Sleepy Eyes Todd, Tacitus to Dubai World Cup

Americans may not have taken home any trophies on Saudi Cup night Feb. 20, but a few could have a second chance at GCC glory. The rich Dubai World Cup Sponsored by Emirates Airline (G1) meeting at Meydan is a mere five weeks and two-hour flight away and more than a few are taking aim. 

Headliners Charlatan and Knicks Go came into the $20 million feature race with top-tier form, but their collective brilliance was blunted by a reportedly demanding surface and a world-class training job by John Gosden, whose Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby, G1) winner Mishriff took a page out of Thunder Snow's book by proving to be a multi-surface star in Europe and the Middle East.

Trainer Bob Baffert was pragmatic about the loss of Charlatan, while also ruling out a trip to the UAE.

"He got beat by the horse I was worried about," Baffert said. "I'm proud of his effort and we'll bring him home. It was exciting, everything went well, and they treated my team great. I'll get that race someday."

Immediately following the effort, on-hand SF Racing/Bloodstock's Tom Ryan, co-owner and purchaser of Charlatan, was understandably bittersweet about the run. Charlatan earned $3.5 million for his effort.

"I think he ran a very brave race," Ryan said. "It's a very long stretch and he got ran down on the wire. After this, we'll look to getting ourselves home and then talk to Bob and the team in the coming days and decide what we'll do." 

Brad Cox-conditioned Knicks Go entered off four powerful victories since joining the barn in late 2019, including the Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) and Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1). Cox's son, Blake, and assistant trainer Dustin Dugas were on site to see him run a lackluster fourth, beaten 8 1/2 lengths and earning $1.5 million.

"He came back fine and in good order," Dugas said. "He cooled out well and ate up and everything seems OK with him. Sadly, as much as I'd love to go, we'll skip the Dubai World Cup and just go home and just regroup. We were looking forward to hopefully going, had things worked out."

The Dubai World Cup will add an additional furlong and a few new players, but a strong cast from Riyadh is likely to head that way. Mishriff, sixth-place Military Law, and Champions Cup (G1) winner Chuwa Wizard, ninth, are pointing to the featured $12 million event, along with grade 2 winners Sleepy Eyes Todd and Tacitus.

Miguel Silva-trained Sleepy Eyes Todd rallied well to earn $1 million for fifth (3 3/4 lengths astern Knicks Go), while Bill Mott-trained Tacitus was a disappointing seventh after being in proximity to Charlatan's hot early fractions. Both have accepted their Dubai Racing Club invitations.

"The horse came back great," Silva said. "He ran awesome, despite all the troubles we had in the race. He is healthy and happy and he is on his way to the airport to Dubai to participate in the Dubai World Cup."

Mott was underwhelmed by the effort of Juddmonte Farms' Tacitus, who was noticeably keen in the parade ring prior to the race. He will be joined in Dubai by Eclipse Award winner Channel Maker, who ran a good second in the $1 million Neom Turf Cup over 2,100 meters (about 10 1/2 furlongs) to Irish mare True Self.

"I thought (Tacitus) faded the last quarter and I was disappointed he didn't run on a little better than that," Mott said. "It definitely was not what I wanted, but he will go straight to Dubai.

"Channel Maker ran hard and ran a good race. He put away the horse that was on the lead and there was somebody to pick up the slack. I think the races set both horses up for their Dubai runs. I would have liked Tacitus to hold on a little better. Still, there were good horses in front of him. I was just disappointed he couldn't finish better than he did, whether it was the track (surface) or not."

Max Player, who was a well-beaten 11th of 14, will likely skip the Dubai World Cup, but his Steve Asmussen-trained 3-year-old stablemate Cowan remains possible for the trip after running a close second in the $1.5 million Al Rahji Bank Saudi Derby over a one-turn mile.

After missing the break, Cowan chased home Japan's Pink Kamehameha, a second win in as many editions for trainer Hideyuku Mori, whose 2019 Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) alum Matera Sky was pipped on the line for the second consecutive time in the Saudi Arabian Airlines Riyadh Dirt Sprint, one race later. Matera Sky and his conqueror, Copano Kicking, are possible for the $1.5 million Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1). They will be joined by Justin, a disappointing sixth as one of the favorites. 

Cowan is nominated to both the $750,000 UAE Derby (G2) over 1,900 meters (about 1 3/16 miles) and $1 million Al Quoz Sprint (G1) over 1,200m (about six furlongs) against older horses.

Pink Kamehameha is pointing to the UAE Derby, a race that offers 170 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) qualification points. The distance appears a question mark for Cowan, but the straight turf sprint would be an intriguing spot, considering his runner-up effort to Golden Pal in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G2T).

UAE-based triple group/grade 3 winner Switzerland, a former Steve Asmussen trainee, was a good fourth in the Riyadh Dirt Sprint after looming a danger at the top of the stretch for conditioner Satish Seemar. He will head to the Dubai Golden Shaheen for RRR Racing.

The Japanese and American contingents arrived in Dubai Sunday afternoon and entered quarantine at Meydan Racecourse.