Ouija Board approves Kempton all-weather
Kempton’s newly-laid Polytrack Flat course received its most important test so far when the queen of the British racing scene, Ouija Board, turned out to stretch her legs.
Officially the best horse in training in Britain, Ouija Board will bid to enhance her reputation further when she lines up in the US 5million Dubai Sheema Classic, the richest turf race in the world, on March 25.
And although the question of whether she can retain her enthusiasm and ability as a five-year-old hangs over her, Ouija Board showed no signs of age catching up as she easily outpointed her lead horse, clocking 37 seconds for the final three furlongs at the end of a mile workout.
With Kieren Fallon still in America and Jamie Spencer with more important things on the mind after the birth of his first child in the early hours of the morning, it was left to Jason Tate to take the reins.
But trainer Ed Dunlop was delighted with events ahead of her intended departure for Dubai in a fortnight.
With possibly one more serious gallop still to come, Dunlop is attempting to make the delicate balancing act of getting her fit enough to run before getting on the plane while at the same time giving the mare long enough in Dubai to acclimatise to the heat.
“We just felt it would be a good idea to come here and we weren’t here to do times but she liked the surface and she has worked well on it,” he said.
“She is due to go out on the 16th with Court Masterpiece, who is going for the Godolphin Mile.
“She has never travelled at this time of the year before but the fact that she is so clean-winded means that we don’t have to do a lot of working but we will take her there as fit as possible.
“I have never trained a five-year-old mare before. Last year the big question was whether she would train on from three to four and I suppose the question still stands, this time from four to five.
“But all I can tell you is that she looks like she is still enjoying it and although she works a bit more lazily than she used to, she still seems to come alive on the track.”
Ouija Board’s owner, Lord Derby, said that a decision as to the mare’s future would be taken after her run in Dubai.
But provided she doesn’t disgrace herself, it looks sure that all roads will lead to Kentucky and the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf, possibly via Ascot’s King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes.
Landscaping work continues at Kempton, as well as construction of a new access road designed to reduce congestion at the main entrance.
But having enjoyed a racing-free winter, the turf on the chase and hurdle courses is in excellent condition.
Trials featuring a number of leading horses and jockeys will take place at Kempton next Wednesday ahead of the track’s first meeting on March 25, where admission will be free to all racegoers registering their details with the course before midday.
No less than 54 fixtures are due to take place at the track in 2006 with hopes for twice that figure in 2007. Many of those will be aided by the newly-installed floodlighting, fully retractable to aid viewing for jumps fixtures.
With stabling facilities also improved and upgraded, the total cost of the construction work has come to £18.8m (€27m), partly funded by an interest-free loan from the Levy Board.
