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Originally Posted by RolloTomasi
That makes plenty of sense. But that's more a situation like the one in 2003 when Outta Here, an American-trained and raced horse, prepped for the Kentucky Derby by shipping to run in the UAE Derby.
What's not being mentioned is that the entire Godolphin band of horses, 3yos and older, are sent to Dubai. Winter in Dubai is the game plan for all their horses, not just 3yos targeting the Kentucky Derby. Its analagous (on a much larger scale) to old-time stables like Rokeby wintering their horses in Aiken, or WH Perry or Phipps stables sending horses to Santa Anita for the winter. They're there for several months.
In and of itself, I don't think this "regrouping" method is a bad idea. Where probably most of the problem lies, as opposed to the switch in locale--though obviously the long ship can easily knock out some horses--, is the switch in training/management (which is the plight of nearly all their 2yos). Not that the Suroor guy sucks, it just seems to be an untimely point in their careers to changing up the training program on developing horses. Its almost like the horses, being in new hands, have to start from scratch (this is what allegedly happened to Ruler's Court). It would be interesting to see how things would have played out if Eoin Harty and David Loder stayed on as head trainers for their strings while in Dubai.
Most of the failures of Godolphin to win the Kentucky Derby has been because they haven't shown up for the race, not because their horses have run like sh!t in it. In fact, the few horses they have started have given fairly decent accounts of themselves (Worldly Manner, China Visit, Express Tour). In addition, perhaps their two classiest candidates, Street Cry and Aljabr, were injured just days before the Derby.
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a few hour trip to aiken is not comparable to quarantine and then a flight to dubai-the flight alone to dubai is far longer than a drive from new york to aiken.
and then they have to do it again in a few months. i just think it's too much stress on a horse, and that it's unnecessary. it takes only a few hours to fly from new york to cali, but how often do you see it attempted? not very-most horses and trainers stay at their base, or within a few hours drive. also, i've read that many trainers either ship in immediately before the race, or two weeks ahead, as many horses come down with something after a few days of shipping-and often that was just a van ride. so, think about quarantine, and then the van ride to the airport, hours upon hours on a plane, and then another ride, etc--and multiply that times two for those going over, and then coming back.
besides, we all know that the derby is a tough customer-and many say it's not the time to try anything new, and you need great luck. so why compound the difficulties with unnecessary travel, especially with younger horses?