Mike de Kock has five runners at Meydan this evening while trainer Steve Asmussen is confident that Switzerland will represent his powerful stable well.
Steve Asmussen
In what is Asmussen’s second start of the 2019 Dubai World Cup Carnival, following the off-the-board finish of Tone Broke in last week’s Al Bastakiya Trial, he brings an accomplished and impeccably swift sprinter into the $200,000 Gr3 Al Shindagha Sprint.
“It’s a good spot for him,” Asmussen said. “I hope he handles the circumstances of the race and runs well. That’s what we’re expecting. I’m very pleased with how he shipped over there and Carlos (Rosas, assistant and exercise rider) thought he worked great over the racetrack.
“It all came together,” he continued. “He’s the right kind of horse to send to Dubai. I think international racing is the direction all horseracing is going and we’re glad to be a part of it.
“I don’t think Tone Broke ran his race the other day. We’ll have to figure that out.”
Switzerland has a pair of Grade 3 wins going the same 1200m dirt distance of this evening’s race, including a dominant win in the DeFrancis Dash at Laurel Park in the fall and equally as smart victory in the Maryland Sprint in the spring. Owned by Sheikh Rashid bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, he enters off two losses, including a third last out on Nov. 22 in Fair Grounds’ Thanksgiving Handicap as the top weight. To be successful, he must beat two other speedsters in defending champ My Catch and dual Argentine Gr2 winner Tato Key, while also overcoming a bad habit of being slowly from the stalls. He must also hold off well-regarded Garhoud Sprint (Listed) winner Drafted.
Bold Rex – can run a good race tonight
De Kock’s comments on his draft for this evening:
Race 3: Faith and Fortune, 1400m om turf
“He was disappointing in his dirt debut for us, but he clearly didn’t enjoy the Meydan dirt surface. He works well on turf, we’re expecting something better tonight, don’t leave him out of anything.”
Race 6: Light The Lights and Astronomer, 2000m on turf
“Light The Lights is well exposed, it’s his third run after a rest and he’s very fit, should run well. Astronomer is a stayer we acquired from Coolmore, he looks like a nice horse, I like his form and he has definite potential. He had one or two issues we’ve sorted out and we’ll be aiming him at the Carnival’s stayers’ features. He’s very fresh, he should run well but whatever happens he will improve for this run.”
Race 7: Baroot and Bold Rex, 1600m turf
“Baroot is well up in the ratings now, we don’t know whether he has improved the extra 6lb from his last win to be a factor here, but he is a game horse and being by Dubawi he has improved with age and is still improving so he can’t be discounted. We fancied Bold Rex to go close last time, but he had to be scratched due to a minor injury which set him back about 5 days. I don’t believe he has been affected by the interruption, he is well and at the weights he should be all over them tonight.”
