One of the most popular horses in Turkey is set to make his Dubai debut this evening – he is the amusingly named Good Curry.
Taking on some (appropriately) salty competitors in the $135,000 1200m handicap, the three-time Gr1 winner has been training well locally under Turkish jockey Ismail Koyuncu.
Named after American professional basketball player Stephen Curry II, the Bayram Kocakaya-trained horse will be facing tough rivals in dual Grade 3 sprint winner Switzerland, Touch Gold Racing’s Pop the Hood, Godolphin’s Victory Wave and the well handicapped Lavaspin.
“He is a very kind horse and you can ask him to do anything,” said owner Ismail Hadioglu via a translator.
“At the moment, he is fit enough. He just had around 50 days of rest before he came here. Maybe he has a little condition, but a 1200m race I think he can win. The main target will be on the ninth of March (the Mahab Al Shimaal (Gr3)). After the ninth, we will go for the (Dubai Golden) Shaheen (Gr1) if there is a chance. It’s his first time (here), he needs to get around and then we will decide. In Turkey, he was racing the opposite way (right-handed).”
The son of Sharp Humor has raced over various distances, notching multiple Group 2 wins over 2000m on the dirt and all weather in his native Turkey. However, he rose to fame by winning at the highest level over 1500m three times, posting an average winning margin of about three lengths.
“He is a very fast horse; likes to go forward,” Hadioglu said. “Here in Dubai, this is a different track. I can’t decide exactly. We will see (how he is placed early). The jockey (Halis Karatas) is very experienced and is the champion jockey in Turkey. He will decide on the best tactic. Anything can happen and change in this race.”
Koyuncu has also been aboard Peri Lina, an immensely popular Turkish filly who will take on a tall order in the Group 2 Balanchine on Thursday. She exits an off-the-board finish in the Group 2 Cape Verdi against many of the same foes. The move up in distance by 200m may assist the Hasan Boyraz-trained filly, who has posted Group 1 victories over 2100m twice, as well as making her mark as a Group 1-winning miler.
“Peri Lina is very good,” said regular rider Ismail Koyuncu. “She’s reached a good point at Meydan. The (Cape Verdi) was a very tough race for her. She has started to become fresh and is much better now.”
Showing a touch of character when taking her time to load, the four-year-old filly jumped clear of the rest when the gates flew open during her last start.
“She’s ok now,” Koyoncu continued. “We teach her every day. We take our time and try not to rush her. She has become used now (to the surroundings). We have already done some schooling. She’s much better now, I can say that.”
Racing in counter-clockwise direction for the first time, the Peri Lina will have gained experience and a fitness edge from her mile outing. Cape Verdi victress Poetic Charm will seek to make it a Cape Verdi-Balanchine double, achieved by Promising Run last year, but the extra furlong will suit her Turkish challenger.
“In the winter time we couldn’t find any races for her,” Koyuncu said. “They run the Group races in the summer. This time I feel she can do much better. She likes longer distance, that was a mile and it was her first time out.”
