The Middle East does not typically produce a lot of Kentucky Derby starters, and a prep race halfway across the world from Kentucky and just six weeks out from the Derby is not the traditional way to go. Still, there is at least one runner in Saturday's UAE Derby at Nad al Sheba Race Course in Dubai that could earn a first class ticket to Louisville should he perform strongly enough in the mile and an eighth event, part of Dubai's $16 million World Cup program of races. Obviously, a lot of questions remain.

"You have to be cautious," advised world-champion jockey Frankie Dettori when asked about the prospects of the sophomore colt Shamardal participating in this year's Kentucky Derby. "He has never run on the surface (dirt). He's been working well enough on it, but it is completely different at racing pace, and though he has class, we are very much going in there to test the temperature of the water."

On grass in England, Shamardal has found the water quite fine. The son of Giant's Causeway was undefeated in three starts last year including the group I Darley Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket in October. Earlier in the summer, the colt won a group II stakes at Goodwood defeating Wilko, who would later ship in to Dallas to capture the Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Lone Star Park. Wilko has since been transferred to the US and trainer Craig Dollase, who is grooming him for a possible run at the roses. Shamardal, owned by the mighty Godolphin Stable, remained in England with the other Godolphin runners and was sent later to the United Arab Emirates, where he has been prepared for his main track debut on Saturday.

"When he arrived, there was some talk about the Kentucky Derby," offered Godolphin stable manager Simon Crisford. "We discussed running him in the UAE Derby with the thought that he might later be a possible Kentucky Derby contender. But then we got a bit behind schedule. We're expecting a big run from him here, and then hopefully we'll be in a better position to decide where he goes from here.

"He's bred for dirt, and he's got a stunning pedigree for the mile and a quarter," concluded Crisford.

Offering a purse of $2 million, the UAE Derby drew a field of 12 with two US connections. Trainers Bobby Frankel and Kenny McPeek both have runners in the grade II event, although neither are eligible for the Kentucky Derby as both are Brazilian--Southern Hemisphere--bred and are, consequently considered four-year-olds for US racing purposes. Frankel's Marenostrum raced twice in Brazil, winning a group I in June, before shipping to the US where he was third in an allowance at Santa Anita. Durban Thunder, recently acquired by McPeek, is undefeated in three starts in Brazil including a group I stakes in July. Saturday will mark the colt's first start since July. Open to both Northern Hemisphere and Southern Hemisphere-bred 3-year-olds, the UAE Derby has attracted runners from South Africa, Italy, and Argentina as well as Brazil, Great Britain and, of course, the UAE.

The field for the UAE Derby, from the rail out: Blues And Royals (K.McEvoy); Marenostrum (Valenzuela); Becrux (W.Marwing); Kalibanos (T.Pereira); Duque De Enghien (A.Gryder); Jaa Yez (J.Noriega); Candidato Roy (J.Deroudis); Durban Thunder (J.Velazquez); Parole Board (T.Durcan); Ned Kelly (J.Bekker); Shamardal (L.Dettori); Gypsey Johnny (R.Mullen)

« Back To Derby News