Derby Points Up For Grabs In Dubai, Japan

[Wandering Eyes]

The Euro/Middle East Road to the Kentucky Derby and the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby continue Friday and Sunday, respectively, with the $217,760 Listed Dubai Road to the Kentucky Derby over 1900 meters and the $245,100 Listed Hyacinth Stakes going a one-turn mile at Meydan Racecourse and Tokyo Racecourse.

The seventh race on an eight-race card under the Friday night lights at Meydan, the Dubai Road to the Kentucky Derby lacks the presence of G3 UAE 2000 Guineas hero Six Sense (Not This Time), who is training up to the G2 UAE Derby on Mar. 28, but does include King Abdullah Bin A/Aziz and Sons' promising Salloom (Authentic).

Some poor manners at the gate saw the strapping bay scratched from his expected debut in December, but with a winning trial under his belt, the $175,000 Keeneland September yearling turned $600,000 OBS March breezer made light work of a one-mile maiden Jan. 30, making just about every yard to score by just under seven lengths en route to 'TDN Rising Star' presented by Hagyard honors. He is well clear of his 12 rivals on ratings, but given his antics at the stalls first time around, nothing can really be taken for granted.

“Salloom is doing great and I think he came out of the last race really well,” said trainer Bhupat Seemar. “He's ready to go again and take his chance, but I hope he behaves in the gate–that's the biggest thing.”

Omaha Front (Omaha Beach) is one of four others saddled by Seemar and enters off victories over 1400 and 1600 meters at Jebel Ali Jan. 17 and 31, while Brotherly Love (GB) (Zoustar {Aus})–the half-brother to last year's UAE Derby runner-up Heart of Honor (GB) (Honor A. P.)– needs to improve off a troubled eighth in the Guineas. The winner earns 20 points towards a Derby appearance. Click here for the form guide.

 

 

Koichi Nishikawa's Arcadia Cafe (Into Mischief) could go favored in Sunday's Hyacinth Stakes as he looks to join his commonly owned half-brothers Cafe Pharoah (American Pharoah) and Luxor Cafe (American Pharoah) as winners of the race, which offers 30 points to the first home.

A $550,000 Keeneland September acquisition, Arcadia Cafe graduated by 2 1/2 lengths over the Tokyo one-turn mile Nov. 1 and was last seen finishing third in the first leg of the series, the local Cattleya Stakes, behind Satono Voyage (Jpn) (Into Mischief)–third in last week's G3 Saudi Derby–and 132-1 outsider Don Erectus (Jpn) (Danon Legend), who also lines up here. Rachel King, who was aboard future Kentucky Derby participant Luxor Cafe last year for Noriyuki Hori, has the call on Arcadia Cafe.

Four last-start winners are headed by Iterrasshai (Jpn) (Mischievous Alex), a first-out third over course and distance in November and the five-length winner of a Nakayama maiden going 1800 meters on Dec. 13. Leading rider Keita Tosaki has the call.

Yu Pharoah (American Pharoah), a son of the turf Grade III-placed Limari (Medaglia d'Oro), is a maiden winner from eight starts on the grass and tries the dirt for the first time in his career.

The Hyacinth is the third of four legs on the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby.

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