glory

Red Cadeaux returns to Meydan to make his second appearance in the Dubai World Cup Group-1 for the second straight year on Saturday. Having finished good second to Animal Kingdom in the 18th running of the competition, trainer Ed Dunlop and the horse connections are looking forward that Red Cadeaux could emulate Gloria De Campeao and go one better this time out. The Brazilian raider has finished 14 lengths behind Well Armed in 2009 and came back to make history by winning the title of the 2010 edition of the championship, which was also the first running of the Cup at Meydan. The success of Gloria was stunning as it has entered in the records of the world’s richest horse race.

Red Cadeaux during the morning practice at the Meydan on Monday. — KT photo by Shihab

And while observers noted that the 19th running of the championship lacks a top international star in the likes of Cigar, Curlin, Dubai Millennium and so forth, it’s believed that, the Coolmore Invasion deserves some consideration. Aiden O’Brien, a twice winner of the UAE derby, who has also saddled St Nicolas Abbey to land the Dubai Sheema Classic Group-1 last year, sends the Epsom Derby hero Ruler Of the World to represent the stables in the main race. But, it’s widely argued that the horse will be vulnerable on an unproven tapeta surface over a distance which is less than his best.

Godolphin Stables will be represented by improving Prince Bishop, African Story, Vancouverite and Cat O’Mountain.

Prince Bishop will appear in the colours of Shaikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Executive Council, under Kieren Fallon who partnered him to win the Group Ones second and third rounds of the Al Maktoum Challenge to receive the respect of the observers. But, African Story, ridden by Silvestre De Souza, who has finished fifth to Animal Kingdom, needs to show that he can perform over the mile and a quarter distance since it’s widely believed that he’s not a ten furlong horse.

Shaikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and UAE Minister of Finance, who is also represented with Mukhadram, said: “I’m in no good position to say who’s fancied to win the 2014 Dubai World Cup Group-1, but I believe one of the UAE horses could win it.”

Trained by William Haggas in UK, the five-year-old son of former champion Shamardal arguably has come to Dubai with a real chance of giving jockey Paul Hanagan his first thoroughbred Group-1 winner in the silks of Shaikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum should he manage to find his strides on the surface.

Hong Kong is well represented in the race with Akeed Mofeed and Military Attack in another rematch between the top performers.

Military Attack did the better work in the Hong Kong Gold Cup Group-1, but there’s a little concern on their ability to handle the tapeta though the last run of Military Attack suggests that the same could happen again.