Veteran validates O’Brien’s Dubai push

Valedictum, a veteran campaigner in the team of one of Australian racing’s most progressive trainers, Danny O’Brien, has given the stable its first win overseas – the eight-year-old won the Mustaqbali Handicap (1500m, 95-110 rating) at Nad El Sheba in Dubai overnight.

Just as Mornington trainer Tony Noonan made the leadup carnival to the megarich World Cup meeting pay with Benedetti and Smart And Mighty two years ago, O’Brien has collected cheques with his two pacesetters, Valedictum and Barbaricus (third, last Thursday night).

Valedictum (Ch g 8, Umatilla (NZ)-Wunderschoen, by Twig Moss (Fr)) earned $US72,000 (about $110,000) when Ted Durcan urged him past the leader Echoes Rock (Frankie Dettori) in the straight.

With Barbaricus’s $US15,000 and Valedictum’s “pocket money” when sixth at his first start on February 5, the raiders have netted $US89,400 (about $140,000). And the collect comes on top of the Dubai Racing Club paying all expenses.

O’Brien (38), impressed by Noonan’s trail-blazing excursion in 2007, went to Dubai last November to look at the facilities and “get his head around” how to train horses there – he has entrusted travelling foreman Paul Koumis with the task until after the Australian Cup at Flemington on March 7, after which the 2007 Caulfield Cup winner Master O’Reilly (B or br g 6, O’Reilly (NZ)-Without Remorse (NZ), by Bakharoff (USA)) is to fly out for the Group 1 Sheema Classic (2400m) on Dubai World Cup night (March 28).

O’Brien, content with Valedictum’s win and the ease of travelling horses to the UAE – he said it was easier than floating gallopers to Brisbane – took a swipe at Australian racing administrators over stagnant local prizemoney.

“We’ve gone there with a couple (of horses); we might send more next year,” he said. “Our prizemoney – unfortunately racing is so badly administered here – it hasn’t moved for 10 years, and we have to look further afield.

“In my time in racing I don’t think there’s been a mainstream sport in Australia as badly mismanaged … we are losing market share every day, losing value in real dollars every day.”

O’Brien said the US dollars available in Dubai – and their value enhanced by the falling Australian dollar – were a salve, but one participants should not have to use “given the way the public supports racing in this country”.

Although Valedictum, at eight, is no longer capable of winning at Group 1 level, (he won the 2005 Emirates at 25/1) he has been a terrific horse for O’Brien with a dozen wins from 56 starts and about $1.25 million in prizemoney, despite missing almost a year from late in 2006.

The trainer said Valedictum would step up to Group 2 company at his next start. “He’ll probably run next on that ‘Super Thursday’, March 5. We’re going to step him up to 1777m. It’s a jump up in class from last night.” 

Barbaricus (Gr g 4, Lion Hunter-Light Of Erin, by Palace Music (USA)) will have his second start in Dubai next Thursday, over 2000m, as he, like Master O’Reilly, tries to get to the Sheema Classic on World Cup night.

O’Brien had campaigned two horses overseas – the sprinter Glamour Puss ran seventh (to Takeover Target) and 10^th (with TT third) at Royal Ascot in England in 2006; and the stayer Douro Valley was ninth to France’s Doctor Dino in the Hong Kong Vase at Sha Tin last December.

Buoyed by Valedictum’s breakthrough, O’Brien said: “With the right horses, Australian horses can compete anywhere – it’s been proven.”

NOTE: there is no betting in Dubai, but Valedictum was quoted at 10/1 in England.