(From Dubai racing Club)
Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile winner Albertus Maximus will be aimed at the Dubai World Cup program after recently being acquired by Sheikh Hamdan's American-based Shadwell Stable.
The 4-year-old colt by Albert the Great, who was previously trained by Vladimir Cerin, will be transferred to Kiaran McLaughlin, four-time champion trainer in the United Arab Emirates and conditioner of Sheikh Hamdan’s 2007 Dubai World Cup (UAE-I) winner Invasor.
"Obviously, the hopes are to go to Dubai,” McLaughlin told Daily Racing Form about Albertus Maximus. “Whether that's the Godolphin Mile (UAE-II) or the Dubai World Cup (UAE-I), we'll let him tell us.”
Bred and campaigned by Marianne and Brandon Chase, Albertus Maximus has won five of 15 starts and placed five times while earning $908,230. He scored the biggest win of his career when taking the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile in 1:33.41 at Santa Anita Park Oct. 25.
Although the Dirt Mile was ungraded at the time, the race has been elevated to a grade I event for 2009.
Earlier this year, Albertus Maximus won the one-mile Windy Sands Handicap while setting a track record at Del Mar and finished third in the Goodwood Stakes (gr. I) won by Well Armed at Santa Anita.
McLaughlin will train Albertus Maximus in Florida, where the colt will be aimed at the Donn Handicap (gr. I) at Gulfstream Park, the same race Invasor successfully used as a prep for the Dubai World Cup.