Nayef Dubai bid on track

Nayef is in good shape as his preparations continue for a possible tilt at the Dubai World Cup next month, trainer Marcus Tregoning revealed today.

Nashwan`s half-brother finally came good thanks to his trainer`s patience last season after starting the campaign a hot favourite for Classic honours.

He flopped in the Sagitta 2000 Guineas but ended on a high note with four successive victories, culminating in the Dubai Champion Stakes at Newmarket.

'He`s fine,' said Tregoning. 'I don`t know whether he will be having a prep in the Maktoum Challenge but the main objective is that we have him ready and right for the World Cup or one of the supporting races, which would be the turf race (Dubai Sheema Classic) I would have thought.

'I`ve also got Mubtaker over there as well and they are in good form. We`re happy with them and it`s all going well at the moment.

Tregoning has no qualms about Nayef, who is a son of American sire Gulch, taking to the dirt surface at Nad Al Sheba.

'He seems to handle it particularly well,' he said. 'I never thought myself that he wanted soft ground over here but it was always soft when he was running.

'I think he`s a better horse on faster ground. He`s got such a good action, he`s got beautiful action and does seem to have been effective on the track at Nad Al Sheba.

'You never know how they will handle it at racing pace but he does seem to have the right balance.'

Meanwhile, Tregoning is happy with how his string at home are progressing.

'I`m very pleased with them,' he said. 'Although it`s been wet recently, we`ve had an easy winter with them really.

'They are all just gradually stepping up a gear and it`s so far, so good.'