World Cup hope Gloria heads strong Bary team

PASCAL BARY is sending a team of high-class former South American-trained horses to this year's Dubai Carnival - headed by last year's World Cup runner-up Gloria De Campeao, who has the world's richest race as his target again.

The former Brazilian-trained six-year-old won a handicap at last year's carnival before finishing 14 lengths behind Well Armed in the Dubai World Cup.

However, Bary has warned that Gloria De Campeao is likely to need the run when he embarks upon his third Dubai odyssey at Meydan's opening fixture on January 28 with a run in the opening round of the Maktoum Challenge.

Gloria De Campeao has run only twice since last year's carnival, scoring at Group 1 level when he defeated Presvis in the Singapore Airlines International Cup but then beating only one home in the Arlington Million in Chicago in August.

"He has not had a problem - it is just that he is more difficult to place now that he is a Group 1 winner," Bary admitted.

"He runs on the 28th and as usual he will improve for the run. He is likely to be a bit free and is a bit big at the moment but he will be alright in three or four weeks' time.

"The Dubai World Cup is his target and the big question mark is how he will handle the Tapeta surface. I was over in Dubai recently and the Tapeta training track was riding very quick.

"After Dubai it could be goodbye for him, although we might have another go in Singapore. He is set to go back to Brazil to stand as a stallion."

Bary has five other Brazilian-breds for owner Stefan Friborg's Estrela Energia stable that, like Gloria De Campeao, have already been out in Dubai for over a month.

All have Pattern-race form in their native land and arrived in Francea week before having an exploratory outing at Longchamp in early October.

"They really needed more time to recover from their long journey but they ran in some top races over the Arc weekend before being given a month off," Bary explained.

"I would pick out Hot Six who ran in the Arc itself - he is a nice horse," added the Chantilly-based trainer.

"He has been moving well and is fitter than Gloria De Campeao. He will start over a mile and a quarter on the Tapeta on February 4.

"Uncle Tom will be aimed for the UAE 2,000 Guineas, starting in the Trial, also on February 4.

"Opera Comica is a possible for the 1,000 although, like the other filly [Estrela Anki], she was quite light after the journey from Brazil and needs to come in her coat. I have a race on February 11 in mind for Oroveso."