New All-weather Surface Gets the Thumbs Up

Dubai - According to Michael Dickenson, the mastermind behind the newly cushioned All-Weather surface (Tapieta), the row over the suitability of the track is baseless.

By Hisham Al Gizouli

Published: Tue 23 Mar 2010, 12:45 AM

Last updated: Mon 11 Oct 2021, 4:43 PM

“All the top horses will be racing here in the 2010 Dubai World Cup,” Dickenson told Khaleej Times at the training track on Sunday morning.

“America is the only major racing country in the world which races on dirt. The rest of the world races either on turf or synthetic.

“Two years ago, the American horses dominated the first five places in the Dubai Golden Shaheen on the Dubai World Cup night and typically won the races because their horses are good on dirt.

“I always ask the jockeys and trainers after each race and all their answers were positive.

“But, even the American jockeys are complaining of the kick back which they describe as brutal to horses and jockeys,” he said.

“I have spoken to the leading American jockey Kent Desormeaux during his recent visit to ride in the Meydan Masters who said it’s the best synthetic surface in the world.

“Aaron Gryder, who partnered Well Armed to win the 14^th running of the Dubai World Cup last year, described it as ‘Terrific’,” he said.

“The Japanese jockey Norihiro Yokoyama said he would like to take the surface to Japan,” he added.

“The surface provides equal chance to the horses in the lead, middle of the pack and those coming from behind.

“There’s a chance for the best horses to win in a level plain field where there’s no bias.

“In the US 11 racing days on the pro-ride surface were cancelled because of heavy rain falls and this doesn’t happen with the Tapieta. This is in addition to fact that the Pro-Ride surface consumes tremendous amount of water. It needs million gallons to remain tight, while the Tapieta hardly needs any water at all. Just little watering before the race will do,” he confirmed.

“Jockeys and trainers loved it. No kick backs and no complains at all. Some good horses do not show the best of them because of the kick back. We may underestimate the effects of the kick back but jockeys say it’s very difficult for horses and riders both physically and mentally.

“The Tapieta surface is global and that’s why we see all the world racing here. Turf horses handle the surface very easily and come out safely out of the race. More nations have come for the World Cup. We got the world here and everybody has a chance.

French jockey Christophe Lemaire said the track is horse friendly.

Meanwhile, the same opinion was shared by Melvin Day, senior handicapper at the UAE Racing Authority ‘ERA’.

He said: “It’s good to see horses coming from all different angles of the track and winning.

“The draw is not a problem with the new surface. There’s no bad effect of the draws. On Nad Al Sheba dirt track horses drawn wide are disadvantaged. But, here the horse could come from off the pace and win. Also the kick back factor is kept to the minimum.”

“Racing on the Tapieta surface has the advantage of positioning the horse in the right place because there’s nothing to worry about and this would mean that only good horses could win.

“There’s no external or outside factor that would influence the pace or the final outcome of a race. Horses and jockeys come after the race safe and clean,” he noted.

hisham@khaleejtimes.com