No trainer running on March 25th boasts a better Dubai World Cup meeting record than Brendan Walsh.
Irish-born, USA-based, Walsh is two from two at Meydan Racecourse. The perfect record is thanks to Plus Que Parfait, winner of the G2 UAE Derby in 2019, and Extravagant Kid, successful in the 2021 G1 Al Quoz Sprint. He heads to that race again, with Grade 2 winner Cazadero the latest to take up the challenge. It’s a venture which will bring back good memories for Walsh, who worked in Dubai with Godolphin before starting his own training career.
“Everything about the year we won the Derby with Plus Que Parfait was a fond memory,” he says of his breakthrough Dubai win four years ago. “To go out there after spending so much time there previously and to win was magical, the type of stuff you dream about. Unfortunately, due to Covid, I didn’t make the trip with Extravagant Kid but that again was brilliant, unbelievable really.”
There are some similarities between Cazadero and Extravagant Kid, says their trainer, although the former has a few less miles on the clock than his erstwhile stablemate, who won the Al Quoz at the age of eight. Owned by Qatar Racing in partnership with Marc Detampel, Fergus Galvin and Barry Clohessy, five-year-old Cazadero has won four of his 11 starts, including the G2 Nearctic Stakes at Woodbine, Canada.
