Last year's GI Travers S. winner Keen Ice (Curlin) certainly has all the right connections to win the world's richest race–his trainer, Dale Romans, conditioned the 2006 winner Roses In May (Devil His Due) and his sire won the race two years later–and the Donegal Racing silkbearer takes the next step toward the $10 million G1 Dubai World Cup Mar. 26 in Saturday's G1 Al Maktoum Challenge R3. Keen Ice, who settled for fourth behind American Pharoah (Pioneerof the Nile) in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic on Halloween and filled the same position in the GI Clark H. in his seasonal swansong Nov. 27, may not have put in an awe-inspiring performance when sixth in the GI Donn H. at Gulfstream Feb. 6, but Romans said there was more to that performance than meets the eye.
“He was doing his best work at the end in the Donn,” the trainer said. “The track seemed to favour the speed horses that day so it did not really suit him.”
Romans added, “He worked very well last Saturday and my assistant, Tammy Fox, rides him and says he feels in great form and seems to like the track. We decided to bring him over early to give him time to get to know the track and acclimatise.”
Keen Ice will be ridden for the first time by Ryan Moore.
Another World Cup aspirant who looks to bounce back from an off-the-board effort on return is last year's G2 UAE Derby winner Mubtaahij (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), who failed to fire when fifth in the G3 Firebreak S. going a mile Feb. 4. Mubtaahij is not far off Keen Ice on previous form, having finished one spot behind him in both the GI Kentucky Derby and GI Belmont S.–when eighth and fourth, respectively–and was making his first start since the June 6 Belmont last time.
“We were far from disappointed with his return,” said De Kock. “We knew he would need the run and the trip was too short for him. This is more his trip and he is far straighter, having enjoyed a good preparation. He should be a big runner for us.”
De Kock also saddles Charles Fipke's 2013 GI Kentucky Derby runner-up Golden Soul (Perfect Soul {Ire}), who finished third in an 1800 metre turf handicap on local debut here Feb. 11, and longshot Pylon (SAf) (Fort Wood).
“Pylon needs to improve on what he has achieved in Dubai so far, while Golden Soul has some top dirt form and his owner was keen to try him back on the surface after his excellent turf run on his debut for us.”
Kiaran McLaughlin, the trainer of the 2007 World Cup winner Invasor (Arg) (Candy Stripes), has enjoyed a fruitful carnival with wins by Frosted (Tapit), Confrontation (War Pass) and Marking (Bernardini), and he saddles Godolphin's Watershed (Bernardini), who came flying late to be second to Confrontation in the Firebreak.
“He had not run before August and has only had five starts,” said McLaughlin. “The way he was finishing his race last time, along with his build and pedigree, suggest this 2000 metre trip will suit him. It is a tough race but we think he merits the step up in class and we will find out where we stand with him. He could be a Dubai World Cup horse but if not, we can drop back in class and trip for the [G2] Godolphin Mile.”
Also looking to solidify World Cup claims is Hong Kong all-weather specialist Gun Pit (Aus) (Dubawi {Ire}). The 5-year-old gelding is seven-for-seven over Sha Tin's all-weather track but finished last when traveling to Japan for the G1 Champions Cup Dec. 6. He was sixth, beaten two lengths, going nine furlongs on the Sha Tin turf in the Centenary Vase Feb. 6.
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
