Dubai: An ambitious bid has been launched by Emirati owner Ahmad Al Falasi as he attempts to win the Dubai World Cup (G1) with a horse that he bought only a few months ago.
Al Falasi, a self-confessed speed buff, acquired the three-time Group winner Planteur last December, with the chief objective of aiming him at the $10 million (Dh36.7 million) contest next Saturday.
A five-year-old by former Irish champion Danehill Dancer, Planteur will break from the Meydan starting gates at 9.40pm in the skilful hands of jockey Ryan Moore. The three-time former British champion will be on board the Marco Botti-trained horse for the first time in 15 career starts.
Al Falasi believes that, with a little luck, Planteur could be ready to write another historic chapter in the Dubai World Cup's rich history.
"I have been in racing for over six years and I've had runners on the big night for the last four," Al Falasi, 28, told Gulf News.
"But I have always dreamt of having a runner in the Dubai World Cup. Now we have a good horse, a good trainer and a good jockey, so let's hope for the best.
"We just need a little bit of luck, inshallah we will make the UAE proud in the Dubai World Cup."
The man steering Al Falasi's extraordinary endeavour is Ajay Anne, a former Darley Flying Start graduate who is currently the only bloodstock agent based in the UAE.
‘World class horse'
Ajay helped Al Falasi purchase Planteur from the estate of the late billionaire French businessman, art dealer and racehorse owner Alec Waldenstein.
"Planteur is a world class horse with a 122 rating," said Al Falasi.
"The impressive manner in which he won the Group One Prix Ganay in France last year made me think of buying him for the biggest race in the world. He has confirmed class and ability, having beaten top horses like Victoire Pisa and Rewilding.
"After the Dubai World Cup we plan to have an international campaign in the UK, France, Ireland, Japan and the USA, depending on how the horse takes his races and what my team of professionals think is best for the horse. Eventually we plan to stand him at Stud.
Al Falasi, who has a collection of some of the world's best sports cars and is also proficient in driving dune buggies, said he was inspired to enter flat racing by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
"His Highness has built the best and the biggest racecourse in the world, so to share the same passion like our leader and compete at the highest level is not only prestigious but also an honour," he said. "There is never been anyone like Shaikh Mohammad in the racing world and never will be again.
"Shaikh Mohammad and his family are great leaders to follow and their passion for horses is what encourages local owners to buy quality horses for the Dubai World Cup Carnival."
Ireland's multiple Group One winner So You Think is the 3/1 ante-post favourite for the Dubai World Cup.
