Irish and Japanese Colts Seek KY Derby Points in Dubai

Churchill Downs has been trying for years to boost international interest in the Kentucky Derby (G1) by staging qualifying races in Japan and Europe—none of which has done much to impact the Derby itself.

The final leg of each of those series is imminent and this year there appear to be some serious contenders for the American classic. Ironically, the leading contenders are not battling it out in Japan or Europe. 

Instead, they're in the UAE Derby (G2) at Meydan Racecourse on Dubai World Cup (G1) night March 25. And, furthering the irony, that is the only race run on foreign soil that's part of the main Road to the Kentucky Derby series that includes all the major United States Derby preps.

Into the irony bargain, the UAE Derby field also has a smattering of U.S.-based 3-year-olds hoping to qualify for the Run for the Roses through this "back door," which awards the winner 100 points and minor placings 40, 30, 20, and 10, without the need to take on any of the division leaders back home.

The international contingent is led by the top-ranked horse in the European Road to the Kentucky Derby series, Cairo , and the top three from the Japan Road, Perriere , Derma Sotogake , and Continuar . All were early nominees to the U.S. Triple Crown.

Cairo, a Quality Road   colt from the Galileo mare Cuff , is a Coolmore homebred trained by Aidan O'Brien. He comes to Dubai fresh off a victory in the Patton Stakes at Dundalk in Ireland, the penultimate leg of the European Road to the Kentucky Derby series. 

This is a beaten path for O'Brien. In 2018, he saddled Mendelssohn   to win the Patton and the UAE Derby only to see him finish 20th and last in the Kentucky Derby after a disastrous start. O'Brien hasn't tipped his hand about plans beyond Dubai and Cairo holds entries for both the English and Irish classics.

With Cairo on the ground in Dubai, O'Brien reported, "Everything has gone well. We were delighted with his run (in the Patton) and we thought he would come forward plenty from it and (we) have been happy with his work since."

Perriere leads the Japanese series after winning the third leg and finishing third in the second. Derma Sotogake won the second leg and Continuar was first in the series opener. Derma Sotogake and Continuar then abandoned the Japan Road in favor of the actual road, finishing third and fifth, respectively, in the Saudi Derby (G3) Feb. 25 in Riyadh.

Goraiko , also a Triple Crown nominee, and Dura Erede fill out the five-strong Japanese presence in the 13-horse field.

Es-Unico, who was fourth in Riyadh, also moves along to Dubai.

The American horses running in the UAE Derby this year all look to emulate Tall Boy , a Lookin At Lucky   colt who shipped from California winless after four starts for trainer Doug O'Neill and promptly won the UAE Two Thousand Guineas (G3) Feb 10. Joining him is another O'Neill charge, Ah Jeez . He was 2-for-8 in California and won his first start in Dubai in a conditions race Feb. 24. Back to the irony factor—he's by Mendelssohn.

Bob Baffert has Worcester , an Empire Maker  colt who enters the UAE Derby still a maiden after three starts. Shirl's Bee , trained in Dubai by Doug Watson, is owned by his breeder, Charles Fipke.

The draw was not kind to the Americans with Worcester getting gate 11 and Tall Boy in 10. Ah Jeez will start the 1,900 meters (about 1 3/16 miles) from the 4 stall.