By Alan Carasso
Gilt Complex (NZ) (Gold Centre {Aus}), recently crowned champion older horse, champion stayer and most improved horse in Singapore for 2017, arrived in Dubai over the weekend and is reportedly in fine shape as he prepares for the first of what could be as many as three appearances during the Dubai World Cup Carnival.
“All's good with Gilt Complex. He's settled in really well,” trainer Cliff Brown told the Singapore Turf Club's Michael Lee. “[Equine chiropractor and senior track rider] Jakki Harrison travelled with him. She will also be riding him in work.”
Winner of last year's Dester Singapore Gold Cup (2200mT) (video) in addition to the Raffles Cup (1800mT), the ERA 109-rated Gilt Complex is expected to make his Carnival debut in a 95+ handicap over 2000 metres on the turf Thursday, Feb. 8, with 2016 Gold Cup winner and 2017 runner-up Bahana (NZ) (Elusive City, ERA rating 103) and Newlands (Aus) (Mugharreb, ERA rating 100) also set to represent the Lion City. Michael Rodd, who rode Singapore-based Elite Excalibur (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) on two occasions during the 2017 Carnival and Debt Collector (NZ) (Thorn Park {Aus}) in last year's G1 Dubai Turf, will fly in for the mount. Brown is expected a few days prior to the race.
Should all go well, Gilt Complex could proceed to the G2 Dubai City of Gold S. (2410mT) on Super Saturday Mar. 10 with the $1-million G2 Dubai Gold Cup (3200m) in play were he to prove good enough.
Gilt Complex is owned by Graham Mackie, who also campaigned the likes of champion Spalato (NZ) (Elusive City). The 6-year-old was bred by J. R. O'Brien and was an NZ$10,000 graduate of the 2013 NZB Festival Yearling Sale. He has won eight of his 27 trips to the post for earnings of $1,130,412.
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