Racing: Jimmy Choux again drawn to perfection

Jimmy Choux's remarkable run with favourable barrier draws continued when he yesterday drew gate No 6 for Saturday's A$500,000 Rosehill Guineas.

The only time this season the high-class 3-year-old has copped a bad draw was gate 11 in the Levin Classic when he was thought to have fibrillated and was pulled out of the contest.

Going backwards from the Telecom Derby, Jimmy Choux's barriers this season have been 6, 6, 4, 3, 4, 2 and 2.

Being a New Zealander making his debut on Saturday, Jimmy Choux definitely didn't want to draw No 1 or No 2 for fear of what Australian jockeys might have used against him.

Similarly No 13 or No 14 were going to be of no use.

The other New Zealand-trained 3-year-old in the Rosehill race, He's Remarkable, has drawn No 9.

Michael Rodd has been engaged for He's Remarkable.

Half of the field of 14 for the Rosehill Guineas are New Zealand breds.

American trainer Bob Baffert is one of horse racing's comedians.

Also, as a Hall Of Famer, he's pretty good at what he does.

Baffert has thrown out the tip that he might just have a chance of winning Saturday night's US$2 million Dubai Golden Shaheen with Euroears. Baffert has had any number of runners at the World Cup race-night, but has only twice attended and went home winning the 1998 and 2001 World Cups with Silver Charm and Captain Steve.

During the press conference after Captain Steve's win, Baffert was asked what went through his mind when jockey Jerry Bailey had the horse mid-field and wide, directly against instructions to be in front.

"My hair nearly turned black," said Baffert, the joke being that his worldwide trademark is his striking silver hair.

He was at it again this week. Baffert arrived in Dubai late Monday night, too late to obtain accreditation, and at daybreak found his way to the grandstand at Dubai's palatial new racetrack at Mayden.

He was lost looking for the fifth floor from where to time the gallop by Euroears, when he was stopped by a security guard.

When asked for identification, Baffert said: "You're looking at it, it's my hair."

First it's the richest night of horse racing on the planet.

Then you've got Dinner In The Desert which - don't let anyone tell you differently - is the best party you will ever go to.

Then, as you wander around eyebrow-raising Dubai, you get to ponder the variables of racing horses.

Like two years ago when a juvenile Australian colt looked sufficiently talented to pursue a lucrative group one Golden Slipper campaign after graduating from a 4-length debut win to a Listed Stakes victory. Life - particularly in 2-year-old racing - does not, however, always go to plan.

"We purchased Common Interest - as he was then known - as a stallion prospect," said part owner John Messara.

"He was a very sharp 2-year-old but he got very colty whilst he was at the Freedman's Melbourne stable so the owners collectively decided that the best decision was to geld him.

"With the prospect of a stallion career gone we took the option of sending the horse to Michael [Freedman in Singapore] where in addition to the turf we also had the all-weather."

Common Interest (by More Than Ready) saw a name change to Better Be The One, and stamped his passport. This week it was stamped again as he arrived in Duabi to run as one of the favourites in Saturday night's rich Dubai Sprint.

The now 4-year-old has proven well suited to his new surrounds. His four starts since arriving in Singapore have yielded three wins (by a collective margin of 9.1 lengths) and a third placing.

His latest start over 1200m on February 6 in the Kranji Stakes witnessed another easy 2.8-length victory and pushed the gelding's lifetime career stats to eight wins and two placings from 16 starts.

"The horse is proving himself as one of Singapore's better sprinters," says Messara.

"One of the syndicate members suggested we bring the horse to Dubai for the World Cup Meeting. The 1000m Sprint - the Al Quoz - looked suitable so we did some work on the ratings. Better Be The One came up competitive so we elected to go ahead."

It is not the first time a Freedman has been associated with a World Cup Night runner. In 2006, brother Lee campaigned Perfect Promise in the Dubai Duty Free (1700m), finishing sixth.

"Everything is good," said Michael Freedman yesterday. "The horse had a good look around this morning and he has settled in well. Danny [Beasley] can give him a good look down the straight tomorrow.

"He has been up the straight a few times in Australia but this grandstand does add a new dimension. Having a look at him though I don't think he will need a lot of work this week."

The horse's Singaporean owners, plus Australian connections Messara, radio broadcaster Alan Jones and syndicator Julian Blaxland will also be on hand at Meydan on Saturday.