This is my last Dubai World Cup, and I've got one of the leading fancies, so it feels like there's a bit of extra pressure on, but I'm looking forward to it. I've been a bit jet-lagged, as it's a long way from California, but I'm keeping focussed. Once you're out riding there's no such thing as jet lag.
Last year, we probably thought Life Is Good was unbeatable, and he was until he ran out of steam at the furlong pole. There's multiple Group 1 winners and a strong bunch of Japanese horses, including The Saudi Cup winner, this year, so it looks tough. One thing for sure with COUNTRY GRAMMER (Race 9) is that he's all heart. He leaves everything on the track. You know he's going to run hard until the end and I couldn't ask for a better companion. He ran a super race in the Saudi Cup last time. It looked as though he would be swallowed up in the home straight, but one thing he has is a lot of guts and never gives up. Sometimes, like last time, he just runs out of runway, but he always leaves everything on the track. Being drawn in 14 is not deal, as the first turn comes up quickly, but it is what it is. Hopefully, he breaks well and then we're in the lap of the Gods, so we'll see how the race unfolds.
I've then got TRAWLERMAN (Race 3) in the Dubai Gold Cup. He didn't run that well in the Red Sea Turf Handicap in Riyadh, but that was his first run after a long lay-off. It can be hard to get horses fit first time up, and I'm hoping he's ready now.
RAAED (Race 4) is an ex-Shadwell hrse and has been racing a lot on dirt in Saudi Arabia, but has some good form on the grass too. This year's Al Quoz Sprint looks an open division and I hope he can get involved.
I rode work on WORCESTER (Race 5) and he's quite a lazy horse, but he's an interesting one in the UAE Derby. It's difficult to weigh up all the Japanese form, but my horse is solid. He's proven on dirt and the distance will be no problem, so that's a couple of boxes ticked.
The Golden Shaheen looks a very tough race this year. HOPKINS (Race 6) finished well behind Country Grammer in the San Antonio Stakes in December, but he's a sprinter and found that step up in trip a bridge too far. This is his trip and I can see him running well, but he'll have to put in a career best in what looks a very hot race.
LORD NORTH (Race 7) is a horse I love to bits. I rode him on Thursday morning and he seems fine. He can be hard to predict but he always turns up here at the right time. He dead-heated in this race last year. It's funny because before and after the line I was in third, but on the line I had dead-heated! We've got a good draw in stall three, but it just depends how he is on the day. He doesn't show too much in the mornings as he's a seven-year-old now, but hopefully he still comes alive when the gates open.
After Emily Upjohn came out, Caspar Fownes asked me to ride SENOR TOBA (Race 8) in the Sheema Classic. We're not under any illusions how tough it will be – he finished around five lengths behind Win Marilyn in the Hong Kong Vase in December – but we'll give it a go. Caspar is a good friend of mine and I'm looking forward to it. The horse stays well and I'll give it everything.
As for how my next plans are shaping up, I'm just taking it week by week at the moment. I'm looking forward to Saturday and then I'll head back to California for a bit. There are plenty of Kentucky Derby trials happening next week, so I'm hoping I can land on a top-class three-year-old. After that, I'll be heading back to the UK for the Craven Meeting next month, and then hopefully onto all the big World Pool race days.
