By MIKE DILLON
Bruce Wallace is committed to Able Master being New Zealand's first runner in the world's richest carnival running in Dubai on March 25.
All he needs now is for his stable staying star, winner of the $500,000 Blue Star Auckland Cup on January 3, to be selected.
Wallace is aiming Able Master at the $US2million Dubai Sheema Classic.
The 2400m turf event is the main prelude to the world's richest race, the $US 6 million Dubai World Cup, run on dirt over 2000m.
Able Master is currently spelling and Wallace says bringing the Zabeel gelding back into work on Sunday will give him plenty of time to have him ready for his tough assignment.
"Able Master will have a trial on February 17, another trial on March 6 then run in the group one Lion Stakes at Ellerslie on March 11.
"At that stage he will be flown to to Singapore on the first leg of the trip to Dubai the following week," Wallace said yesterday.
Auckland Cup-winning jockey Grant Cooksley has committed himself to getting time away from his Macau contract to ride Able Master at Ellerslie and in Dubai if the horse gains selection.
The general perception is the opposition in the Dubai features will be extremely strong, particularly from the Godolphin stable, whose owners host the raceday.
But Wallace believes a crossreference on form puts Able Master right in the race.
"The Turf race was won last year by Fruits Of Love, who led Darazari up in the Hong Kong Vase 13 months ago and was well beaten by Darazari, who finished second.
"That puts Able Master in with a chance if you assume he is two lengths off Darazari in ability and you could make the case he may not be two lengths inferior to Darazari now."
Wallace believes Able Master, probably because of the Zabeel factor, is the perfect horse to freshen for an autumn campaign after holiday racing.
"If you study these international races it's very difficult to win them with a horse that is not going in fresh and ready to run," he said.
"The travelling combined with a tough lead-up campaign can prove too much for them.
"Able Master has had three and a half weeks off and his preparation will be perfect for him."
If Able Master misses Dubai selection he will follow the same lead-up New Zealand path then take on a Ranvet Stakes, Mercedes Classic, Sydney Cup Australian autumn campaign.
And Wallace has not ruled out him tackling the Sydney Cup on the way back from Dubai.
"I know that sounds a little bit tough on the horse, but remember the Sydney Cup this year is not until May 8.
"Say he was not affected by the Dubai race and was able to fly out of there a couple of days later, then he could do his two weeks quarantine down in Melbourne and still be in plenty of time for a crack at the Sydney Cup."
Wallace is encouraged by the fact horses, for a minimal additional cost, can do their Melbourne quarantine in the state-of-the-art station built at the Sandown racecourse to accommodate the ever increasing number of European horses tackling the Victorian spring carnival features like the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups.
"Previously you could do only a medium amount of work in the quarantine station but now, if you are at Sandown, you can fully prepare a horse for a major race under the best possible conditions."
Racing: Wallace keen on Dubai bid
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