In the days leading up to the $12 million Dubai World Cup at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on March 27, usracing.com will profile the contenders for the 2,000-meter (about 1 ¼ miles) race. The profiles will be updated with odds, post positions and jockeys following the post-position draw scheduled for Wednesday (March 24).
By Lynne Snierson
There isn’t anything hypothetical about the improvement in this colt’s form since he was purchased privately last year by Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum and transferred by the Crown Prince of Dubai from the United Kingdom to top trainer Salem bin Ghadayer in the UAE.
Volcanic Sky emerges winner of the G3 – Photo Courtesy of Dubai Racing Club and Erika Rasmussen
Hypothetical, who had won first time out in December 2019 for trainer John Gosden in England but was beaten badly in his subsequent three starts for his former owners during 2020, reappeared at Meydan on Jan. 7 with a smashing 3 ½-length score under Mikael Barzalona.
In three starts since over the track, he has two seconds and another impressive victory and the colt his trainer terms “progressive” comes into the $12 million Dubai World Cup (G1) after closing furiously only to lose by 1 ¾ lengths to probable World Cup starter Salute the Soldier in the Al Maktoum Challenge Round 3 (G1) on March 6.
Hypothetical carries the regal bloodlines of Godolphin, the internationally dominant operation of the Crown Prince’s father, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai. The colt is a paternal grandson of the late Shamardal, who was a champion in Europe and one of Godolphin’s brightest lights both as a runner and a sire.
Hypothetical’s dam is the Irish-bred Peut Etre, which translates from French as “it may be” and means perhaps or probably, so this colt comes by his name honestly. He was her first winner.
Salem bin Ghadayer also saddles Capezzano in the World Cup, and Barzalona is the regular rider for both horses, so which mount the jockey accepts may be telling.
Dubai World Cup Contender Profile: Hypothetical
Post position: TBD
Odds: TBD
Trainer: Salem bin Ghadayer
Jockey: TBD
Owner: Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai
Age: 4
Career record: 9-3-2-0
Career earnings: $191,822
Top Equibase speed figure: N/A
Pedigree: Lope de Vega-Peut Etre, by Whipper
Color: Chestnut
Running style: Off the pace
Notes: Salem bin Ghadayer, 42, is one of the leading trainers in the UAE, where his yard is called Fazza Stables. Fazza Racing Stables is owned by Hamdan bin Mohammed Rashid Al Maktoum, who is the 38-year-old Crown Prince of Dubai … Fazza is the less formal name by which the charismatic Crown Prince popularly is known, and it is the name under which he publishes his poetry … The Crown Prince is an accomplished equestrian who won individual gold and bronze medals and team gold at the FEI World Equestrian Games in different years … As of March, his Instagram account had 11.2 million followers and his Twitter account had 4.2 million followers …The trainer will also run Panadol in the 2021 UAE Derby (G2) … Sultan Ali is said to be close friends with Sheikh Mohammed … Salem bin Ghadayer had his first starters on the UAE thoroughbred and Arabian circuit during the 2014-15 season following time as a rider and trainer of endurance horses … In March 2018, during a breakout season, he was suspended for one year by the Emirates Racing Authority for a positive drug test. The horse in question was owned by the Crown Prince.
Dubai World Cup 2021 Contenders
MYSTIC GUIDE (USA) USA Michael Stidham
CHUWA WIZARD (JPN) Japan Ryuji Okubo
MAGNY COURS (USA) France Andre Fabre
SALUTE THE SOLDIER (GER) Bahrain Fawzi Nass
JESUS’ TEAM (USA) USA Jose Francisco D’Angelo
SLEEPY EYES TODD (USA) USA Miguel Angel Silva
GIFTS OF GOLD (IRE) UAE Saeed bin Suroor
HYPOTHETICAL (IRE) UAE Salem bin Ghadayer
MILITARY LAW (IRE) UAE Musabbeh Al Mheiri
GREAT SCOT (GB) Saudi Arabia Abdullah Moshrif
THEGREATCOLLECTION (USA) UAE Douglas Watson
TITLE READY (USA) USA Dallas Stewart
AJUSTE FISCAL (URU) Uruguay Antonio Cintra
CAPEZZANO(USA) UAE Salem bin Ghadayer
Lynne Snierson, a former director of communications at Arlington Park and Rockingham Park, currently is a freelance writer and racing publicist. She covered thoroughbred racing as an award-winning sportswriter for newspapers In Boston, Miami, and St. Louis. She lives in New Hampshire. Secretariat remains her all-time favorite horse.