15 Feb 2007
Dubai: Top Indian trainer Subbiah Ganapathy will attempt to make history at Nad Al Sheba racecourse today when he saddles multiple Grade 1 winner Mystical in the $110,000 Property Weekly Cup.
No horse from India has ever won a race in Dubai, but the Bangalore-based trainer is hoping to set the record straight.
To do so, however, Mystical will have to beat rival challengers from Brazil, England, Ireland, South Africa and the UAE.
But Ganapathy, the reigning champion trainer in Bangalore and Mumbai, believes the five-year-old son of former Dubai-owned Alnasr Alwasheek, has an excellent chance.
He said yesterday: "Mystical is a serious race horse. He's won 14 out of 17 starts and holds course records over four distances - 1,600, 2,000, 2,400 and 2,800 metres.
"He has won every major race in India, from the Derby to Leger to the Turf Invitation Cup. This is his big chance to excel on the international stage."
But the trainer acknowledges that Mystical's task of following up on his achievements in India will prove a far greater test.
"Without a doubt he's India's best horse. But it's hard to gauge how good he is at the international level."
Ganapathy, who has raked in an astonishing 55 Classic wins since he took out a licence in 2001, says Mystical has thrived since he arrived in Dubai in December.
"He's getting better and sharper and more intense and doing everything that you're supposed to do going into an event like the Carnival," he said.
"We're keeping our fingers crossed and only hope that everything goes well and that he can bring glory to Indian racing."
Few trainers can be more motivated for success than Ganapathy, but yet, he is not prepared to look beyond today's race.
"We're taking it one step at a time," he says. "Let him cross this hurdle first, before we plan for the future."
Former leading Indian jockey Philip Woods, who has overseen Mystical's training in Dubai, believes that the horse's "class should see him through".
"He has tremendous potential and ability," he said. "But his biggest strengths are his consistency and versatility. We hope he can show the world tomorrow."
By Leslie Wilson Jr
Gulf News 2007. All rights reserved.
