Kentucky Derby Bids on Offer in Dubai and Japan

While American 3-year-olds continue to battle through the 36 domestic Road to the Kentucky Derby races, a dozen sophomores from around the globe will contest what amounts to a one-shot, "win and you're in" race March 28 in Dubai. The UAE Derby (G2) is the last of 10 races on the Euro/Mideast Road to the Kentucky Derby schedule and Churchill Downs will award "up to two" slots in the fancy, 20-stall Kentucky Derby (G1) starting gate to the best performers in that series. Because of the way the series is structured, the first five finishers in the UAE Derby almost certainly will be the top five point-getters and the winner, and perhaps the runner-up, will be in line for automatic bids to the Run for the Roses. Twelve are entered, eight of them bred in the United States, two in Japan, and one each from France and England. In the past, some American trainers have detoured to Dubai in hopes of opening a back door to the Kentucky Derby. This year, there are none. Bhupat Seemar, whose training yard is a local powerhouse, has four of the 12 with Six Speed and Salloom both among the well-fancied in the international betting shops (wagering is banned in the United Arab Emirates). Six Speed, by Not This Time, enters the UAE Derby with three straight wins to his credit and made it look easy along the way. After winning the UAE Two Thousand Guineas (G3) by 5 lengths Jan. 23, leading virtually all the way, Seemar tucked him into late-winter hibernation and he has not raced since. Six Speed was sold privately before the Guineas to a syndicate headed by Brunetti Dugan Stables and the Jake Ballis-owned Black Type Thoroughbreds. Other partners include Steve Adkisson and Swinbank Stable. The question is his stamina. Seemar confessed to being surprised at how well Six Speed stayed in the Guineas and said two days out from the Derby, "Six Speed is brilliant, he's got tons of speed. I hope he stays but you can only find that out once you're in the race. If he does stay, he's a very serious horse." Salloom, an Authentic colt, won his only previous start Jan. 30 at Meydan by 6 3/4 lengths over a promising Godolphin colt. Salloom races for the Saudi-based King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Sons Stables. His issue is bad acting behind the gate. "He's got a world of talent but he should have had three runs by now instead of just one," the trainer said. "He has his gate antics but we've done plenty of gate schooling with him. He goes there every day now. If he behaves himself, he's got a world of talent." Seemar also saddles Lino Padrino, an Uncle Lino colt who has several lengths to find against these, and Rammaas, by Speightstown, formerly trained by Antonio Sano at Gulfstream Park, whose only UAE win came March 8 at Jebel Ali. Also high on the form charts, and the favorite in some pools, is Pyromancer (JPN). The Godolphin-owned colt is undefeated after three starts and currently holds the No. 2 slot on the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard. That series concludes just several hours before post time for the UAE Derby with the Fukuryu Stakes at Nakayama Racecourse. While Pyromancer flies the banner of Godolphin Japan, Devon Island illustrates Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum's global outreach. Part of trainer Charlie Appleby's Newmarket, England-based operation, the Practical Joke colt started his career with a second-place finish on the Kempton Park all-weather course in September before shipping out to the desert. He romped in his first two starts at Meydan so a second-place finish to Six Speed in the Two Thousand Guineas, albeit by 5 lengths, could be seen as flattering both colts. "Devon Island's preparation has gone well and I feel that the step up in trip will suit," Appleby said after trackwork hours March 26. "He has been competitive on all his starts at Meydan to date and won't look out of place in the field, especially over this distance." Labwah is a wild card. The daughter of Charlatan enters off a 7 1/2-length victory in the UAE Oaks (G3) Feb. 20, her third straight win for owner Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum and trainer Salem bin Ghadayer. "She's super. She's in great form and she improved from her last run," said Bernardo Pinheiro, who has ridden Labwah in all of her races. "The draw in the middle (post 8 of 12) is a bit tough. The ideal would be inside for her but it will be amazing to see her up against the boys." Should she earn a Kentucky Derby invitation, her connections could convert that Annie Oakley to a slot in the Kentucky Oaks (G1). Fukuryu Concludes Japan Road The Fukuryu Stakes at Nakayama Racecourse will decide the winner of the four-race Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby. Lucky Kid (JPN), another Godolphin runner, tops the leaderboard with a score of 30 after winning the third leg, the Hyacinth Stakes Feb. 22. With Pyromancer out of the mix in the Japan series, next in line with 20 points is Don Erectus (JPN), second in both the first leg, the Cattleya Stakes in November, and the Hyacinth. Both Lucky Kid and Don Erectus are in the Fukuryu field but the outcome of the series remains well up in the air. The winner gets 40 points and the runner-up, 20. That means Lucky Kid would get the Derby nod with a win, or second-place finish if Don Erectus runs third or worse. Failing that, to the winner belong the spoils—unless Don Erectus finishes second, in which case he would tie with a 'new shooter' winner, both holding 40 points. Pay attention. There will be a short quiz next period!