Don´t Write Off Outsider Kandidate, Says Brittain

Dubai World Cup outsider Kandidate will run a big race and deserves a shot at the sport´s richest prize, according to British trainer Clive Brittain.

In a career spanning more than five decades in the sport, including 35 years as a trainer, Brittain has made a habit of getting seemingly inferior horses to be placed in high-profile races.

Kandidate, with eight wins from 34 career starts, lines up on Saturday in a field of seven bidding to win the 12th running of the Dubai World Cup at Nad Al Sheba, worth $3.6 million to the winner.

'I´m very confident. We paid 60,000 pounds up front to run and I wouldn´t spend the owner´s money if he didn´t have a chance,' Brittain said of the only European entry, a 20-1 outsider in London betting.

'We are not worried about any other horse. We are going there to run a big race.'

Brittain is no stranger to big-race successes, at home and overseas in the United States and Japan.

In 1985 he made history when he became the first British trainer to saddle a winner at the Breeders´ Cup with Pebbles, a brilliant filly who also won the English 1,000 Guineas, Eclipse and Champion Stakes.

He is just as well known for his near misses with rank outsiders, notably when Terimon finished second in the 1989 English Derby at the jaw-dropping odds of 500-1.

Kandidate also belied large odds when finishing third at 100-1 in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket in 2005 and Brittain believes the five-year-old is still improving.

'He has speed. He can run from the front or in the pack,' he said.

'This horse has taken time to mature. He´s had a progressive year. His long term plan has been this race. I rate him, he´s a good horse and I´m sure he will give a good account of himself.'

It will be Brittain´s second attempt at the Dubai World Cup, his Italian Derby winner Luso finishing seventh in 1998.

? Reuters