Trainer Michael Dickinson took a long look at Cetewayo in his stall in Barn 52 at Hollywood Park Friday and liked what he saw. "He's 8, and he's as good as he's been," said Dickinson of the venerable warrior, whose name means 'Zulu Chief.' "He's enjoying his training and racing more than ever."Cetewayo figures to be among the favorites in Saturday's $250,000 Hollywood Turf Cup (gr. IT).Cetewayo seeks to join John Henry, who won the race at 8 in 1983, as the oldest winner of the Hollywood Turf Cup."We came here for firm ground and a fast pace," said Dickinson, who shipped the horse west from his Tapeta Farm in Maryland Thursday morning. "There is a race in New York (the Red Smith Handicap) that will probably be on soft turf. Soft turf compromised him in his last two races. He's a closer, and I'm looking for a really fast pace."The weatherman is co-operating better with Dickinson than last year, when he sent Bowman Mill west for the Hollywood Derby (gr. IT), only to scratch after a rainstorm softened the course. His last starter at Hollywood was Da Hoss, the runner-up to Thunder Gulch in the 1995 Swaps Stakes (gr. I). Da Hoss went on to win the Breeders' Cup Mile (gr. IT) in 1996 and 1998.
Cetewayo, seeking his third Grade I victory, is the leading money-winner in an 11-horse lineup with earnings of $1,113,918. He has won 11 of 29 starts for owner-breeder John Chandler.