Abu Dhabi: It will be an emotional evening for veteran trainer Erwan Charpy at the Meydan Racecourse on Saturday.
The Frenchman, who has spent over two decades in the UAE, will have his first runner in the US$10 million Dubai World Cup.
Furia Cruzada, a five-year-old bay mare by Newfoundland, owned by Avaz Ismoilov and ridden by Italian Antonio Fresu carries Charpy’s hopes in the headline event.
Charpy, understandably, is thrilled about the prospect of having a runner in the showpiece event.
At the same time, he is also realistic of her chances as she has to locks horns with some of the biggest names in the equine world, including Arrogate — the highest rated horse in the World (134).
“It been 22 years since I have been residing here but it still seems like yesterday. I’m fortunate, because some people spend a life time without a runner in the World Cup,” said the 55-year-old Green Stables trainer adding he was delighted to have broken the jinx and fulfilled a long lasting dream.
“I’m very pleased as I have been watching the race from the outside for a long time, and finally, I will be a part of it,” said Charpy, adding that he had some nice horses in the Dubai World Cup meetings every year barring one since the Dubai World Cup was first staged in 1996.
“I have had runners on the World Cup night and I have had some special moments too. You need to have a special horse to run at the Dubai World Cup as it is the race for the cream,” said Charpy, whose Furia Cruzada joins the likes of Larrocha, Hokuto Vega, Borgia, To The Victory, Aquareliste, Red Desire, Buena Vista and Royal Delta, who have competed against their male counterpart at the Dubai World Cup over the years.
Furia Cruzada’s performances speak for itself as she has victories in Chile and Argentina on the dirt. However, when flown to Europe for a campaign she couldn’t live up to that billing. She seems to have got her form back in Dubai though, winning in her first local start — the Group 2 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2 last month but she could only finish third behind Long River and Special Fighter in her next on Super Saturday.
“She is a nice filly and very tough but realistically we hope she can finish in the money. It is going to be a tactical race because everyone thinks there is only one horse to beat (Arrogate). We will try to give our best and I don’t think it will be a dream come true to win it but to run a very good race would be great,” asserted Charpy adding that he is ‘not that happy’ to be drawn from grate 8.
“We are in the middle and I would have like it to be little bit closer to the rail. There is speed on the inside and there is speed on the outside. I would say in such a race you should be looking for clear ground,” said Charpy signing off by saying that he and his team won’t get overhauled by the situation and try and do what they have been doing all through these years — ‘try to win races no matter big or small.’
