Dubai Turf race contender from France Zarak during the morning track work at Meydan.
Dubai: Historically, the winners of the $6 million Dubai Turf (Group 1), the joint richest turf race in the world, have come from such diverse backgrounds as Australia, France, the UK, Japan, South Africa and the UAE.
It is a fact that has inspired handler Cliff Brown, who is hoping that Debt Collector, the winner of six races in a row last season and the Horse of the Year, can put Singapore’s name on that elite list.
The New Zealand-bred four-year-old is a 40/1 long-shot in the ante-post markets but Brown, who has skilfully nursed his protege to three domestic Group 1 victory last year, believes that Debt Collector ‘deserves his chance on the world stage.
“He’s settling in better. At first it was all a bit new to him. He’s a young horse and it was a change to the routine,” Brown said. “But he’s eating up well and his bodyweight is in the range that he would race at back home.
“He’s the best horse in Singapore but this is a very strong race and that is the main problem we face. It’s like he’s moving from the goldfish bowl to the wide open ocean.”
On Saturday, he will confront several accomplished performers from the big ocean including Zarak, who has the potential to become the fourth French-trained winner of the 1,800-metre contest.
He represents French handler Alain de Royer Dupre, who 12 months ago sent out Vazirabad to win the $1 million Dubai Gold Cup (Group 1), a sapping 3.200-metre contest that is the longest race on the card.
The smart son of Dubawi has already proved his liking for Meydan by winning the Group 3 Dubai Millennium Stakes in February, despite not being totally race-ready.
“He wasn’t a hundred per cent fit for the race, but he won well,” Royer Dupre said at the time. “But he’ll come on for the race and we hope to have him one hundred per cent fit for the Dubai Turf.
“He’s a bigger and more mature horse than he was last year, where he ran very creditably in defeat in several big races like the Prix du Jockey Club (Group 1) and Moulin de Longchamp (Group 1).
“The Dubai Turf is always a tough race and this year is no exception. But we couldn’t be happier with him and his condition, and that’s what matters.”
Latest odds:
Zarak (11/4); Ribchester (7/2); Mutakayyef (11/2); Real Steel (9); Decorated Knight (12); Deauville (16); Mondialiste (16); Heshem (25); Cougar Mountain (33); Long Island Sound (33)
Debt Collector (40); Opal Tiara (50); Very Special (50); Vivlos (50).
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