The Prodigal Sun Returns
Despite early forecasts for rain, the clouds had cleared out by early Thursday morning and the crowd at Meydan gathered for Breakfast with the Stars got a sunny Meydan to work with. The event, moved indoors because of the threat of precipitation, was well attended, with jugglers and magicians entertaining those who piled onto plates on a wide offering of regional and more traditional breakfast fare. There were reporters and camera crews from all over the world—Japan, Hong Kong, France, Australia and South Africa—and trainers and owners generously offered their time to give three, four or even more interviews in a row.
With another camera crew waiting their turn, I got a chance to hang out with West Point Thoroughbreds’ Terry Finley for a bit (see video blog), and talk about West Point’s MGSW Twilight Eclipse (Purim), a longshot in the 1 1/2-mile G1 Dubai Sheema Classic.
It is Finley’s second time back in Dubai after a 12-year absence. “I came in October of 2002 for a training sale, actually the last training sale they had here,” he told me. He didn’t make the trip a year later, when West Point’s GII Brooklyn H. winner Seattle Fitz (Arg) ran sixth in the G2 UAE Derby, but now that he’s back, he’s brought quite the crew with him.
Including trainer Tom Albertrani, his wife, Fonda, and two daughters, a total of 24 West Point partners made the trip. Interestingly, only 12 or so actually own a piece of Twilight Eclipse. The rest own shares in other West Point runners, but Finley said the camaraderie among his investors is such that everyone in the syndicate can enjoy an experience like this. Cheers to them.
It was a reasonably slow day thereafter, but things got going once again at night with the Dubai Racing Club’s World Cup party, held at the Meydan Beach Club at the Jumeirah Beach Residence. It’s no surprise that few punches were pulled by our hosts. Spectators were treated to great food and drink, dancers and performers, and after the sun faded, even a fireworks show. Three gymnasts, on a trampoline that sat adjacent to a two story wall erected for the event, threw themselves down from the wall, landed on their backs, then flipped back into position as casually as walking across the street. Magicians came round, slipping rings off the fingers of guests, only to return them, in a sealed envelope, tucked inside their own wallets. Sheikh Mohammed, himself getting ready for what could be a big night for his Goldolphin operation, even made an appearance, staying for roughly half an hour as the sun went down over the city. As the night wore on, people lazed on low white couches under purple and blue lights, and were kept well hydrated by an attentive staff.
Back at the plush Conrad Hotel, where the Dubai Racing Club is generously hosting the media, there was time for $25 dirty martini and Latin music at Izel, one six restaurants on the impressive property, before calling it a night. Four-thirty a.m. comes early.
An early pick for Saturday: I’ve really been impressed with Akeed Mofeed (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the mornings (see video blog). A rare entire from Hong Kong, he’s a heavily built, powerful horse, and judging by the way he’s moved over the Tapeta, and I think he should be there at the end of the G1 Dubai World Cup. In the Western pools, you should get every bit of his early 10-1 quote.