Article posted on - 3/23/2008 7:02:39 AM
Linngari after his runner up position in the Duty Free last year
Linngari may be ‘hard to beat’
Herman Brown is optimistic of proving that Mike De Kock isn’t the only
South African trainer on the world scene, by posting his first win at a Dubai
World Cup meeting.Brown saddles a trio of contenders led by flag-bearer Linngari
who he is pointing at the Group 1 Dubai Duty Free, sponsored by Dubai Duty Free,
on March 29.
“If Linngari shows up like last year he will be hard to beat,”
commented Brown of the six-year-old’s second placed finish in the 2007
US$5 million turf showpiece.The son of Indian Ridge ran fourth last time out
in the Group 2 Al Fahidi Fort behind Archipenko who is prepared by fellow countryman
de Kock. Brown admitted the run was a disappointment to the team but remarked
that the Aga Khan-bred entire is looking fantastic and has come on a lot from
that outing.
“We didn’t want to push him in his last race and he ended up running
a little flat,” said Brown.“The Dubai Duty Free is a competitive
race as always but Linngari has good international form having won the Group
1 Premio Vittorio di Capua in Italy last October and has a great chance.”
Brown also saddles this year’s Group 2 Jebel Hatta runner up Jay Peg
in the same race and has warned racegoers not to dismiss the outsider who he
says is “in with a live chance”.“Jay Peg has been steadily
improving throughout the Carnival and is peaking just at the right time”
said Brown.“He is really fit and sound and has been training really well
in the mornings and if he gets a good draw, I think he could definitely be in
with a shot at winning.”The South African trainer also holds an entry
in the Group 1 Dubai Sheema Classic, sponsored by Nakheel, with Sushisan who
finished fifth in the race last year.
Brown is confident the son of Fuji Kiseki can improve on last year’s
effort saying: “He is much more mature this year and he is in the best
form we have ever seen him at the moment.”Brown who has been bringing
horses to Dubai since 2005, has enjoyed success in the Dubai International Racing
Carnival but says a win in the headline event would mark a fantastic achievement
for him as a trainer and bring the worldwide exposure he craves.
“Just being represented in such a prestigious event like the Dubai World
Cup is a bonus, but a win would mark an all time career high,” he said.
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