Dale Romans will train Little Mike on synthetic surface to determine his runner’s participation in the Dubai World Cup
The 5-year-old gelded son of Spanish Steps, Little Mike, in 2012 have come really good for his connections, and by winning the most prestigious turf races in the country, Little Mike will be aiming even higher next term, as he is expected to start his 6-year-old campaign in Dubai.
Little Mike downed three grade 1 races this season, starting from the Grade 1 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic at Churchill Downs. Over 1 1/8 miles, he defeated Slim Shadey in second and Brilliant Speed in third with the winning time of 1 minute and 48.81 seconds.
He then went on to win the Grade 1 Arlington Million at Arlington Park at about 1 ¼ miles, and capped off a brilliant season perfectly with victory in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf at Santa Anita Park, where he defeated Point of Entry in second and St Nicholas Abbey in third.
Out of Wavering Monarch mare Hay Jude, Little Mike’s next major goal could be richest race in the world, the Group 1, $10 million Dubai World Cup at Meydan.
Owner Priscilla Vaccarezza and trainer Dale Romans confirmed that Little Mike will be making his first two start of the new season at the Meydan in Dubai, and the first of the two will be a prep race for the World Cup, which will be run over the Tapeta surface.
Little Mike has never run over the synthetic surface, but he has trained over Betfair Hollywood Park’s cushion track prior to the Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile, in which he finished third under rider Tammy Fox.
“Tammy said she loved the way he went on the [synthetic track] when he trained over it in California so I think we should probably go over and give him a shot,” said Romans. “We have two or three races to choose from in Meydan as a possible prep for World Cup Day. The main one is three weeks out, at a mile and one quarter. I’ll have to talk to them over there and figure out the dates and exactly how and when we can get him there.”
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