Dubai-bound contenders work in Florida

Last updated: 3/13/06 7:53 PM

Brass Hat has already captured the Donn H. and New Orleans H.
this year
(Eleanor Gustafson/Horsephotos.com)

Five leading American hopefuls for the March 25 Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1)
program turned in their final workouts in Florida on Monday. The workers —
World Cup contender BRASS HAT (Prized), Dubai Sheema Classic (UAE-G1) prospects
RELAXED GESTURE (Ire) (Indian Ridge) and MUSTANFAR (Unbridled), Golden Shaheen
(UAE-G1) candidate GAFF (Maria’s Mon), and UAE Derby (G2) prospect INVASOR (Arg)
(Candy Stripes) — are scheduled to set off on their travels to Dubai on
Tuesday.

Brass Hat, exiting an impressive score in the Donn H. (G1), strode a
leisurely half-mile in :50 4/5 on a fast track at Gulfstream Park.

“We just wanted to give him something easy — a chance to stretch his legs
before he gets on the plane tomorrow night,” trainer William “Buff” Bradley
said. “He’s not much of a work horse anyway.”

Relaxed Gesture, unraced since his 4 1/2-length victory in the Canadian
International S. (G1) at Woodbine last October, traveled five furlongs in 1:04 on Payson
Park’s fast dirt for conditioner Christophe Clement.

Multiple Grade 3 winner Mustanfar went his five-eighths in 1:03 at Palm
Meadows. The royally bred Kiaran McLaughlin charge was most recently fourth in
the Gulfstream Park Breeders’ Cup Turf S. (G1), his comeback after an
eight-month layoff.

Also for McLaughlin, Uruguayan Triple Crown winner Invasor clocked 1:02 for
the same distance. As a Southern Hemisphere-bred, the four-year-old is eligible
for the UAE Derby along with Northern Hemisphere-bred sophomores.

“He’s done just about everything right that you want to see from a horse that
came from the Southern Hemisphere,” McLaughlin said. “He’s trained brilliantly,
and we’ve worked him with some tough horses. He went head-to-head with (Fountain
of Youth S. [G2] runner-up) Flashy
Bull (Holy Bull). We really tested him,
and he’s done very well.”

Last-out Mr. Prospector H. (G3) victor Gaff worked his five panels at Palm
Meadows in 1:01 3/5 for trainer Steve Asmussen.

In addition to Monday’s workers, two Todd Pletcher trainees are also expected
to board the same Tuesday flight. Clark H. (G2) winner MAGNA GRADUATE (Honor
Grades), fourth in the Donn, will contest the World Cup, while Shadwell Turf
Mile S. (G1) hero HOST (Chi) (Hussonet), eighth last out in the Appleton H.
(G3), will line up in the Dubai Duty Free (UAE-G1). Both turned in their final
workouts on Sunday at Palm Meadows, with Magna Graduate blazing
five-eighths in a co-bullet :59 and Host going a half-mile in :49 4/5.