Multiple G1 winner Old Persian chases history in Breeders’ Cup Turf

Dubai World Cup Carnival and Dubai World Cup night star Old Persian will atempt to take his place among the world’s best middle-distance grass horses when the Longines Dubai Sheema Classic (G1) winner lines up on Saturday in the $4 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) at Santa Anita Park.

Owned by Godolphin and trained by Charlie Appleby, the son of world-leading Darley stud Dubawi will carry the flag of DWC Carnival form when he takes on the likes of Investec Derby (G1) winner Anthony Van Dyck, Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1) winner Bricks and Mortar and Turf Classic (G1) winner Arklow.

On Tuesday morning, the nine-time winner from 16 starts got his first feel for Santa Anita in greater Los Angeles, California, galloping around the dirt oval in preparation for his 2400m turf assignment in four days’ time.

With apple by looking on, the earn er of $4,349,231 turned some heads as he extended beautifully while taking in his surroundings.

“We know he’s here with a live shot and we know he stays well,” Appleby said.

“He shipped in well and I’m delighted with the way he’s moving around there. The great thing about him is he has experience travelling and doing his track work. It’s second nature to him.”

If the multiple G1 winner is successful, he will have the enviable title of a horse who has won a fixture at four of the most prestigious meetings in the world: the Breeders’ Cup, Dubai World Cup, Royal Ascot and Yorkshire Ebor. In 2018, the English-bred 4-year-old was a rousing victor over Rostropovich in the King Edward VII Stakes (G2) at Ascot. Two months to the day later in August, he defeated stablemate and subsequent Melbourne Cup (G1) and Dubai Gold Cup (G2) winner Cross Counter in the Great Voltigeur Stakes (G2) at York Racecourse.

Since his popular victory in the $6 million Longines Dubai Sheema Classic over Japanese Group 1 winners Cheval Grand, Suave Richard and Rey de Oro on Mar. 30, things took a slight dip for the well-made colt when he failed to fire in the Coronation Cup (G1) at Epsom Downs on May 31, finishing seventh, 14½ lengths astern top-class runners Defoe and Kew Gardens. Given some rest, he returned on Aug. 11 at Hoppegarten in Germany, where he finished a game third by a length to French King in the Grosser Preis von Berlin (G1).

“At Epsom he just showed us signs that he gave us a big performance on World Cup night in the Sheema,” Appleby said.

“He had trained through the winter and had his two starts in Dubai, so I think he just showed the signs, to be brutally honest, and ran flat. We naturally gave him a short break ater that.

“We had pencilled in the Arlington Million as an option, but we saw the race in Germany and we did not want to ship him back and forth too many times,” Appleby continued.