International chit chat

[my miss storm cat]

UAE press releases.....


UAE-owned Dono da Raia, Eu Tambem garner top honours in Brazil


Eu Tambem, seen winning on his first UAE start, has been honoured in Brazil (copyright Dubai Racing Club/Andrew Watkins)

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed al Maktoum’s Brazilian import Dono da Raia was honored with the Trofeu Mossoro Award as Brazil’s Horse of the Year for the second straight season at the Brazilian Jockey Club Salao das Rosas in Rio de Janeiro.

The awards, for the 2006-07 Southern Hemisphere season, are selected and presented by the Brazilian Breeders and Owners Association.

Dono da Raia, who earned 2005-06 Horse of the Year, best three-year-old colt, and best stayer honors in Brazil, captured the 2006 Grande Premio Brasil (Brz-G1) in his lone 2006-07 Southern Hemisphere start.

His efforts prompted his sale to Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, although he failed to fire in both his UAE starts during the 2007 Dubai International Racing Carnival.

Dono da Raia placed sixth behind Quijano in the Gulf News Trophy Handicap on February 9, before finishing last of 12 in the Intikhab Dubai City of Gold on the “Super Thursday” March 1 card.

Another Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum-owned Brazilian import, Eu Tambem, was elected Brazil’s champion three-year-old colt and best dirt horse.

Eu Tamben made a fine first impression at Nad al Sheba when capturing the Elnadim Maktoum Challenge Round 3 on Super Thursday, before finishing seventh in the UAE Derby, sponsored by Saeed & Mohammed Al Naboodah Group.

Brazilian Nelore Pora, winner of the Dubal Stakes at Nad al Sheba in February, was voted champion miler.


* * *

Undefeated Argentine stars bought for 2008 DIRC

Unbeaten Argentine stars Love Dancing and Basko de Zarautz have been sold to interests in the United Arab Emirates for an undisclosed amount.

Both promising youngsters shipped to Dubai on August 12 ahead of the 2008 Dubai International Racing Carnival.

Haras De La Pomme’s homebred three-year-old filly, Love Dancing, followed up an impressive seven-length score on her career debut, with a dominant four-length victory in the Group 3 Clasico Manuel J. Guiraldes at Palermo on July 14.

While the other exciting South American purchase to be aimed at major races for three-year-olds in Dubai, is the very promising Basko de Zarautz, an impressive 10-length winner on his career bow when covering one mile in 1:33.48 at Palermo on June 25.

[my miss storm cat]

Races in Japan cancelled again.....

[my miss storm cat]

Forgot to say good luck to Echo tomorrow.

(Formal Decree too).

GO GODOLPHIN, GO!

[NoChanceToDance]

Originally Posted by my miss storm cat

GO AWAY GODOLPHIN, GO AWAY!

That's how i feel, too

[my miss storm cat]

Originally Posted by NoChanceToDance

That's how i feel, too

ECHO WINS!

[my miss storm cat]

Sporting Life.....


LIGHT SMASHES YORK RECORD
(no author listed)

Echo Of Light smashed the course record for York's nine furlongs by more than two seconds when repeating last year's triumph in the TurfTV Strensall Stakes.

Frankie Dettori blazed the trail on the Godolphin five-year-old, who galloped on too strongly for the opposition.

The 5-4 favourite romped clear by two and a half lengths from the staying-on Halicarnassus, with Kandidate a further three-quarters of a length back in third.

"He has a tremendous cruising speed. I knew I had a healthy cushion by the time we were a furlong and a half from home," said Dettori.

"He likes to travel on the bridle and I was able to do that to the furlong marker and kept him going to the line.

"I was surprised it was a course record because the wind was a bit against us so it was a pretty good effort."

Trainer Saeed bin Suroor added: "This horse has always shown plenty of speed in his morning work.

"In the past he would not settle but with age he has become more relaxed.

"York suits him and he has improved from his win in France last time.

"There is a race for him he won last year on the day before the Arc over a mile (the Prix Daniel Wildenstein).

"He might take him there, but he will see how he is after this race. He is tough."

[NoChanceToDance]

Happy for him, but why the hell didn't Kandidate help to force the pace? His best form has been when he has been on the pace. Today was a prime example why many people believe this sport is fixed. Echo Of Light was bet as if defeat was out of the question, everyone knew he was going to get on the pace as soon as the gates opened, and the only horse to challenge was a 100/1 chance. Everyone knows that if you challenge Echo he doesn't like it, but no.... they just let him have his own way.

Formal Decree on the other hand drifted in the betting and finished tailed off.

Strange tactics by the others, but well done to Echo.