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Versatile Furia Cruzada ready to give top guns a run for their money

Dubai - Erwan Charpy, who trains Furia Cruzada, knows no filly or mare has ever won the Dubai World Cup, one of the biggest races on the planet

After having seen her Dubai World Cup dream go down in flames last year with a collision with eventual champion Arrogate, Furia Cruzada, the versatile mare, will make another attempt to create history at the majestic Meydan on March 31.
Furia Cruzada is not among the biggest favourites in a race that brings a city to a standstill, but she will be a formidable rival for top American horses like West Coast and Forever Unbridled.
Erwan Charpy, who trains Furia Cruzada, knows no filly or mare has ever won the Dubai World Cup, one of the biggest races on the planet.
But the veteran trainer remains confident that the multiple Group One winner will hold her own once the gates open on Saturday evening.
"I think we are going in a better shape. She has improved a lot this year," Charpy told reporters at a press conference on Monday.
"She is older. She had a hard campaign in France, but because we know her a lot better now, we managed to get her back to the shape we want her to be in. She is very consistent, she tries very hard."
The Dubai-based Charpy has already put the last year's disappointments behind him.
"Last year was a dream come true in terms of a having a horse at the Dubai World Cup. Of course, it didn't go well in terms of performance," he said.
"She collided with Arrogate. But, for me, it's fantastic being a Dubai resident and having a horse in the Dubai World Cup again. This time I can't say whether she is going to win or not. But what I can tell you is that she will be very competitive and she will try very hard to win. It's going to be a thrilling race."
Charpy then revealed what makes Furia Cruzada such a unique mare.
"In training it's so hard to control her because she is so very strong in the morning," he said.
"You could barely hold her because she is so high and strong. But she is generous and enthusiastic and you can see that in the races that she is trying hard all the time. She has already done well in Chile and Argentine and even in Europe as well," he said.
"She is a quality horse and the biggest challenge for us is to keep her at this level."
Furia Cruzada performed at a very high level in her three starts for Charpy this year.
Now with a bit of luck in Wednesday's draw, Charpy believes Furia Cruzada can mount a serious Dubai World Cup challenge.
"There are only 10 runners. Anything from gate six would be good. That's what she likes. She likes to be right behind the leaders and she is a very right-handed mare, so hopefully she can get some help on the outside on the big night," Charpy concluded.
rituraj@khaleejtimes.com