COLUMN 45 ADIYAT RACING PLUS ISSUE 840 Thursday 4th April 2024 adiyat racing plus.com adiyat racing plus.com HUGE ON THE RACING CALENDAR: APPLEBY That was acknowledged by Appleby when he explained why, having been a dominant force at the Carnival, his powerful operation had only fielded four runners on the night. Appleby said: “This meeting is huge in the racing calendar, a night everyone aims for. To see the depth of these races getting stronger and stronger every year makes our lives harder, but it is what you want to achieve if you want to be dining at the top table.” That greater level of competition solidifies the status of the Dubai World Cup. The wins being spread around will also resonate back in the home countries and maybe encourage more owners and trainers to chance their arms and come to the Gulf. Travelling horses around the world really took off with the inaugural Washington DC International in 1952 won by Britain’s Wilwyn while the late Vincent O’Brien shifted the dial again when he shipped the 1968 Derby winner Sir Ivor to the US to win that year’s race under Lester Piggott. The world has since gotten smaller for travelling horses. We are all seeing them move on TV or social media. That fosters familiarity which in this case is breeding content rather than contempt. The more we see the horses the more we become engaged with them. There is bound to be increased interest in how Forever Young gets on in the Kentucky Derby after he won the UAE version. After his stunning World Cup victory, it will be fascinating to see where Laurel River goes next on a road that may lead to the Breeders’ Cup in November. If California Spangle heads to Royal Ascot in June, he will be more than just some sprinter from the Far East to UK racefans. The fact that Forever Young also won the Saudi Cup en route to Meydan showed that the Middle East circuit has become more integrated and that makes it even more significant, more healthy. World Cup night at Meydan was a good night for Dubai. It turned into an excellent night for the sport of racing. Facteur Cheval (far side) Two Rivers Over (left) THIS MEETING IS HUGE IN THE RACING CALENDAR, A NIGHT EVERYONE AIMS FOR. TO SEE THE DEPTH OF THESE RACES GETTING STRONGER AND STRONGER EVERY YEAR MAKES OUR LIVES HARDER, BUT IT IS WHAT YOU WANT TO ACHIEVE IF YOU WANT TO BE DINING AT THE TOP TABLE — CHARLIE APPLEBY.
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