Abu Dhabi Review Sunday January 30th
By Martin Talty
Lear Spear, winner last year of the Diomed Stakes at Epsom on Derby Day and the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot, has arrived in Dubai in preparation for the Group I US$6million Dubai World Cup, sponsored by Emirates, on March 25th at Nad Al Sheba.
Lear Spear is a quality racehorse who is on the improve and Elsworth was happy with the way the horse settled into Dubai when in the Emirates last week.
'Lear Spear is a very good racehorse and showed last year in England and in Hong Kong in December that he is up to quality international class,' said Dubai World Cup Committee Chairman, Les Benton.
Meanwhile at Abu Dhabi on Sunday night, it was Godolphin again as Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum's Maidaan proved too good for Cornish Snow in the Listed HH The President Cup over 1,400m on the turf at Abu Dhabi.
Maidaan continued a phenomenal run by horses from the stable and his win here had plenty of merit as Cornish Snow had won the Listed National day Cup earlier in the season.
It must be remembered, too, that HH The President Cup was won last year by Sheikh Rashid bin Mohammed's top class mare Susu, subsequent winner of the Group II Challenge Stakes at Newmarket, who defeated Intidab, a Group II winner in America while Cornish Snow finished fourth.
Godolphin's other runner, Peculiarity, finished forth in the race with Almandab just in front of him in third.
John Carroll, who does the bulk of Godolphin's riding in the UAE prior to the arrival of Frankie Dettori, rode Maidaan perfectly and followed up his win on Sabadilla in last Thursday evening's Al Rashidiya at Nad Al Sheba.
It was also a double for Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum whose Shaalayn won the only other thoroughbred event on the night, a 00-85 handicap over 2,400m, the son of In The Wings proving too good for the Nick Robb-trained Anthe.
For Irish jockey Ted Durcan it was a frustrating evening, the rider beaten in narrow finishes in both of the feature events for the Purebred Arabians and both times having his objections dismissed by the stewards.
