CARNIVAL RIDES: Getting to Know the #DWCCarnival Stars
AGE: 6
COLOR: Bay
SIRE: Newfoundland (Storm Cat)
DAM: Nuestra Machi (Hussonet)
COUNTRIES TRAINED: Chile, Argentina, England, France, UAE
TRAINER: Erwan Charpy
OWNER: Avaz Ismoilov
BREEDER: Haras Dadinco (Chile)
MEYDAN RECORD: 3-1-0-1
CAREER RECORD: 30-7-4-5
EARNINGS: US$504,036
POSSIBLE NEXT RACE: Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2 (G2) (8th February)
HIGHLIGHTS: A seven-time winner, she won the Premio Alberto Solari Magnasco (G1) and Premio Haras de Chile (G2) in Chile in 2014 before taking the Gran Premio Gilberto Lerena (G1) and Gran Premio Criadores (G1) back-to-back in 2015 in Argentina. Second in Royal Ascot’s Duke of Cambridge (G2) and Lancashire Oaks (G2) in England in 2016, she then won the Al Maktoum Challenge R2 (G2) in her UAE bow in 2017 before finishing third in Al Maktoum Challenge Round 3 (G1) and 13th in the Dubai World Cup (G1) after a tough trip.
BACKGROUND: A truly global mascot for the internationally inclined Dubai World Cup Carnival, Chilean mare Furia Cruzada is a seasoned Amazon warrior who has competed in G1 company in Chile, Argentina, France, England and UAE. She has quickly become a favourite of the locals for her gritty style and willingness to get into a battle. Such was on display when winning last year’s Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2 after a stretch duel with subsequent Godolphin Mile (G2) winner Second Summer. She is a preparing for a defence of that race.
“She’s coming along very good,” Charpy said. “She actually came in a little worse (light after traveling) than last year, but is a little ahead of schedule this year with how quickly she’s getting back into shape. She’s progressing well and at the moment we are sticking to the same plan of running in Round 2. I considered running her on the turf in the Cape Verde (G2), but it was too short for her and we will stick to dirt with her. She’s proven here and we look forward to it. I’m quite happy with how she’s doing and so is (jockey) Antonio (Fresu).”
PERSONALITY: “She’s very hard to train at times and can run herself to the ground. I can’t run her on the main track every day because of that and I only let Antonio ride her in the mornings every day because he can hold her. They get along well. That’s his girlfriend and they are a nice couple. Other than that, actually, she’s a very sweet filly in the barn. There’s no one sweeter and she’s just lovely and calm. But, like I said, when she comes to the track, she is a monster. She’s business, which is nice in a way when she races.” – Charpy
STRENGTHS: “She is tough. Very tough. When she came to the Maktoum Challenge last year, we thought she would run well, but might have needed the race. Then, when Second Summer came to her, she battled. She hangs and waits a lot because she likes to battle and is a fighter.” – Charpy
