Sano confident Il Miracolo ready to deliver, DRC announces schedule change for WC
Florida-based conditioner Antonio Sano is set to saddle a horse in the $12 million Dubai World Cup for the third time in the form of the hard-knocking Il Miracolo.
A son of top US sire Gun Runner — second behind the remarkable Arrogate in the 2017 World Cup — Il Miracolo is a Grade 3 winner at ages three and four and was last seen finishing down the field behind the re-opposing Mixto in the G1 Pacific Classic (2000m) at Del Mar last September.
Sano believes his charge is ready to fire a big shot.
'He has settled in very well and I am very happy with him,' said Sano, one of the all-time winningest trainers in Venezuela.
'After his last race, we gave him three months on the farm and he's a different horse.'
Owner Eduardo Soto said it was 'an honour' to be invited to compete in the World Cup, but that Il Miracolo isn't here just for the scenery.
'I think he's going to run well,' he said. 'And I believe that the stars have aligned for us. We will see on Saturday.'
Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez, who rode the recently deceased Roses In May to win the World Cup at old Nad Al Sheba some two decades ago, is at the controls on Saturday.
Sano was also the trainer of Gunnevera, who finished eighth to Thunder Snow in the 2018 renewal before improving to third to the same rival, beaten just two and a half lengths, 12 months later.
Ryusei Sakai was a man in demand during the first hour of trackwork and among his big-race mounts for Saturday, none carries more weight of expectation than Forever Young.
After working for five furlongs upsides with Dubai Golden Shaheen runner American Stage, Sakai said of Forever Young: 'He breezed in a good rhythm. He reacted well on the bridle.'
Forever Young was third in both the G1 Kentucky Derby (2000m) and the G1 Breeders' Cup Classic (2000m) last season and comes here off the back of an epic defeat of Romantic Warrior in the G1 Saudi Cup (1800m).
Sakai was also in the plate on recent G3 Neom Turf (2100m) winner Shin Emperor for a five-furlong spin on the main dirt track, and observed: 'He moved and reacted well.'
Japan boasts four legitimate Group/Grade 1 horses among a crack lineup of nine provisionally declared for the biggest turf prize of Dubai World Cup night.
Cervinia and Shin Emperor are the two Japanese contenders in Longines Dubai Sheema Classic
Arguably a more consequential piece of work was that of G1 Tokyo Yushun winner Danon Decile, who managed to stay just ahead of Al Quoz Sprint challenger Puro Magic in a breeze around the turn and up the home straight on the turf track under jockey Keita Tosaki.
'He was in very good form,' said Tosaki. 'He stretched his legs well when I asked him on the home straight.
'The turf track suits him and we have responsibility here as a Japanese Derby winner.'
Meanwhile, Dubai Racing Club has announced that due to unforeseen weather forecast, and in an effort to ensure the comfort of all jockeys and the safety of the horses participating in the 2025 Dubai World Cup, on Saturday, as well as the well-being of all guests attending this landmark event, a minor adjustment to the day's schedule has been made, to a later start time.
Gates to Meydan Racecourse will now open at 2:30pm, with the first race — the G1 Dubai Kahayla Classic — set for 4:35pm.
The highly anticipated main event, the Dubai World Cup, will take place at 9:30 PM, followed by a spectacular closing ceremony worthy of the occasion.
Sheikh Rashed Bin Dalmook Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Racing Club, said: 'Ensuring the safety and wellbeing of horses, jockeys and guests is our top priority, the decision has been made to adjust the start time of the Dubai World Cup day. We remain fully committed to delivering an exceptional event filled with thrilling horseracing, world class hospitality, and a truly magical atmosphere befitting the Dubai World Cup.'
The Dubai World Cup is the world's most spectacular race day and one of region's biggest sporting and social occasions.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Sharjah 24
2 hours ago
- Sharjah 24
Italy beat Moldova as Spalletti era comes to an end
Giacomo Raspadori and Andrea Cambiaso scored in each half for the Azzurri who sit third in Group I, trailing leaders Norway by nine points, and are at risk of missing a third straight World Cup.
Al Etihad
3 hours ago
- Al Etihad
Argentina not overly reliant on Messi, says Scaloni
10 June 2025 08:35 (Reuters) Argentina have learned to cope with Lionel Messi's absences and no longer need to rejig the line-up when the Inter Miami forward is not available, manager Lionel Scaloni said ahead of Wednesday's World Cup qualifier against making his senior debut in 2005, Messi has scored 112 goals in 192 appearances for Argentina, winning the World Cup in 2022, two Copa America titles and a gold medal at the 2008 Beijing 37-year-old captain missed Argentina's 1-0 win over Uruguay and 4-1 thrashing of rivals Brazil in March due to injury, with Scaloni's side securing their place at the 2026 World Cup during that international returned to the squad for this month's World Cup qualifiers and made a substitute appearance in Argentina's 1-0 win over Chile last week."The team is now in a moment where it can play in the same way with Leo (Messi) or without Leo, which used to be more complex in the past as we had to change some players," Scaloni told reporters ahead of the match in Buenos Aires."But now we don't have this necessity and the team works in the same way, that's good."While Argentina have already qualified for the World Cup in North America, Colombia are in the sixth and final automatic qualification spot and will be looking to put some distance between themselves and seventh-placed Venezuela with a beat Argentina 2-1 when the sides last met in the World Cup qualifiers in September."It's a great team, and with great players, and it has a clear style that can put you in trouble," Scaloni said. "We've analysed it, we've shown the players their strengths and what we want to take advantage of. It's going to be a nice game, especially because we play at home, so it's good for our people to see the players."
The National
6 hours ago
- The National
Palestine prepare for vital Oman clash and hope a little Jordanian World Cup magic rubs off on them
The spectacular drone show that filled the skies above Amman last Thursday evening with messages of love and support for the Jordan national team may have gone, but the excitement of qualifying for a first World Cup still lingers on in this ancient city. Almost all of the billboards – digital and analogue – that frame the winding roads, display images of the team, messages of congratulations from the king or the star player Musa Al Taamari as well as Ali Olwan, the hat-trick hero from that 3-0 win over Oman that sealed the deal in Muscat. On Sunday evening in a busy shisha bar, just a long goal kick from the old Roman theatre, locals were watching Portugal beat Spain on penalties in the final of the Uefa Nations League, but among the smoke there was talk of how Jordan will do next summer in North America. For the fans, the habit of drinking lots of coffee and staying up to watch games past midnight will be a useful one in 2026. The team are also preparing – starting against Iraq on Tuesday evening. A week ago, it promised to be a tense, tight and potentially traumatic winner-takes-all affair, but now it is going to be more of a celebration following Jordan's win over Oman and Iraq's defeat to South Korea. Instead, the big match in Asia, the only one of any real meaning left in the third round of qualification, will kick off at exactly the same time just a few kilometres away. Suddenly, Palestine against Oman is the game to watch. A win for the 'home' team at the King Abdullah II Stadium – and it should feel like a home game as it is in the east of the city and near the biggest of the Palestinian refugee camps – would keep the most amazing football dream alive and send 'the Fedayoon' into the fourth round of 2026 World Cup qualifying, where six teams will compete for two more direct spots. In short, Palestine need the same result against Oman that Jordan managed. 'Jordan are an Arab national team and we are very proud of them,' Palestine coach Ihab Abujazar told The National. 'It is a big success for them, they are a strong team. They played well against Oman and now it is our turn. It is obviously an important match for us. We hope to translate all that we have been doing on to the pitch and win to get to the fourth round and bring happiness to the Palestinian people all over the world.' If Palestine can follow Jordan's example on the pitch, then they will be able to experience some of the same excitement off of it. 'The feeling here has been great for the past few days, especially as it was a little unexpected as most thought it would go down to the final game,' Palestine fan and Amman resident Omar Yousef told The National. 'I hope it inspires Palestine but the team doesn't need it, we have been close to going out of qualification a few times but when we needed to, we got a .result.' The latest was last week's gritty 2-0 win away in Kuwait, one that showed how far the team has come. Last year, Palestine finished second behind Australia in the second stage to join the last 18 in the third round where there have been two draws with the mighty South Korea. There is now a chance to move to within genuine touching distance of a World Cup. Considering the continuing devastation at home and playing all games away, just to get that close would be an achievement at least as impressive as Jordan's direct entry. 'We were so happy to be here and have a chance to play against teams like South Korea and their big stars but we showed that we can match them and that we deserve to be here.' said Yousef. 'Now we want more. If we can draw with South Korea in Korea then we can beat Oman in Amman, and then who knows?' A second night of World Cup celebration in Amman in the space of five days would be unprecedented in the city's long history. 'The mood here has been a little happier and brighter since Jordan qualified,' added Yousef. 'That spirit is making us dream.'
