Carrot Club's Strauss arrived in the United Arab Emirates Jan. 31 ahead of the inaugural Abu Dhabi Gold Cup Feb. 7, where he will become the first Japanese-trained horse to run in Abu Dhabi. The Ryo Takei trainee is stabled at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai.
Strauss, a 5-year-old horse by Maurice, bred by Northern Farm, has won three of 12 starts, including the 2023 Tokyo Sports Hai Nisai Stakes (G2T) and the Shirafuji Stakes last February. In addition to those wins, he finished third in the 2023 Saudi Arabia Royal Cup (G3T) and third in the CBC Sho (G2T) last August. His last start was the Russell Balding Stakes at Royal Randwick in Australia Nov. 1, where he finished sixth.
Strauss, who has earned ¥103,377,000 (approx. US$668,415) to date, was quarantined at Northern Farm's Tenei Branch before shipping to the UAE. Brazilian jockey João Moreira is booked to ride in the Abu Dhabi Gold Cup.
The Abu Dhabi Gold Cup, contested clockwise at the Abu Dhabi Turf Club, carries a total purse of US$1 million and is the richest turf mile to be staged in the Gulf region. The Abu Dhabi Turf Club pays for travel and stabling costs for overseas runners.
The Turf Classic Stakes (G1T) on Kentucky Derby Day at Churchill Downs, May 2, will offer an automatic berth to the 2027 Abu Dhabi Gold Cup.
