On Conroy, from our friends at the ERA.
He was 4th in R1.
Evergreen Conroy bids to roll back the years
07:47 - 31 January 2008
The evergreen Conroy, arguably the most popular horse in training in the UAE in recent years, embarks on what will surely be the final chapter of his remarkable racing career at Nad Al Sheba tomorrow when contesting the opening 1000-metre dirt handicap.
The 10-year-old gelded son of Gone West is fast approaching 30 career starts since making his debut back in 2001, when runner-up in a maiden.
That was after being sold to his owner Mohd Al Jamali for the princely sum of AED 30,000 having not raced for Godolphin or then John Sadler, who he was originally based with.
Al Jamali had put the colt into training with Adi Selvaratnam and the new partnership was rewarded with a win on his second start. Conroy improved throughout that season to win both the prestigious Jebel Ali Sprint and Mahab Al Shimaal. That gained him an invite to the Group 1 Dubai Golden Shaheen on World Cup night when he was ninth to Caller One.
The following season, he again won the Mahab Al Shimaal and contested the Dubai Golden Shaheen, when 10th to State City.
However, 2004 was arguably the pinnacle of his career when winning the Mahab Al Shimaal for a third time and finishing third to Our New Recruit in the Dubai Golden Shaheen.
In 2006 he was runner-up in the Al Shindagha Sprint before one more crack at the Dubai Golden Shaheen, but only beat one home behind winner Proud Power Too.
Last season he had two starts for Tony Manuel but is back with Selvaratnam this season who reports him in good shape: “He worked very well last week but is obviously getting old now.
“He has had so many problems over the years and owes nobody anything. It would be nice to think we could get him back near his best but that is a big ask at this stage of his career.
“He is enjoying his work and is ready for a race. We will just have to see how he gets on but I think he will run well.”
His last handicap appearance was a winning one in 2005 – off a mark of 111. He runs off 95 here, so who knows - with Selvaratnam’s sprinters firing on all cylinders - a remarkable comeback may not be an impossible dream.
In the same race, Frankie Dettori partners Robert Cowell’s Canadian Danehill and the trainer revealed: “Frankie recommended I brought him over for the Carnival so here we are. I had a winner with Forever Phoenix last time we came over so maybe lightning can strike twice.”
Mike De Kock’s Drayton has been gelded since his European campaign which included a fifth in the Group 1 Golden Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot and he looks well worth trying over this trip having shown a lot of pace.
Also on the card, the 2400-metre turf handicap features an intriguing clash between John Oxx’s lightly-raced four-year-old Mourilyan and Brazilian Group 1 winner L’Amico Steve.