Barnes making the most of her Hoppertunity
dubai — A sight that has never been seen before in the history of the Dubai World Cup sponsored by Emirates could unfold on Saturday night if American challenger Hoppertunity (US) unleashes enough of his trademark closing kick to win the world’s richest race.
Helping to lead the five-year-old into the winner’s circle and posing with the gold trophy would be Dana Barnes, who not only would be the first woman to oversee the final preparations of a winner of the race but also would be collecting her second consecutive major trophy after directing Secret Circle to his victory in the 2015 Dubai Golden Shaheen.
“It’s going to be really hard to top last year but that would definitely be up there,” said Barnes, the quiet, unassuming but key member of American Racing Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert’s team, when pondering the possibility.
Not only has Barnes managed Hoppertunity’s training for the Dubai World Cup since the horse arrived in the UAE, she also has ridden him in his trackwork, just as she did with Secret Circle prior to his Golden Shaheen triumph last year.
Following Baffert’s brush with mortality when he suffered a heart attack while in Dubai for the 2012 Dubai World Cup, Barnes has be- come the stable’s mainstay when it comes to Dubai racing. Baffert has cut back his travel schedule and basically placed responsibility for the care of his horses once they travel to UAE in Barnes’ capable hands, giving her what he described as “carte blanche” to make decisions.
Barnes has worked for Baffert since 1996 and she and her husband and fellow assistant trainer, Jimmy, consider Baffert and his wife, Jill, and their children as part of their own family.
This remarkable team already has developed 1998 and 2001 Dubai World Cup winners Silver Charm and Captain Steve.