South China Morning Post.....
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Cruz's stars in Dubai holding pattern
MURRAY BELL
Senior handicapper Nigel Gray believes an invitation for Viva Pataca to participate in the US$5 million Dubai Sheema Classic should be a formality, but it will be a waiting game for perhaps another 11 days for trainer Tony Cruz to see if Floral Pegasus and Bullish Luck are invited for the Dubai Duty Free.
Dubai Racing Club executives will be waiting until the conclusion of the "Super Thursday" meeting next week, where there are three key lead-up races for Group Ones on World Cup night 23 days later.
"Given Viva Pataca's high international rating, an invitation for him should be a mere formality," Gray said.
"And as far as Floral Pegasus and Bullish Luck are concerned, I would be fairly optimistic that they would both get invited, but that's not for me to say."
Bullish Luck finished third in the US$6 million Dubai World Cup on dirt last year but Cruz said on Sunday he and owner Wong Wing Keung definitely want the veteran to try for the Dubai Duty Free this year.
With prize money of US$5 million, the Dubai Duty Free (1,777m) shares equal billing with the Sheema Classic (2,400m) as the world's richest races on turf.
If invited, it will be Bullish Luck's third visit to the desert city. The first was in 2006, when he finished a meritorious fifth in the Dubai Duty Free after beginning from barrier 15.
"The wide barrier killed him that day, and nothing away from the rails had a winning chance," Cruz reflected.
"But although he ran a brave race on the dirt last year in the World, he's really a turf horse and the Duty Free is the race we'd like to contest with him."
Gerald Mosse will retain the ride on Floral Pegasus in Dubai, while Christophe Soumillon will have first refusal of the mount on Bullish Luck.
Watch What Happens and Viva Macau will be racing in Dubai at the "Super Thursday" fixture and the Jockey Club yesterday gave clearances to jockeys Douglas Whyte and Darren Beadman to attend the big meeting.
Whyte would depart after next Wednesday's Happy Valley meeting and return two days later to fulfil his riding engagements at the Sha Tin meeting on March 9..
Beadman will leave next Tuesday and will therefore not be available to accept rides at the Valley meeting.
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