Dubai: Harp Star, Flintshire, Designs On Rome and Main Sequence, the quartet of horses vying for favouritism in Saturday’s $6 million (Dh22 million) Dubai Sheema Classic (G1), pleased their connections at Monday’s track work session at Meydan.
Harp Star, winner of the 2014 Japanese 1,000 Guineas (Oka Sho, G1) had an easy canter and assistant trainer Tsuyoshi Matsuda said: “I asked her to run at the pace of 15 seconds each 200 metres yesterday [Sunday], so I put her in an easy canter this morning.
“I would like to say thank you for all the help from Dubai Racing Club, everything went well so far, and she fits very well.”
Flintshire, who represents legendary French handler Andre Fabre, took to the grass track to stretch his legs,
Richard Lambert, Fabre’s travelling head lad, reported: “Flintshire cantered on the grass track over 1,400 metres. He has travelled well and is in good form.”
Alice Clapham, long-time assistant to Dubai World Cup (G1)-winning trainer Graham Motion, reported that Eclipse Award winner Main Sequence has adapted well to his surroundings at Meydan.
“He took to the flight well and has been training well. We’ve been keeping him to the training track,” Clapham said.
“Graham gets in this afternoon [Monday] and we’ll decide if we will do something more with him. If we do anything [with regard to more serious work] it will be tomorrow [Tuesday]. We may bring him over to the main track on Wednesday to gate train.”
Dolniya, trained by Alain de Royer-Dupre and another leading contender, came on to the main track together with stable companion Cladocera and fellow French-trained Solow. Dolniya did a slow canter for about 600 metres and then upped the tempo for the next 1,200 metres.
Antoine Creton, travelling head lad for the yard, said: “Dolniya is in good form and we are very happy with her.”
