Parboo set for Dubai debut with Giant Ryan

The American domination of the Gulf News-sponsored $2 million (Dh7.35 million) Dubai Golden Shaheen (Group 1) was finally broken last year when Rocket Man from Singapore won the sprint over six furlongs on the all-weather track. While Rocket Man is back to defend his title, the US is again represented by two strong runners in Giant Ryan and The Factor. The Factor is from Bob Baffert's yard and the American will be looking to finish one better than last year when Euroears fell short by over two lengths to Rocket Man. While Baffert is a familiar face here in the UAE after Silver Charm and Captain Steve won the Dubai World Cup, Giant Ryan's trainer Bisnath Parboo will be making his debut. Giant Ryan finished eighth in his last run in a Grade 1 contest after being bumped at the start but prior to that, he recorded a six-race winning streak which included the Vosburgh Invitational Stakes Grade 1 race last October. The 72-year-old Parboo, who used to be a part-time trainer in Trinidad, took out his US trainer's licence and is based in New Jersey and New York. Ryan is owned by his son Shivananda Parbhoo who is yet to arrive here but expressed satisfaction over the progress of their star sprinter, the six-year-son of Freud. Speaking from Florida, Parbhoo said: "He travelled really good. He came out of the plane and the van ride feeling good. They walked him for three days and took him to the track for the first time on Saturday. "He jogged on the [all-weather] and he seemed to like it," Parbhoo said. Giant Ryan galloped one circuit of the track and jogged another circuit and his trainer indicated that Giant Ryan would train again this morning and will have a "slight work with the jockey [Willie Martinez]" on board tomorrow. The other US raider, Baffert's The Factor has won six of his ten starts, including both the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes and the Grade 2 San Carlos Stakes in his last two races at Santa Anita Park. Tim Yakteen, former assistant trainer to Baffert, was overseeing as The Factor worked 600 metres at Meydan yesterday morning. Yakteen caught The Factor in 48.51 seconds. "Both of them [Baffert's World Cup runner Game On Dude included] are ready," said Yakteen.