RACING:THERE MAY be a more urgent need for some "Détente in the Desert" in Libya right now but racing's very own meeting of minds takes place at Meydan racecourse today where Ireland's Cape Blanco can land the world's richest horse race.
In many ways the presence alone of Cape Blanco in the €7 million Dubai World Cup, along with two other stable companions from Aidan O’Brien’s Ballydoyle stables on the €11.7 million undercard, is a victory for common sense.
There has been no definitive reason ever given for the falling out between Dubai’s ruler Sheikh Mohammed and Coolmore Stud’s John Magnier but the presence of the Ballydoyle horses alone in the Gulf indicates a growing rapprochement of sorts.
O’Brien will be in Dubai today to saddle Cape Blanco, and the three-year-old pair of Alexander Pope and Master Of Hounds in the UAE Derby, and that, too, is significant considering reports of the offence taken by the Sheikh over no senior Coolmore figure being present five years ago when Powerscourt ran on the world’s richest single day’s racing.
Since then the Sheikh hasn’t bought the stock of Coolmore stallions at public auction, a situation that hardly benefits either side, and O’Brien hasn’t had a runner in the tiny emirate. But the purchase of a “significant interest” in Cape Blanco by the Dubai-based Scottish businessman Jim Hay appears to have helped ease tensions between world racing’s two superpower organisations.
Hay, and his wife Fitri, have also bought an interest in the 2009 Irish Derby winner Fame And Glory, and although Hay has played down speculation about a mediation role between Coolmore and the Maktoum family, today’s step looks a significant one at the top end of the high-octane world of international flat racing.
One definite input Hay has already had is the presence of Jamie Spencer on Cape Blanco. The former British and Irish champion jockey has close links to the owners and so is back on a Ballydoyle number one hope six years after leaving the post as stable jockey to O’Brien.
Spencer will carry the Hay colours on Alexander Pope too, with Ryan Moore getting the leg up on Master Of Hounds. That booking will no doubt fuel more speculation about long-term riding arrangements at Ballydoyle but in the shorter term, a win for Cape Blanco would break new ground for all concerned.
On the best of his 2010 form there is no effort required in arguing that the Irish hope is the most accomplished runner in today’s feature. He had the favourite Twice Over five and a half lengths behind him when landing the Irish Champion Stakes and can also boast a Dante defeat of the Derby and Arc hero Workforce.
The question-mark is over his readiness for a task like this over Meydan’s Tapeta surface. But it is encouraging that O’Brien started the Irish Flat season so well at the Curragh last weekend with a win for a maiden and a good runner-up placing for Gemstone in the Group Three feature.
Cape Blanco also has a better draw than Twice Over and if at his best the Irish star could set up a prize-giving ceremony to relish.
Other Irish interest today will centre on the opening Group Two sprint where Sole Power, the shock 100 to 1 winner of last year’s Nunthorpe, has his first start since York and lines up alongside Mick Halford’s Invincible Ash.
One runner that could provide value on an almost profligate evening of racing though is Bankable in the Duty Free race. Owned by the Chechen president, Ramzan Kadyrov, who has Gitano Hernando in the World Cup, Bankable was runner up in this race last year.
A couple of unlucky sprint efforts this year were followed up by a Group Three win on the Tapeta last time out and ex-Luca Cumani horse looks primed for a big run.
