It looked almost like a schooling run or something to me. :lol: I do remember Robby saying after the race that he was a little rank at the start from being off so long but that he handled everything so well, he tapped him once on the shoulder with his whip when it was time. (Don’t quote me on all that, that’s just from memory!).
I feel so attached to this horse just from seeing him work at Keeneland and hanging out in the barn watching him walk and eat hay… silly I know, but there ya go.
No, it’s WFA, not a handicap.
SH 3yo: 54.5kg.
NH & SH 4yo+: 57kg
Mares get an allowance of 2kg.
[QUOTE=Drvmb1ggl3;3041489]
NH & SH 4yo+: 57kg[/QUOTE]
124lbs, right? 2.2 lbs to 1 kilo
57kg = 125.7lbs, so more or less 126lbs, just like the BC Classic, JCGC etc etc.
He made it look EEEASY! Nice prep for him.
Curlin will carry 126 for the DWC, so he’ll get weight off.
Returning off the layoff (almost 4 mos.) flying to Dubai, carrying 132 and going 1 1/4 miles is a very big accomplishment.
Robby took him off the rail to get him to relax. In his post race interview he told the interviewer that he could have ridden Curlin-it was cute. Mr. Assumssen was really uninspiring in the post race interview. What was amusing (for no other reason than we don’t see it often at this level) was to see Blasi wearing the number shirt thing (sorry, don’t know the technical name) and he and Ass. walking the horse in the paddock. Guess they didn’t pack a groom? 
I hate to admit it, but yeah, Curlin looked awesome. Disappointed Premium Tap probably won’t start next month.
Oh, one other interesting thing they mentioned on the coverage. Supposedly the “experts” were saying Curlin should actually should of had a much higher spread but the highest weight a horse can carry there is 132 and lowest 117. Dettori couldn’t ride the horse he normally rides (in that race) becauase he couldn’t make the weight!
Most of Curlin’s rivals “should” have carried less, based on their international classification rating vs Curlin’s. The problem is that the bottom weight for such a high handicap is 117. Also, it should be noted that while in the US the term “handicap horse” (not that it means much today) refers to a top quality older horse, a major stakes competitor, in most nations it means a horse below graded stakes quality. Most countries would never see a horse of Curlin’s stature in a “handicap” race.
As for Assmussen, he’s always like that. he’s so soft spoken that he almost mumbles and it’s rare to hear anything that sounds like bragging from him.
I think that they brought a groom, but in Dubai it’s common for the assistant trainer to be the one walking the horse. Also, Blasi is '“he guy” in charge" regarding Curlin. he’s hands on every day. Whenever I saw Curlin at Saratoga last summer, Scott was close at hand.
[QUOTE=miss_critic;3042360]
Disappointed Premium Tap probably won’t start next month. [/QUOTE]
Where is this being cited? We know he’s dropped two consecutive races but I didn’t see any confirmation of him skipping the DWC.
These were the official handicap ratings for the runners in the Jaguar Trophy yesterday…
Curlin 129
Familiar Territory 109
Engrupido 106
Jet Express 104
Arqaam 101
Imperialista 100
Here they are adjusted for racing weights, with Curlin carrying top weight of 132lbs
Curlin 132
Familiar Territory 112
Engrupido 109
Jet Express 107
Arqaam 104
Imperialista 103
So you can see that every horse bar Curlin was running “out of the handicap”, some by as many as 14lbs.
As to Dettori, given his day job he would rarely ever need to ride below 8-10 (122lbs).
[QUOTE=Drvmb1ggl3;3042802]
As to Dettori, given his day job he would rarely ever need to ride below 8-10 (122lbs).[/QUOTE]
That day job wouldn’t be cooking at Frankie’s would it? 
Something slightly ironic about a jockey and running a food establishment.
[QUOTE=Glimmerglass;3042649]
Where is this being cited? We know he’s dropped two consecutive races but I didn’t see any confirmation of him skipping the DWC.[/QUOTE]
On HRTV-showing Dubai coverage. I heard it twice. First the folks doing the show in Dubai (who are they?) interviewed the trainer a couple weeks ago, or maybe last week and he said it was unlikely and yesterday they listed the probables and had PT as a not probable, even though he was on the list.
BloodHorse 3-10-08 “Curlin ‘Awesome’ in World Cup Workout”
excerpt
Curlin arrived at the track around 7:30 a.m., emerging out of a blanket of fog that was beginning to burn off under the rising sun.
Although observers had a difficult time picking him up on the backstretch, the chestnut son of Smart Strike was timed in :37.23 for the first three furlongs, with a half-mile in :49.40.
Although the colt was a little keen in the early going of the Jaguar Trophy, he settled down, and the experience should benefit him and Albarado in the Dubai World Cup, sponsored by Emirates Airline.
“I think Curlin will be a lot more focused next time,” Blasi said.
Between the race and the workout, Curlin had what Blasi described as “a great week of training” that included another visit to the Nad Al Sheba starting gate and a schooling session in the paddock during racing on Super Thursday’s March 6 program.
“It was a good experience for him,” Blasi said. “We gave him several rounds in the walking ring with a lot of people on hand. We want him to feel comfortable and relaxed out there.”
I added a new pic to my Curlin album. This was taken by my “man in Dubai” as Curlin worked.
http://s205.photobucket.com/albums/bb31/Linny999/Curlin/?action=tageditmany
Another impressive workout:
Curlin was at it again Monday morning at Nad al Sheba Racecourse in Dubai, wowing onlookers with a powerful six-furlong breeze, his big drill for his start March 29 in the $6 million Dubai World Cup.
Curlin, working alone with regular exercise rider Carmen “Carlos” Rosas in the irons, was clocked in 1:13.54 for 1,200 meters, or about six furlongs. Curlin started out slowly, going his first furlong in 13.40 seconds, but finished fast, coming home with a final furlong in 12.19.
[b]
Racing officials at Nad al Sheba are forecasting as many as 13 runners for the World Cup, which would equal the biggest field in the race’s history. Curlin’s stiffest competition could come from Asiatic Boy, Happy Boy, Jalil, Premium Tap, or Vermillion.
[/b]
What? They don’t consider Great Hunter stiff competition?
<insert hysterical laughter>
:winkgrin:
On a more serious note, I thought Premium Tap was unlikely. But I forget where I read that.
[QUOTE=Texarkana;3080495]
On a more serious note, I thought Premium Tap was unlikely. But I forget where I read that.[/QUOTE]
I thought it was off-handed remark made on HRTV during their coverage of Curlin’s last race. Yes, he’s dropped two races but I didn’t think that precluded him from making this important start. It is not like he bombed like War Pass in his past efforts 
Is ABC/ESPN going to air the Dubai World Cup race afterall?
I didn’t see any promos during the Lane’s End Stakes, as one would expect, and that suggests they aren’t airing it. I preseume HRTV will air it but anyone else?
I bet they’ll show the replay during the FL Derby. ??? Maybe not. But you are right, they were planning on it at the beginning of the year. Remember I kept asking why the tv listings changed on NTRA.com? Well, they still don’t have hrtv up on anything.
Ye, the NTRA entry for the Dubai World Cup does not list any TV provider at all. Typically they’d at least cite HRTV, TVG, ESPN or the big three networks.
I concur that ESPN2 when airing the Fl Derby will invariably show the Dubai World Cup during the segment as it will have concluded many hours before.
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