The $5 million 2010 Dubai Duty Free (G1) winner was a picture-perfect worker on Wednesday morning at Kranji Racecourse in advance of Sunday’s S$3 million Singapore International Airlines Cup (G1). As trainer Ali Rashid Al Raihe looked on just past 5:00 A.M., Royston Ffrench put in the son of Medicean through a solid piece of trackwork. Al Shemali, truly, is the sleeper longshot once again here. Despite the brutally steamy conditions indigenous to this part of the world, he glided effortlessly over turf likely rated a dewey good.
Alastair Donald of the International Racing Bureau echoed those sentiments when we exchanged notes following the import trackwork session. Observing from the backstretch, Donald indicated that he pulled up well and was barely blowing.
Al Raihe, speaking through his translator/assistant trainer, confirmed that Al Shemali has missed no trackwork in advance of this race and was put through his paces regularly following his Dubai Duty Free victory. “Not hard track work, but steady gallops.” Catching up with Al Raihe at breakfast, he confirmed his pleasure with today’s work.
JOY AND FUN, winner of the 2010 Al Quoz Sprint (G3), took a turn through some very easy cantering and looked no worse for his travel. The KrisFlyer International Sprint (G1) will be the first foray around a left-handed turn for the Kiwi-bred son of Cullen.
No matter what attempts made to clean up the lens from steaming, my attempts were futile, hence some of the shine in these particular shots. PRESVIS schooled in the paddock this morning after jogging two laps of the Polytrack and seems well acclimatized when walking back to the barn.
