Dubai: Promises Fulfilled Likely for Golden Shaheen

Trainer Dale Romans does not like to overcomplicate things.

While pondering when and where his grade 1-winning charge Promises Fulfilled would make his seasonal bow, he keeps coming back to the obvious: He has a colt with controlling speed who runs well fresh. It just so happens there is a $2.5 million race on the table that would play to the chestnut runner's best assets. So while a final commitment is still being weighed, the Mar. 30 Dubai Golden Shaheen Sponsored By Gulf News (G1) at Meydan has been tabbed as the most likely spot for Promises Fulfilled to make his 4-year-old debut.

"There are $2.5 million reasons to come back in that race," Romans said.

Since cutting back to sprint distances following a disappointing run in the 2018 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1), Robert Baron's Promises Fulfilled has developed into one of the most formidable members of a depth-laden division in North America. The son of Shackleford  won three of his last four sophomore starts, including the H. Allen Jerkens Stakes Presented by Runhappy (G1) at Saratoga Race Course in August. 

Freshened since his fourth-place finish in the Nov. 3 TwinSpires Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1), Promises Fulfilled has proven he can fire a winning shot off a layoff. When he won the Xpressbet Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) in March 2018, it was his first outing since running third in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (G2) the previous November.

"He's a fast, fast horse—that's the bottom line. Nothing else really matters," Romans said. "He came off the layoff and he ran huge in the Fountain of Youth last year. I thought about getting a prep into him (before the Golden Shaheen), and then I thought about that and I said we'll just train right into it if we're going to go."

Romans is no stranger to Dubai success, having saddled 2005 Emirates Airline Dubai World Cup (G1) winner Roses in May. Given that the Dubai Golden Shaheen has been dominated by American-based runners, Romans said the six-furlong test was a no-brainer to put on Promises Fulfilled's agenda.

"I think the sprint is America's race," Romans said. "I think the Americans will be the horses to beat there, and I think he'll be one of the horses to beat."

Dubai World Cup: Dabster In, Gift Box Out

With shipping protocols and other such logistics coming into play, the world's richest race continues to take shape with haste. The $12 million Dubai World Cup Sponsored By Emirates Airline (G1) appears to have a nice balance of familiar faces and new players, in both equine and human form.

One such candidate who has arguably the most enviable connections is Dabster, whose trainer, Bob Baffert, has three victories in the 2,000-meter (about 1 1/4-mile) race and was second last year with market favorite West Coast . Owned by Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum, the son of Curlin  carries the same yellow and blue silks as no less than three Dubai World Cup runners-up—Mubtaahij, Lizard's Desire, and Asiatic Boy—the last of whom was coincidentally second to his sire in 2008. The $1 million Fasig-Tipton purchase was nearly joined by stablemate McKinzie as Dubai-bound, but his conditioner decided against it after they worked Sunday.

"Dabster is definitely going to the Dubai World Cup," Baffert said. "McKinzie was on the fence. I think they're going to re-card the (Santa Anita Handicap, G1, April 6). Everything went really smooth (with the works). The track was in pristine shape."

A consistent performer, Dabster has not won a graded race but has two stakes wins and has placed in four graded stakes.

Gift Box, who defeated Dabster in December in the San Antonio Stakes (G2), was being pointed to the Dubai World Cup, but trainer John Sadler said he's not ready and will miss the race.

"He just needs more time," Sadler said. "When I ship out, I ship to win, so I wasn't going to go just to go. His training was interrupted by the weather, so, unfortunately, we won't make it to Dubai."

Almond Eye Sharpens Focus

Japanese filly Triple Crown winner Almond Eye has been clocking faster works since returning to Miho Training Centre Feb. 22 in preparation for her Dubai quest. The Japanese champion will be lining up in the $6 million Dubai Turf Sponsored By DP World (G1) on Dubai World Cup night.

"She is training great," said trainer Sakae Kunieda. "Her weight is up to 493kg. As we push her more in training and after her trip to Dubai, she should be at her best. She goes into quarantine for her departure on the 20th. With the big sweeping one turn, I think the 1,800-meter Turf is a suitable, easy distance for her first start of the year."