Although it’s been twelve years since Graham Motion celebrated what he labels a career highlight when winning the Dubai World Cup with 2011 Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom, the Maryland-based veteran is ready to thrill South African racing fans at Meydan on Saturday when champion Isivunguvungu lines up in the Gr1 Al Quoz Sprint.
Graham Motion – ready to raise the SA flag at Meydan (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
While the veteran conceded that he is better known for training longer distance horses, he says that Isivunguvungu rates right up there with the best sprinters he has had in his care.
“He is as impressive a horse as I have seen in morning work-outs.”
Graham was hurriedly readying himself to pack and grab the Dubai flight on Monday evening when chatting to the Sporting Post earlier this week.
“It’ll be exciting to get back, it’s been a while,” says the man born in Cambridge, England. He confirmed that there is nothing that gets the juices flowing more than competing in these international events.
“What a special journey! The planning that goes into it and being able to represent my South African owners is a big thrill for all of us and not something that we take lightly. He is a special horse and hopefully gets a chance to give a good account of himself on Saturday.”
His is an interesting journey, from winning two Gr1’s here in South Africa for Peter Muscutt, to winning on US debut for Graham Motion at Colonial Downs, to finishing a creditable seventh in the Gr1 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint. He started this year with a third in the Turf Dash Stakes at Tampa, a performance which had his trainer satisfied.
We asked Graham if the 6yo speed demon is up to the task in a competitive race?
“I think now that he’s been with us for almost a year he has had a chance to settle in. Last year he couldn’t miss a beat in order to make the Breeders Cup so I could never let up on him. I think this has shown to be the case with Beach Bomb who has put together two very strong efforts after having a break. If Isi is up to his A game he can be competitive!”
Dean Kannemeyer was at pains on Monday to stress the importance of a horse travelling well – he was talking about the 1600 odd km from Cape Town to Durban. What about the arduous intercontinental trip undertaken by the Narrow Creek-bred son of What A Winter?
“The travelling has been smooth. So far so good. And to look at the build-up, you could say perhaps that he should have won his prep but it was exactly that, a prep. The timing was perfect, he ran very well and has had two solid bits of work since.”
He explained that as Isivunguvungu had been in Dubai for a week already, he would just be galloping and cantering up to the race.
We asked if Isi had seen the Meydan course.
“He has galloped over the dirt course since last Thursday but will not step on the grass before Saturday. His preparation was really done at home. Now it’s about getting him to Saturday in the best possible physical and mental shape,” adds Graham.
A ten-time champion in France, Belgian-born Christophe Soumillon rode Isivunguvungu twice in South Africa. Graham is clearly pleased with the engagement.
As to the barrier draw and opposition, Graham says that it being a straight race, there is not really a bad draw as such, but he’d like to be in the middle if he had the choice.
“It’s a decent field as befitting a well-endowed Grade 1 race. I am familiar with a couple of the European horses who have very solid form.”
South African success on World Cup night is nothing new, but due to quarantine restrictions one must go back to 2015 and Mubtaahij, trained by Mike De Kock, for our last success on Dubai World Cup night.
A decade is too long! Isi can raise the SA flag on Saturday!
The first race at Meydan is off at 15h35.
You can enjoy every stride of the action on Gallop TV and more exciting news – the Hollywoodbets Punters’ Challenge is set to debut at Meydan on Saturday. Watch the press for details or visit www.punterschallenge.hollywoodbets.net
George McDonald
Richard Jones
Mac Naidoo
WILLIAM MILKOVITCH
