Breakfast With The Stars

BREAKFAST WITH THE STARS 
Thursday’s Breakfast With The Stars traditionally belongs to the people rather than equines, as a couple of thousand people descend on Meydan for a sumptuous breakfast under a canopy of white umbrellas. In the background, the Thoroughbred stars are put through their paces, but the attention is mostly on the food, the entertainment and the human stars, with well-known owners and trainers lending glamor to the event. 
Then it rains and despite the best-laid plans, things go horribly awry. As the rains came down yesterday, beautifully appointed tables were hurriedly dismantled and carted away, while a new undercover venue had to be found. Thursday dawned dry, with the sun sporadically making an appearance through the clouds, but it was sadly too late to move the breakfast outside again. 
So how does one host a breakfast in a room that is 600 meters by 15 meters? With great difficulty. Entertainment was tricky at best, with the jugglers having to move from table to table and the stilt walker in severe danger of getting his legs knocked from under him by the packed crowd. It was a far cry from the usual spectacular affair, but under the trying circumstances, it was a job well done. 
The Boys in Blue, as the Godolphin team is commonly referred to, did their best to lift the mood. Entering in their familiar blue outfits, Saeed bin Suroor, Charlie Appleby, Mickael Barzalona and Silvestre de Sousa were instantaneously mobbed for selfies and autographs. Gracious as always, they posed and smiled against the backdrop of the carefully guarded World Cup trophies. Interviewed at the press confidence a short while later, both jockeys were very confident of their various mounts on the night, prompting bin Suroor, who has a wicked sense of humor, to quip: “It has been fascinating listening to our jockeys, I just hope they do what they just said they would, come World Cup night!” 
With the Godolphin horses never gracing the main track, preferring to stay at their home base in the desert, one is reliant on bin Suroor and Appleby for information as to their wellbeing, and hence the morning press conference was packed. Bin Suroor labelled Cavalryman (GB) (Halling) as their best chance on the night, but admitted that Excellent Result (Ire) (Shamardal), who runs in the Dubai Sheema Classic, is the one closest to his heart. “I named him as a yearling. He was such a magnificent specimen and he has only gotten better with age. He could be anything and I expect a great run from him in what is a very tough race.” 
Out on the track, away from the bacon and eggs, it was the Hong Kong duo of Akeed Mofeed (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Military Attack (Ire) (Oratorio {Ire}) who impressed most. Akeed Mofeed did a circuit under his regular workrider Roy Cheung before race jockey Douglas Whyte took the reins, guiding the gelding round at a steady half pace. Joao Moreira was also on hand to test-drive Military Attack, putting the gelding smoothly through his paces despite a little headshaking due to the kickback. With Akeed Mofeed drawn in barrier four and Military Attack in lucky number eight, the Hong Kong pair is hard to split as potential victors of the World Cup. 
Another who appreciated the sun on his back was French raider Dunaden (Fr) (Nicobar {GB}), who is normally a model citizen. Workrider Matthieu Brasme needed glue on the seat of his pants this morning as Dunaden proceeded to give a sterling display of airs above the ground during his morning workout. The bucks were so big that Dunaden seldom had more than one foot on the ground, prompting one of the outriders to canter down, shouting “Ça va, Ça va?” (Are you ok?), to the intrepid Brasme, who to his credit, managed to stay on. 
Twilight Eclipse (Purim), the American hope in the Sheema Classic, again returned very sweaty and appears to not have quite settled in his new surroundings. This may just be his way, but in the hot desert conditions, it is far from ideal. The other U.S. runner, Berlino Di Tiger (Brz) (Tiger Heart), appeared on the turf course where he did not do much, but seemed happy and relaxed, moving easily through his paces. The last of the American trio, Zee Bros (Brother Derek), has been in Dubai from the start of the Carnival and hence keeps to the training track and is rarely seen on the main track. 
This is also the modus operandi of the South African horses, who have remained out of sight, but are reported to be working well. Mike de Kock confirmed earlier in the week that Shea Shea (Saf) (National Emblem {SAf}), holder of the Dubai 1000 meter sprint record, was his best chance on the night. Shea Shea, who set the record after charging up the outside rail in the G1 Al Quoz Sprint last year, emerged from yesterday’s draw with barrier 12, putting him in the perfect position for a repeat performance. 
After a day of scrambled eggs, jugglers and mixed fortunes, tomorrow brings the last day of trackwork, the much awaited first glimpse of Aidan O’Brien’s string and, most importantly, sunshine!