American raider Kenny McPeek has come to Dubai to win. And he has brought with him an arsenal which will do just that.
His Dubai quartet is a string of four strong horses is highlighted by Gr. 3 Lexington Stakes winner Senior Investment. The Discreetly Mine colt defeated West Coast, who eventually placed runner-up in the Gr.1 Dubai World Cup behind Thunder Snow last year. The others include Gr.1 winner Grecko, graded stakes-placed turf horse Harlan Strong and Honorable Treasure, who was second to Gr.1 Pegasus World Cup runner Audible in Cherokee Run Stakes (2018).
Three out of his four Dubai World Cup Carnival horses are owned by Paul Fireman's Fern Circle Stables. Paul Fireman led Reebok to becoming one of the most popular shoe companies in the United States before selling it to Adidas in 2005 for $3.8 billion
The McPeek quartet is powerful enough to knock the competition off their feet. “It’s a process. I am not particularly concerned about any completion at this stage. I am just trying to make sure my horses are healthy and fit from one race to the next,” said McPeek.
The top conditioner was extremely happy with the results of the first outing at Meydan for two of his four American imports. “They travelled exceptionally well. I couldn’t be more pleased with the way they ran,” said McPeek.
Honorable Treasure was runner up in the 1200m dirt handicap. His increased speed towards the end indicates that perhaps he will be better suited for a longer trip. With a nod in that direction, the To Honor and Serve colt will be aimed at a 1400m handicap next. In earlier interview, McPeek has said, “Honorable Treasure is a nice six or seven furlong to a flat mile horse and should fit well in handicaps.”
From there it will be straight onto a Gr.3 on Super Saturday night followed by a run in the Gr.2 Godolphin Mile on the Dubai World Cup undercard.
Harlan Strong will go onto a 2400 turf handicap, this weekend along with stable mate Senior Investment who will be racing the 2000m handicap. The latter is pointed towards the Gr.1 Dubai World Cup.
Group One winning Grecko is eventually pointed at the UAE Derby, a major prep race for the Kentucky Derby. “He is a lovely horse. The race (UAE Derby) has been won previously by Southern Hemisphere 3YOs. So we decided to import him to the Northern Hemisphere. We brought him to Kentucky and then shipped him to Florida. Since then he has been trained in Florida and has had a lot of time to acclimatise to the Northern Hemisphere.”
McPeek trains from his historic Magdalena Farm base in Kentucky (USA) and has bought or trained 19 Group 1 Stakes winners including Curlin, Take Charge Lady, Harlan’s Holiday, Sarava, etc during his career. His most recent win was with Kentucky Derby favourite, Signalman in the Gr.2 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes. The General Quarters’ colt is the reason; McPeek has to go back to the USA in a couple of weeks.
The promising colt is expected to either race in the Fountain Of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream (on March 2 )or the Gr.2 Tampa Bay Derby next on 9 March.
Credit: Pallavi Shevade Pallavi.shevade@secretariatsworld.com