Straight No Chaser working on the main track at Meydan on Thursday.

Straight No Chaser carries syndicate dreams from Del Mar to Dubai

by Alan Carasso, DWC Notes Team

A little after 7am Wednesday morning, a tour bus pulled into Harrow Yard at Meydan. A tour group? At that hour of the morning? Well, not exactly.

 One by one, members of the MyRacehorse micro-share syndicate poured out of the bus and made their way trackside, lining the rail, phones and iPads in hand as they watched American champion sprinter Straight No Chaser turn in an energetic gallop a little more than three days out from his appearance in the G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen (sponsored by Nakheel).

 The six-year-old will look to become the first to complete the unofficial Sprint Triple Crown when attempting to add the Golden Shaheen to the G1 Breeders' Cup Sprint and G2 Riyadh Dirt Sprint.

 “Straight No Chaser is the one that brought us here and as everyone knows, he's just an awesome horse,” said enthusiastic shareholder Will Diaz. “I am loving it here. It's been great and I can't wait for Saturday to come. Boy, he's amazing, such a tough horse.”

 About 30 minutes later, trainer Dan Blacker reappeared to exchange pleasantries with the group, easily numbering 50 and each looking like there is no place they'd rather be.

 “I couldn't possibly be more excited,” said Diaz. “I've been very lucky, I was also involved with [MyRacehorse's G1 Preakness Stakes winner] Seize The Grey, but this experience is just so great.”

"At the end of the day, this is what I am trying to do--to take horses and race them internationally in places like Saudi and Dubai. 

“It's been very satisfying to be able to do this for MyRacehorse, to be able to give them these sorts of experiences, and hopefully Straight No Chaser will run another big race this weekend."

Dan Blacker speaks to the international media ahead of Straight No Chaser's challenge for the G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen