American Horse of the Year Curlin breezed for the second time on Monday since his return to the United States following his emphatic win in the Dubai World Cup (Gr.1).

In virtually a repeat of his first workout, Curlin was clocked in a leisurely :52.20 for a half-mile, which he completed at Churchill Downs as his connections prepare him for a possible start in that track’s Stephen Foster Handicap (Gr.1) on June 14. His time was the 13th fastest of 14 at the distance.

On April 21, while still stabled at Keeneland Race Course, Curlin breezed a half-mile in :52 over the Polytrack surface. That move came just about two weeks after his return to America, and trainer Steve Asmussen said he was delighted with the four-year-old colt’s condition following his trip to Dubai.

The Stephen Foster Handicap, a 1 1/8-mile contest worth US$750,000, has been frequently used as a launching pad for American-based horses who are beginning the rest of their racing season after competing in the Dubai World Cup.

Godolphin’s Street Cry, the 2002 United Arab Emirates Horse of the Year, put together impressive back-to-back victories in that year’s Dubai World Cup and Stephen Foster Handicap, taking the former by 4 ¼ lengths and the latter by 6 ½ lengths.

Silver Charm, winner of the 1998 Dubai World Cup, returned to Churchill Downs, the scene of his Kentucky Derby (Gr.1) victory in 1997, to finish second in the ’98 Stephen Foster. Captain Steve followed the same path, winning the 2001 Dubai World Cup and then coming in second in the Stephen Foster.

Victory Gallop, who won the 1998 Belmont Stakes (Gr.1) to deny Real Quiet a Triple Crown, finished third behind winner Almutawakel in the 1999 Dubai World Cup but then uncorked one of his most spectacular victories by winning the Stephen Foster by five lengths in track-record time of 1:47.28.

Early shopping for fresh South American racing prospects ahead of the 2008-2009 UAE season is on, as undisclosed interests in the United Arab Emirates have purchased the hugely exciting Chilean two-year-old filly Sos Brillante.

She has been snapped up from the same track that produced the very impressive dual UAE Classic heroine Cocoa Beach.

South American-bred horses dominated the three-year-old division during this year's Dubai International Racing Carnival with lightly raced South American imports Cocoa Beach (Chi) and Honour Devil (Arg) capping off a brilliant season with victories in both the UAE Oaks and UAE Derby.

Chilean-bred Sos Brillante, a daughter of international sire Dance Brightly, scored by 11 ¾-lengths on her only start, trouncing 11 rivals and completing six-furlongs (1200m) in 1:10.73 at Santiago's Hipodromo Chile on March 29.

The talented bay filly out of Group 1-placed Mashaallah mare Strike Out, raced in Chile for owner-breeder Jorge Cardemil`s Stud/Haras Carioca and was handled there by trainer Christian Muñoz.

Sos Brillante will be pointed to the 2008-09 season, with a Carnival campaign to include all the top three-year-old races for fillies.

Dubai World Cup (Gr.1, sponsored by Emirates) winner Curlin shared the spotlight with Kentucky Derby (Gr.1) winner Big Brown on Saturday after becoming the first horse in Churchill Downs history to walk across a special red carpet usually reserved for human celebrities.

While parading in the paddock before the fifth race on the 12-event Derby program, Curlin was the recipient of enthusiastic applause and the focal point of dozens of cameras as he stepped on the carpet laid down temporarily just for him. Decked out in a white cooler bearing his title of America’s 2007 Horse of the Year, the muscular chestnut colt surveyed what he could see of the crowd of 157,770 with cool aplomb.

Some of those lucky enough to be in the paddock at the time snapped photos of friends standing near Curlin or tried to pat his handsome white-striped face.

Principal owner Jess Jackson said he wanted to share Curlin with the people of Kentucky on American racing’s biggest day. He also said that the son of Smart Strike could race next in the US$750,000 Stephen Foster Handicap (Gr.1) at Churchill Downs on June 14.

“I want the fans to enjoy the heroes of racing,” Jackson said.

Although neither he nor trainer Steve Asmussen, who watched over Curlin while his assistant Scott Blasi walked the colt around the paddock, has set a schedule for the rest of the 2008 racing season, Jackson has been pondering trying the colt on turf. In fact, he said he has thought about two of the world’s richest turf races—the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (Gr.1) at Longchamp in October and the Japan Cup (Gr.1) at Tokyo Racecourse in November.

Jackson has some concerns about Curlin racing in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (Gr.1) in October since it will be conducted at Santa Anita Park, where the synthetic Cushion Track surface has been problematic.

“That's a worry,” Jackson said. “But he trained on (a synthetic surface) at Keeneland. We don't know the full ability of the horse.”

Jackson said he sent Curlin to Dubai, where he scored a record 7 ¾-length victory in the Dubai World Cup, the globe’s richest race, and could ship him to France and Japan in order to show him off to the world.

One of the goals Jackson and Asmussen have set for Curlin is the all-time earnings crown currently held by Cigar. After taking home $3.6-million from the Dubai World Cup’s purse of $6 million, Curlin now has a total of $8,807,800. Inaugural Dubai World Cup winner Cigar earned $9,999,815.

Trainer Rick Dutrow Jr., who once lived in a barn tack room at Aqueduct racetrack in New York City when he was down on his luck, is having a career-high season thanks to two wins on the Dubai World Cup (Gr.1) program and Big Brown’s smashing victory in Saturday’s Kentucky Derby (Gr.1).

Dutrow was so high on Big Brown that he predicted he would easily win the Derby, which the bay son of Boundary proceeded to do in apparently effortless fashion, sparking speculation that he could sweep the Triple Crown for the first time since Affirmed in 1978.

“Just call me Clark Kent, because I feel like Superman now,” delcared winning jockey Kent Desormeaux.

Big Brown smashed through several possible barriers to success, becoming the first horse since the filly Regret in 1915 to win the 1 ¼-mile Derby with only three prior starts and the first since gelding Clyde Van Dusen in 1929 to win from the Number 20 post position.

Dutrow summed up the undefeated colt’s ability with these words: “I haven’t seen any horse that can beat him.”

He also said he was glad he could stay with Big Brown for the colt’s victory in the Florida Derby (Gr.1) on the same day as the Dubai World Cup, when his trainees Benny the Bull and Diamond Stripes won the Dubai Golden Shaheen (Gr.1) and the Godolphin Mile (Gr.2), respectively, at Nad Al Sheba Racecourse.

“I felt like I was there because my team was there,” Dutrow said, giving praise to assistant Michelle Nevin and exercise rider Rudy Rodriguez, who handled his two Dubai runners. Nevin also is the main exercise rider for Big Brown.

Both Benny the Bull and Diamond Stripes were sent to New York from Dubai, and Dutrow, who stayed in Florida with Big Brown until he was shipped to Churchill Downs for the Derby, has not seen them yet. Until he does have the chance to observe how they are faring, he said he will not know what their future goals might be for the rest of this year.

Archipenko, one of the stars of the Dubai International Racing Carnival, is now set to line up at Royal Ascot following his victory in the Audemars Piguet QEII Cup at Sha Tin.

The South African-trained raider, who landed the Al Fahidi Fort before fınishing an eyecatching third in the Dubai Duty Free, had a comfortable length and three-quarters to spare over French-trained outsider Balius with Hong Kong star Viva Pataca, who was second in the Dubai Sheema Classic (sponsored by Nakheel), eclipsed in third.

Mike de Kock, who again was crowned leading international trainer at the 2008 DIRC, is also becoming an increasingly familiar figure at Hong Kong’s International meetings.

The South African maestro won his race two years ago with Irridescence, but despite well-reported confidence from the trainer this week it was Viva Pataca that dominated the talk beforehand, meaning Archipenko entered the Group 1 showpiece as one of the outsiders.

The four-year-old winner had raced just 11 times before and had only joined De Kock’s yard in December and has now stamped himself a serious player on the world stage, something confirmed by the time of the 2000-metre race, a super-swift 2 minutes 0.8 seconds.

As predicted, the New Zealander Sir Slick went for the early lead, but he had to battle for that position with Viva Macau. Turning into the stretch there were a whole clutch of chances but in the final 200m all the attention focused on the surging Archipenko, with the late charge of Balius grabbing second place off Viva Pataca late on.

“I know it might sound crazy after winning a Group 1 race, but I think he is still improving and he can go and win another one. We’ll be thinking about him in terms of Royal Ascot but I’m not sure what race we will target there yet,” winning trainer De Kock said.

“We haven’t had the horse very long and he has needed to fill out. He settled in well at our stables in Dubai and I guess a change is as good as a holiday in many respects. I’m hoping he can continue on this upward spiral because he is still improving both mentally and physically.”

Reflecting on how the race was won, jockey Kevin Shea said: “He settled nicely and it suited him having no horse on his outside. He prefers to have some daylight. When I pulled him out in the straight I gave him a couple of cracks and I knew that it would take a special one to beat us.

“I would agree with what Mike says about this horse being able to go and win another major race like this. He’s more mature and more muscled and he seems to have settled better with the blinkers on him.”

Archipenko is owned by Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum in partnership with De Kock, Dr Ashley and Rose Parker, Jehan Malherbe, Dr. John McVeigh and Hugo Merry.

Quijano, who was fourth in the Dubai Sheema Classic - his sixth career outing at Nad Al Sheba - finished fifth.

His jockey Andrasch Starke said: "We had a perfect position but when it came to the straight he had no more. Yes, maybe the distance was too short but maybe he was a bit tired too after his Dubai run."

Earlier, Hong Kong's Good Ba Ba won his fourth Group 1 race in a row for trainer Andreas Schutz when he took the Champions Mile - the third leg of the Asian Mile Challenge - in emphatic style under Olivier Doleuze.

Dubai World Cup hero Curlin is in "excellent shape" following a short breeze through the fog at Keeneland on Monday.

The reigning Horse of the Year has delighted connections since his record victory in the $6 million Dubai World Cup, sponsored by Emirates.

Trainer Steve Asmussen told The Bloodhorse: “We just sped him up a little bit.

“There’s no telling how fast he went because of how foggy it was out there, but it was a very easy breeze.

“I love how Curlin is doing; I’m very pleased with him. I’m just extremely excited with how he’s acting. I think he’s going to bounce out of his Dubai trip in excellent shape.”

Curlin arrived at Churchill Downs from Keeneland yesterday, and although principal owner Jess Jackson and his wife, Barbara Banke, have been observing Curlin since he has been stabled in Lexington, Asmussen said so far no plans have been made for the rest of the 2008 racing season.

“Everybody is pleased with how he is doing and everything he’s done," said Asmussen. "I don’t think there is any reason to get in any hurry about what’s next."

Kevin Shea, who enjoyed a phenomenal 2008 Dubai International Racing Carnival, arrived in Hong Kong late Monday evening minus his luggage, but that did not stop him borrowing the necessary kit to work his Audemars Piguet QEII Cup mount Archipenko on Tuesday morning.

Shea, who scored 14 winners from just 44 mounts at a strike rate of 32 per cent in the UAE this year, exercised the Dubai Duty Free third on the turf at Sha Tin.

In trainer Mike De Kock’s absence, his assistant Trevor Brown watched the workout clocking a final split of 23.3 seconds, and both he and Shea were happy enough with the effort.

Speaking as the horse paused in the straight to take in his surroundings on the way back to his stables, Brown was looking forward to Sunday's race.

"I am very pleased with the horse. He only came to us in Dubai in December, and it has taken time for him to come to himself,” said Brown.

“What I like about him is that he's progressive, and he's shown improvement in each of his last starts. He had the chance to take a gap in the Dubai Duty Free, but wouldn't take it - Kevin [Shea] shifted him out and he went the second time he was asked - if he he'd gone first time, he'd just about have won.

"The extra furlong here will be in his favour. There's some form line between our stable's Sun Classique and Viva Pataca and Quijano from the Dubai Sheema Classic, and I think he's up there with them.

"Viva Pataca is obviously going to be tough on his home patch, and I like the chances of the local Derby winner [Helene Mascot] as well, but I think we'll be on top of them in the finish."

Australia’s champion three-year-old Weekend Hussler could be targeted at the 2009 Dubai World Cup, sponsored by Emirates - after he tries to win the Caulfield-Melbourne cups later this year.

The Hussonet gelding equalled the record of Kingston Town by winning six Group 1 races in a season.

Trainer Ross McDonald said he wanted to tour the world for a year with Weekend Hussler to compete in the major races.

"All the big races. Dirt tracks should not worry him," McDonald said. "His track rider Les Beer says he will handle anything."

The US$6million Dubai World Cup and Breeders Cup Classic (both run over 2000m) are possible assignments, according to McDonald.

Dubai Sheema Classic runner-up Viva Pataca was the subject of an enthusiastic report from jockey Darren Beadman, ahead of his tilt at Sunday's HK$14 million Audemars Piguet Queen Elizabeth II Cup.

"I've had a gallop on him and he feels great since he's come home from Dubai. He's put on a little weight in the last week or so and is getting back to his right racing weight, which is always a good sign. Back on his home ground he's going to be hard to beat," Beadman said.

The HK-based Australian jockey is not concerned about Viva Pataca coming back to 2000m from the 2400m of the US$5million Dubai Sheema Classic, sponsored by Nakheel.

"The mile and a quarter (2000m) is really his pet distance. The 2400 (metres) probably stretches him a touch. He runs it alright, no problem, but he has more turn of foot at 2000 (metres). I really don't see it as a problem at all coming back in distance," he said.

Dubai International Racing Carnival flagbearer, Quijano, who was fourth in the Dubai Sheema Classic, was out on the Sha Tin all-weather track this morning, under assistant trainer Ilke Hildebrand.

She said: "He had a smooth 11 hour flight from Amsterdam and missed the storm. As you can see he looks a bit warm and sweaty this morning, but don't worry about that. He has spent a lot of time in Dubai and likes it hot.

"I'm not worried about the drop in distance, he is a real speed horse who needs a lot of speed in his races. I know that is what both his trainer (Peter Schiergen) and jockey (Andrasch Starke) think. They'll both arrive in Hong Kong on Thursday."

Champion international trainer at the 2008 DIRC, Mike De Kock, who scored a big-race double on Dubai World Cup night, has Archipenko pointed at the APQE II Cup, following his third in the US$5million Dubai Duty Free, sponsored by Dubai Duty Free.

Assistant trainer Trevor Brown was on board him this morning as Archipenko, who arrived from Dubai last Saturday, took in his new surroundings.

"We arrived at 4.00pm on Saturday in the middle of the most unbelievable storm, " said Brown, "but he didn't turn a hair. I can't believe how well he has travelled, as I was a little worried as to how he'd handle it all – he can get a little stirred up, but he's taken it well. He'll do a little bit on the turf tomorrow."

Hopes are high that Quijano, a winner of three of his six starts in Dubai, including the 2007 Dubai City of Gold, can reverse form with Viva Pataca in the Audemars Piguet QEII Cup at Sha Tin next Sunday.

The tough six-year-old has been a real flagbearer for the Dubai International Racing Carnival, having won three times at the 2007 edition, before going on to win Germany's biggest race and finish runner-up in the Group 1 Hong Kong Vase.

He has been seen twice this year, both times at the 2008 Carnival at Nad Al Sheba, where arguably Germany’s best horse finished fourth to Sun Classique in the Dubai Sheema Classic (sponsored by Nakheel) on his latest start, a race in which the Hong Kong champion Viva Pataca finished second.

"That's why we're coming," enthuses three-times champion German trainer Peter Schiergen in response to the direct question of whether his horse can reverse the narrow margin of less than a length.

But, Schiergen still sounds rather frustrated by the US$5million race, just describing it as “okay” no doubt reflecting on what might have been had Quijano not been shuffled back several times in the early charge.

"With a better run, I'm sure we could have finished second," though he is quick to add: "but that is what can happen in racing."

Things seems to have conspired against him lately, not just in Dubai but also at Sha Tin last December, following an all too late surge into second behind Doctor Dino in the Vase. After which jockey Andrasch Starke reflected ruefully: "We were checked three times. Otherwise we would have won."

When it comes to previewing the 2008 Audemars Piguet QEII Cup, one can be sure that many tipsters will focus on Sha Tin's 2000m distance, casting their critical faculties over the winning chance of Quijano whose pedigree and form scream out for 2400m.

In fact his CV includes just two races over as short as the Audemars Piguet QEII Cup distance of 2000m, firstly when conquering weak rivals in a humble Baden Baden handicap and then when running the only stinker of his 19-race career, at Vichy in France.

However these hypothetical arguments do not appear to be giving Schiergen sleepless nights right now. "If you look closely, he has been running too freely early in his races," he said. "Going a bit quicker over the Sha Tin 2000m should help him to settle. Plus he has terrific speed from the gates."

Then there is the issue of whether a six-year-old gelding, winner of the Germany's most prestigious race, the Grosser Preis Von Baden last September, can possibly be improving?

Quite possibly yes according to his trainer, who, voices quite a strong opinion on the subject.

"Remember, early problems meant this horse started his career very late, first proving himself as a four-year-old gelding,” he said. “It is very possible that we have not seen the best yet."

Invited to make a comparison with stars such as Boreal and Tiger Hill, champions that have pushed the stable's Group 1 tally well into double figures, Schiergen, who also rode nearly 1500 winners, says: "He's up with the best of them. He's a complete Group 1horse."

As such, the omens seem positive that Quijano, who carries the same yellow and black colours worn by Silvano to victory in this race in 2001 for owners Stiftung Gestt Fährhof, may not be the only German Horse of the Year to triumph in the Audemars Piguet QEII Cup this decade.