Asiatic Boy runs Saturday.

KENTUCKY - Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa al Maktoum’s Asiatic Boy, who made history in 2007 when he became the first UAE Triple Crown winner, is being prepared for the US$600,000 Stephen Foster Handicap (G1) at Churchill Downs this Saturday.

Formerly trained by South African Mike de Kock, the six-year-old is now handled by Kiaran McLaughlin. Asiatic Boy will be shipped from his base at Belmont Park in New York to Churchill in the middle of the week.

The 1800m Stephen Foster, captured last year by Curlin, would mark the first start in America for Asiatic Boy.

If he runs in the prospective field of seven, Asiatic Boy also will be making his first start since a disappointing 12th-place finish in this year’s Dubai World Cup won by Well Armed. In 2008, Asiatic Boy finished a good second to Curlin in the Dubai World Cup.

The assignment is not an easy one for Asiatic Boy. He could bump multiple G1 winner Einstein, who has won elite events on turf and synthetic surfaces and is seeking to become only the second American-based runner after Lava Man to take top races on all three types of tracks.

Jay Em Ess Stable’s multiple G2 winner Arson Squad, who finished 1.25 lengths in front of Asiatic Boy in the World Cup, is also considered a probable starter along with Bullsbay, winner of Churchill’s Alysheba Stakes (G3) on 1 May, multiple G2 winner Macho Again, four-time stakes winner Researcher and Dubious Miss. - Dubai News Wire.

Just feel stud duties beckon... Hope I'm wrong

Good run by Asiatic Boy. Finished 2nd to Macho Again by just over a length, beating the favourite Einstein by a nose. Gave the winner some weight by got a little from Einstein.

Much the best. Went for the same hole as favored Einstein, neither made it through, Asiatic Boy forced to go outside, Einstein went inside. With a decent trip, Asiatic Boy wins clear, Einstein second, the winner third or fourth. I thought he moved better on the Churchill Downs track than the one in Dubai. Big race for him.