Raining in Dubai

It rained very hard last evening for about half an hour.

Water forced its way into my hotel room and we had to squeegee it out.

Over night it rained off and on.

Just now, at 7:15 in the morning, it started raining cats and dogs again.
This not only will take any sting out of the course, it might really aid the Europeans, especially the French, on the grass.

Good morning Barry and thanks for the update.

Hannon vents frustration at Duty Free draw


A DEVASTATED Richard Hannon said he was "tempted to get on the next plane home" after Paco Boy, 4-1 favourite with Coral for the Duty Free was handed stall 13 of the 16 runners.

The random selection for Saturday's Group 1 races - done by computer for the Duty Free and through 'blind' nomination by connections for the World Cup - left Hannon so upset over the draw for the Prix de la Foret winner Paco Boy that he dodged a pre-arranged public interview and left an international array of guests to continue the rest of the promotional proceedings without him.

Earlier, Hannon had been bullish about the chances of Paco Boy stepping up in distance to the 1m1f of the Duty Free.

After watching Paco Boy's workout, Hannon had said: "He's very well, and I think he'll be all right at the distance.Ryan (Moore) has won on him and knows this track and thinks he'll be okay on it. I think he stays a mile, but whether he'll get those final extra yards I don't know for sure, but we'll find out on Saturday. There's a $5,000,000 purse, so you've got to have a go."


Ralph Beckett was also left disappointed as his World Cup hope Muhannak was handed stall one. “We’re here, the draw is what it is, and we’ll take it on the chin,” he said. “We drew the wide outside in his first race in Dubai, and stall one is just as bad.”

He added that he would sit down with Muhannak's jockey Richard Hills and work out a strategy for the Breeders’ Cup Marathon winner, who remained 40-1 with Coral.



“We’ll probably try to break well and sit in behind the leaders,” Beckett said, adding: “But there will be plenty of others wanting to do that.”



World Cup favourite Albertus Maximus will race from stall ten, with which trainer Kiaran McLaughlin was “very happy.”



McLaughlin, back at the scene of his World Cup win two years ago with Invasor, added: “We wanted to be outside Well Armed [drawn seven], as he’s the speed in the race. If Well Armed goes to the lead, we can take back a little.



“With this draw Albertus Maximus can break and relax, and still be forwardly placed.



“It’s hard to be as confident as we were with Invasor, because he was a great horse, but we are confident

Albertus Maximus wows on-lookers in workout


DUBAI World Cup favourite Albertus Maximus certainly impressed onlookers as he exercised at Nad Al Sheba on Wednesday.

"Is that Albertus Maximus? Wow!" said California trainer Doug O'Neill, who was watching from the backstretch rail as the son of Albert The Great galloped past.



Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said: "He was a little keen but we like to see him aggressive. He's training great. He's a real professional racehorse; he does everything right."

McLaughlin won the World Cup with Invasor two years ago and he added: "There are five or six horses in here who could win, but I think they have him to beat.

"We like our chances. We wouldn't trade places with anybody right now."

It has stopped raining, but more is expected over the next 3 days.

Mike de Kock told me the course really needs a bit of moisture, so maybe its a good thing.

They say more rain tomorrow,Arabian Nights desert party a washout tonight.....going to make for interesting racing come sat....

Well I heard from a jockey that has lived for for ages that the track has NO drainage.


Really sorry you having a torrid time with the rain....