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South American superstar to grace DIRC
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South American superstar Latency has been revealed as an exciting new addition to the US$31 million Dubai International Racing Carnival, which gets underway on Thursday.
The top-class Southern Hemisphere six-year-old is due to leave Buenos Aires on Tuesday and arrive in Dubai on Saturday, a journey which connections hope will culminate with a crack at the US$6million Dubai World Cup, sponsored by Emirates Airline.
The son of Slew Gin Fizz and considered one of Argentina’s great thoroughbreds of recent times, arrives in Dubai off an extraordinary three-length victory in South America’s prestigious Gran Premio Internacional Carlos Pellegrini in December.
His victory in the signature event, marked his seventh Group 1 win and 10th overall in 22 career starts for owner Stud El Bobo, property of cardio surgeon Dardo Fernandez Aramburu and family.
Nicolas Fernandez Aramburu, son of Dardo, said: “It is a great adventure to take him to Dubai, and he will be accompanied by all of our team, to ensure he is in the best of form, and Julio Cesar Mendez will ride him as normal.
“The Dubai World Cup field is definitely top-class, and with horses like Curlin, Daaher, Student Council, Awesome Gem, Asiatic Boy, Vermilion, Ramonti and Premium Tap, it’s going to be a mouthwatering prospect taking them all on.
“For me, the meaning of Latency winning the Dubai World Cup translates into experiencing heaven while being alive. To our family there are really no words that can describe what we feel for him.”
Latency will bid to extend South America’s emergence on the world racing scene when he attempts to become the second straight South American-bred thoroughbred to capture the 2000-metre showpiece after Invasor’s sensational victory in last year’s event.
Winner of two Carlos Pellegrini Awards as 2005-06 Champion Miler and Best Older Horse in Argentina, Latency’s other major victories include winning South America’s ‘06 Gran Premio Asociacion Latinoamericana de Jockey Clubes at Maroñas in Uruguay and the ‘05 Gran Premio Estrellas Classic, Argentina’s equivalent of the Breeders’ Cup Classic at San Isidro.
Three of Latency’s Group 1 scores have come on the dirt, with one of his top victories coming at the Dubai World Cup distance of 2000 metres.
He is due to have a prep race first, possibly in the Group 2 US$300,000 Maktoum Challenge Round 3 on Super Thursday on March 6.
In other news from South America, Uruguayan Derby hero Café Silver has been purchased by the Maktoum Family to race at the Dubai International Racing Carnival.
The exciting South American purchase is to be aimed at major races for three-year-olds in Dubai, including the 2008 UAE Derby on March 29 at Nad Al Sheba racecourse.
A most impressive 10 ¼-length winner of his debut, Café Silver was last year among the top-rated juvenile colts in Uruguay - the native land of 2007 Dubai World Cup winner Invasor.
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