| One of American's finest thoroughbreds - | | | | the World Cup), the Jockey Club Gold Cup and |
| Curlin - last year's Breeder's Cup winner | | | | the Breeders' Cup Classic," Asmussen said. |
| will make his first start of 2008 in the Nad | | | | "The quarantine stuff will be out of the way, |
| Al Sheba Racecourse Dubai Cup on March 29th, | | | | and he will have a month to get ready. |
| stated his majority owner Jess Jackson. | | | | |
| | | | The horse likes to know where he's at. The |
| "We feel the best thing to do for Curlin is | | | | second time he ran at Belmont was better than |
| to take him to Dubai and point him to the | | | | the first; the second time he ran at Monmouth |
| (Dubai) World Cup," Jackson said during a | | | | was better than the first. And I believe if |
| February 3rd release. "We weighed the pros | | | | it's in black and white like that, it's |
| and cons of taking him overseas or kicking | | | | true."The plan is to have everything ready |
| off 2008 in the United States. So as long as | | | | and to arrive in Dubai on February the 16th. |
| he's fit and healthy, it comes down to the | | | | Trainer Asmussen also wants Curlin to have |
| fact that Curlin has earned the chance to | | | | another workout at Fair Grounds. The plans |
| compete in the Dubai World Cup and has the | | | | for the colt after the World Cup will not be |
| opportunity to continue making history as an | | | | di closed until after the trip. |
| international champion". | | | | |
| | | | "I deeply care about improving the state of |
| Curlin has been trained by Steve Asmussen; | | | | thoroughbred racing as well as the horse |
| and it finished his three year old season | | | | industry in general," Jackson said. "We, as |
| with earnings of $5.102.800 from a record of | | | | the owners of Curlin, are trying to do our |
| 6-1-2 from nine starts. Asmussen said that | | | | part to help. Fellow owners and I have joined |
| the idea is to put Curlin to compete in a | | | | others in the industry in a broad-based |
| race for $175,000 for 2,000 meters, which is | | | | nationwide effort to elevate the industry in |
| the same distance as in the World Cup. | | | | a variety of ways, and this campaign is one |
| Hopefully this will prepare him for the big | | | | of the more visible. |
| race. "I love the month between (the prep and | | | | |