Morning Line Goes to Dubai : Michele MacDonald

Blasi Calls an Audible

cdawahare — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 18:58:00 GMT

Not long after dawn broke on Friday morning in Dubai, Scott Blasi decided to change plans with Curlin. Instead of taking the Horse of the Year to the main track at Nad Al Sheba-where Curlin will try to capture the $6 million Dubai World Cup (UAE-I) on Saturday - he opted to venture to the more secluded training track for the colt's final pre-race gallop. ...(read more)

Curlin Could Make More Memories for Cornes

cdawahare — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 18:21:00 GMT

No American knows more about the Dubai World Cup (UAE-I) from personal experience than Jim Cornes. The Dubai Racing Club official and former assistant to four-time Dubai champion trainer Kiaran McLaughlin has witnessed all but one of the previous 12 runnings of the world's richest race and will be there Saturday to see if Curlin can join the elite group of winners. ...(read more)

International Intrigue: Chechen President Buys Sheema Classic Contender

cdawahare — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 17:58:00 GMT

In yet another vivid demonstration of the vast global reach of the Dubai World Cup (UAE-I) program, the president of Chechnya swooped on Friday to purchase Dubai Sheema Classic (UAE-I) contender Mourilyan....(read more)

Camel Racing Unsurpassed for Pomp

cdawahare — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 16:32:00 GMT

The racing aficionado's life is far from complete without a visit to a camel racetrack. Sure, there might be no sight more compelling than a Thoroughbred in full flight. Curlin, for example, is the epitome of power and grace in one "complete package," as assistant trainer Scott Blasi likes to say. ...(read more)

‘Perfect’ Curlin Has World at his Feet

cdawahare — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 16:17:00 GMT

As racing fans and participants from around the world gathered at Nad Al Sheba Racecourse on Thursday for "Breakfast with the Stars," there was one name that seemed to be on everyone's lips: Curlin. People from Australia to Europe to South America to Asia all wanted to see the American Horse of the Year with their own eyes, to gauge how good he might really be before he races for the $6 million Dubai World Cup (UAE-I) on Saturday. ...(read more)

Curlin is Jackson's Lifetime Dream Come True

cdawahare — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 16:03:00 GMT

Jess Jackson is a man whose achievements and successes could fill many books. Yet the founder of the Kendall-Jackson Winery and self-made billionaire has found his lifetime dream come true at age 78 in the shape of a chestnut colt with a white blaze named Curlin. ...(read more)

Striking A. P. Arrow to Carry Famous Silks

cdawahare — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 15:05:00 GMT

More than one flashy chestnut horse has been catching the attention of railbirds at Nad Al Sheba Racecourse this week. A. P. Arrow, a six-year-old son of A.P. Indy, has cut an impressive figure on the track under exercise rider Eddie King, drawing questions of "Who's that?" along with some oohs and ahhs, even when he has been out at the same time as that better known red streak called Curlin. ...(read more)

Whimsy Takes Many Forms in Dubai

cdawahare — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 14:17:00 GMT

Giant ants have invaded Dubai and are laying eggs. That's what it looks like in front of the Dubai International Financial Centre in the city's business district. Huge bronze-colored ant statues battle with one another, dig down into the grass and emerge out of it and surround a queen insect as she lays white eggs, which are cleverly designed stairs so tourists can climb up into the mid-section of the bug. ...(read more)

Getting Sick - and Healthy - in Dubai

cdawahare — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 13:51:00 GMT

The really bad thing about getting sick in a foreign country is that an attack of the least little malady can still ruin business or pleasure, rendering thousands of dollars expended as not much more than a regretful waste....(read more)

Curlin Gets Aggressive Over Paparazzi

cdawahare — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 16:21:00 GMT

Like every superstar, Curlin is well aware of the presence of cameras. While he usually enjoys posing, sometimes the paparazzi get on his nerves. As exercise rider Carlos Rosas steered the colt around the training track at Nad Al Sheba on Wednesday in their first return to exercise following Monday's half-mile workout for the Dubai World Cup (UAE-I), he heard the whir and click of a battery of cameras. ...(read more)

The Palace of the Magic Kingdom

cdawahare — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 15:40:00 GMT

All the small sign stationed on one of Dubai's whirling traffic roundabouts says is "private access." There are no gates, no fences at the sign-nothing visible to designate that this place is anything special. Yet anyone who looks out his car window can see that what lies down a long driveway lined with palm trees and lush avenues of grass is something extraordinary. ...(read more)

Explosion Rips Peaceful Morning

cdawahare — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 14:52:00 GMT

American Horse of the Year Curlin was standing in the wash rack in his barn in the quarantine area of Nad Al Sheba Racecourse when the unmistakable sound of an explosion split the air. "We were lucky he was in the wash rack because we could have had a problem if I was walking him," assistant trainer Scott Blasi said of the startling noise. Curlin had just finished a light gallop over the training track when the incident occurred shortly before 7:30 a.m. ...(read more)

Energetic Curlin Holds Court

cdawahare — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 15:45:00 GMT

A day after his last workout for the Dubai World Cup (UAE-I), he was ready to do more, said Scott Blasi, who has spent the last month tending only to Curlin, satisfying the colt's every need and keeping him focused on the task that lies ahead....(read more)

Handsome Is ... Curlin

cdawahare — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 14:25:00 GMT

An informal poll of the three Dubai Racing Club officials who have spent the most time observing the 97 horses from 14 countries who are slated to compete on Saturday's Dubai World Cup program has resulted in Curlin being chosen as the most impressive physical specimen at Nad Al Sheba....(read more)

Quintessential Curlin: The Look of Perfection

cdawahare — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 13:51:00 GMT

Nothing like the pressure of the last workout before racing for $6 million. But for Horse of the Year Curlin, Monday's half-mile breeze for the Dubai World Cup (UAE-I) was just another day that he had to abide by rider Carlos Rosas's polite but persistent request for patience. "Wait. Wait. Not yet," Rosas said through his motionless body language. ...(read more)