Gloria De Campeao was second in the 2009 Dubai World Cup, behind Well Armed, and eighth in the 2008 edition behind Curlin.  The son of Impression, bred in Brazil, raced three seasons in Dubai and his connection reported a glowing love for the desert conditions.  After his second to Well Armed, Gloria De Campeao landed the Singapore Airlines International Cup (G1), which in 2010, would represent his final lifetime start, a second place finish behind the recently retired Lizard’s Desire. 

Trained by Pascal Bary, Gloria De Campeao won nine lifetime starts from 25 opportunities with six seconds and three thirds.  His career earnings top US$9,000,000.  Stud plans have not been announced.

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It has been a remarkable 2010 racing season for the Albert Boshoff-bred son of Lizard Island.  Winning two handicaps at the Dubai International Racing Carnival, before a heartbreaking second in the Dubai World Cup (G1), he followed that with another nailbiting placing in the Audemars Piguet Queen Elizabeth II Cup (G1) at Sha Tin.  Going close in top company was a memory when Lizard’s Desire defeated Gloria De Campeao, Dubai Duty Free (G1) winner Al Shemali, and Jebel Hatta (G2) winner Presvis in the 2010 Singapore Airlines International Cup (G1) at Kranji. 

DubaiRaceNight.com is attempting to confirm specific details of the situation and will pass along any developments as they become available.

Meanwhile, a strong sixth in the Dubai World Cup was all that Gitano Hernando could muster against Gloria De Campeao and Lizard’s Desire.  Only about three lengths behind the top trio, Team Valor primary Barry Irwin, quoted by the Press Association, reported that the Coral Eclipse Stakes at Sandown is a possible next target for his charge.  A go over the 10 furlongs of the Arlington Million could follow that start.  Click HERE for that story. 

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Al Shemali, winner of the 2010 Dubai Duty Free (G1), franked his own form with a strong showing third behind the top pair.  The trifecta could not have served as a stronger result for racing in the United Arab Emirates and the overwhelming benefits afforded from wintering there.  Making his sixth start of the year, Lizard’s Desire has been a picture of consistency.  Winning twice at the 2010 DIRC, the son of Lizard Island found trouble in the Maktoum Challenge – Round 3 (G2) and was beaten only a nose in the Dubai World Cup before a neck defeat in the Audemars Piguet Queen Elizabeth II Cup (G1) at Sha Tin.  Lizard’s Desire got the 2,000 meters in 2:02.12. 

Local hope, and longshot, Jolie’s Shinju shot out to an early lead the first time around, setting a blazing pace in the rain-softened ground.  Over a course officially rated as yielding, Gloria De Campeao stalked Jolie’s Shinju through a blistering early quarter.  The daughter of Jolie’s Halo slowed down the going over the second 400 meters, before the pair sped away through a ridiculous fast third 400 meters.  Race commentator Michael Maxworthy accurately reported there were two races going at once, that between the top pair, well clear of the remaining nine runners.  Japan’s Shadow Gate, winner of the 2007 SAI Cup, was a scratch at the barrier after breaking through and lacerating his hind quarters. 

The story behind Lizard’s Desire is a rather incredible one according to South African racing expert Jimmy Lithgow, told here in Singapore this week.  Breeder A J Boshoff was out for a trail ride in the rural bush of South Africa and had been given a mare to ride that, by his keen eye and feel, he thought was a decent thoroughbred.  After completing the ride, Boshoff asked the owner if he could buy the mare, Annsfield.  Eventually, he bred Annsfield to the lackluster Australian runner Lizard Island and off they went. 

Below, jockey Kevin Shea receives his trophy from Singaporean president Sellapan Ramanathan.  To the right is assistant trainer Stephen Jell receiving his trophy on behalf of Mike De Kock. 

Earlier, Hong Kong’s Green Birdie upset local favorite Rocket Man in the KrisFlyer International Sprint (G1) with a neck-long victory.  The wet conditions may have played a part in the result as Rocket Man hung in the straight in a different but yet, similar fashion from his 2009 defeat in the race, also to a Hong Kong shipper (Sacred Kingdom). 

The international horses tower over this field, but the best question remains – which of the international runners are best?  Here are some SAI Cup thoughts in no particular order:

1.  LIZARD’S DESIRE has worked like a champ and seems incredibly well-acclimated to Singapore while the horse he failed to nose out in the Dubai World Cup, GLORIA DE CAMPEAO, seems the opposite to me, a loud, tired mess.  I will be shocked if Gloria De Campeao pulls off the win, again.  He will have notable opposition from JOLIE’S SHINJU on the lead.  This will be the sixth start in three different countries for the well-prepared South African.  A cause for pause?

2.  PRESVIS might get the pace to run at and, in a smaller field than  last year, could find the gap faster to the front.  A very dangerous challenge.

3.  What’s wrong with AL SHEMALI?  His Dubai Duty Free was fast and impressive, and he comes in freshest of all the biggest names in the race.  The quiet confidence from the camp has been encouraging and we could see Ali Rashid Al Raihe, the top UAE trainer this season, in the Kranji winner’s enclosure.

4.  Call me crazy, but LAHALEEB has a chance here as well.  She was hung wide the entire turn in the Duty Free and still stayed on well for a credible sixth beaten almost five lengths.  She goes third off the layoff (even considering she had a bit of one into this event) and is a G1 winner over the trip.  The connections have reported her to be in the best shape of her life.  A roughie chance?  Sure.

5.  More on Gloria De Campeao…what happens when someone who has never ridden this fickle horses, who got along so incredibly well with TJ Pereira, gets the mount in his first significant international Group 1 before tens of thousands of people? 

The final analysis has me completely torn between four – Lizard’s Desire as a result of his tremendous works here in the morning, Presvis as there is a likely pace setup with Gloria De Campeao and Jolie’s Shinju running on, and the pouncing styles of two good-as-they-go runners, Al Shemali and Lahaleeb.  If the Dubai Duty Free were a furlong longer, chances are Al Shemali does not win.  Considering it doesn’t cost us anything, I will give Lahaleeb a narrow tip at a big price, but think any of the aforementioned four stand a good chance, if not better, than Lahaleeb.  This is the best running of the SAI Cup to date and the race is likely to only get better.  Perhaps she can get a monster win for Fawzi Nass.

1st - #11 LAHALEEB, 2nd – #4 LIZARD’S DESIRE, 3rd – #3 AL SHEMALI, 4th – #2 PRESVIS

Race 9 – Kranji – KrisFlyer International Sprint (G1), 1,200 meters, turf

ROCKET MAN – a year of better seasoning, home court, no Sacred Kingdom.  ROCKET MAN indeed.

Photo courtesy: Ho Kwan Ming 

Most notably, Gloria De Campeao was in a slight jog over Polytrack and was audibly gasping with each stride.  Having seen his preparations for two years at the Dubai World Cup, and especially liking his appearance as reported on this site in advance of his Dubai World Cup victory, his image this morning left much to be desired.

Mariol, ninth in the Al Quoz Sprint (G3), landed by Joy And Fun, took a go over the Polytrack and his 600 meters were almost eight seconds slower than bullet worker Lizard’s Desire.

As we’ve said this week, it has been difficult to ignore Al Shemali, who was another who moved with little noise when galloping over the turf under Royston Ffrench.  The Dubai Duty Free (G1) winner is in fine fettle and, once again, the connections remain quietly confident that their son of Medicean could pop with another big one.  He was timed in 39.2 for his 600 meters work, which wasn’t even expected to be a serious one.

Rocket Man galloped away from the grandstand but the Singapore Turf Club caught the video of the work and the press area was mesmerized as the he was under incredibly heavy restraint from Robbie Fradd and was tugging away.  The strong favorite gets stronger!