Overdose: could run in Al Quoz Sprint at Meydan on March 31
PICTURE: Corrado GarofaloOverdose heads out for Dubai Carnival sprints
THE ‘Budapest Bullet' Overdose will head out to Dubai next week to participate in the 2012 World Cup Carnival, which starts on Thursday at Meydan.
Owner Zoltan Mikoczy is eyeing a number of races throughout the carnival before World Cup night itself on March 31, when the Group 1 Al Quoz Sprint over 5f on turf offers an obvious target.
Despite having regular spells on the sidelines through injury, the seven-year-old son of Starborough's career record still stands at 16 wins from 19 starts.
Mikoczy said: "He is entered in races in Dubai on January 20 and February 3 but races on either February 23 or March 1 would probably be better, as they would give us more time to prepare him.
"Because it is winter in Hungary we obviously haven't been able to work him as much as we normally would," added the owner.
"We have gone to Dubai independently, but will be there to apply for an invitation to the World Cup meeting. It would be a very proud moment to take part as to our knowledge no horse from Eastern Europe has ever participated at the meeting."
After being sidelined for five months following his fourth place in the King's Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot, Overdose won the Group 3 Premio Carlo & Francesco Aloisi in in November, where he was ridden for the first time by Frankie Dettori, who Mikoczy hopes will be available in Dubai.
The owner added: "If all goes well in Dubai, Overdose will once again come to Britain to compete at Royal Ascot, where he finished a close-up fourth in last year's King's Stand.
"Whether he runs there over five furlongs again or over six in the Golden Jubilee we don't know yet. But 2012 will be Overdose's last season on thetrack and we'd love to win a Group 1 with him before he goes to stud."
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