By Alan Carasso
Werther (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}), narrow winner of the G1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup (2000m) Feb. 26, will not make the trip to Meydan for the $6-million G1 Dubai Turf Mar. 25, a story first reported by the South China Morning Post.
Last year's Hong Kong Derby and G1 Audemars Piguet Queen Elizabeth II Cup hero, Werther was forced to miss the 2016 Longines Hong Kong International Races via injury and was making his second start of the season at the weekend. He resumed from a May absence to finish sixth to stablemate Helene Paragon (Fr) (Polan {Fr}) in the G1 Stewards' Cup (1600m) Jan. 30.
The Post reported that trainer John Moore received a text from owner Johnson Chen that read: “in consideration of the climate change, travelling pains and the fact that Werther has just recovered from injury” and that the trip to the desert was off. Moore didn't hide his feelings.
“I'm disappointed because I thought the horse had a great chance of winning the race but I'm disappointed too because of the trouble that the Jockey Club people took to make sure we could go,” Moore told SCMP. “The club made contact with Dubai to ensure we had an invitation and it was issued 10 hours before Werther ran in the Gold Cup on Sunday and, at that stage, if Werther won the Gold Cup, Johnson had given me a green light to go. There didn't seem any change of heart after the race, after what was a very good win, so you can imagine how surprised I was to get this text. Most of the horses I've travelled away have come back and won Group 1 races after, and I wasn't bothered about the trip away from that view point. Anyway, it's the owner's decision in the final analysis so we're staying here to target the QE II Cup [Apr. 30, 2000m] and [G1] Champions & Chater [2400m, May 28] again.”
In other Dubai-related news, Lucky Bubbles (Aus) (Sebring {Aus}) and Peniaphobia (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}) have been ruled out of the G1 Al Quoz Sprint (1200mT), leaving the Hong Kong challenge for World Cup night at a maximum of four: Not Listenin'tome (Aus) (Dylan Thomas {Ire}, Golden Shaheen); Amazing Kids (NZ) (Falkirk {NZ}, Al Quoz); Dundonnell (First Defence, Golden Shaheen); and Fabulous One (NZ) (Elusive City, Al Quoz).
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