Cintra eyes more Dubai success

Cintra eyes more Dubai success

He’s about to be crowned Uruguay Champion Trainer for a fourth time and he’s just won one of the biggest races in South America, but Antonio Cintra isn’t stopping there.

Having first tasted success in Dubai back in 2006 when Heart Alone won the Group 3 Al Shindagha Sprint, Cintra returned last season and picked up another win when El Patriota won the Al Bastakiya Trial at Meydan Racecourse. 

A former champion trainer in his native Brazil before moving to Uruguay, Cintra currently has three horses based in Dubai. El Patriota has returned, as have Group 2 Maktoum Challenge Round 2 third Ajuste Fiscal and sprinter Upper Class, who was unbeaten in South America before heading to the Middle East. The trio spent the summer in the UK, under the care of trainer Ismail Mohammed, before returning to Dubai where their handler now has a permanent license, meaning he can run horses at all five UAE tracks.

“After the World Cup I was thinking about the future for them and the owners wanted to plan for Dubai again. I thought that keeping them in the same hemisphere would be good for them and I think we did the best for them; they are looking good, well.

“I changed to a permanent import license just to get some more options for them to race, “he explains. “I’d like to thank Dubai Racing Club and also trainer Erwan Charpy who has made us feel very welcome at Green Stables.”

El Patriota, who finished third in the Listed Al Bastakiya after his win, could switch to turf this season, with his trainer eying the Carnival’s staying contests.

“Now he’s four years old and I’m planning for the long distance races on turf with him. The trainer in England told me that he has been training well on turf and so he could have a good season in that kind of race.”

Cintra anticipates that the three current Dubai residents will run first in December, by which time they will have been joined by five more from his base in Uruguay. They include Aero Trem, winner of the Grade 1 Longines Gran Premio Latinoamericano at Maronas last month.

“Aero Trem is coming to Dubai at the beginning of December. If he has a good trip then maybe he can run in the Maktoum Challenge [Round 1 on January 13^th]. We are waiting for an invitation for the Saudi Cup, and after Saudi, maybe the Dubai World Cup.”

Aero Trem will be joined on the flight by three-year-old Perfect Love, who recently finished fourth in the Gran Premio Nacional [Uruguay Derby]. 

“He’s a good horse but the distance of the Derby over 2500metres was too far for him. In Dubai he can start at a mile and then the [Group 2, UAE] Derby is 1900metres which is much better for him.”

Cintra will also bring over three-year-old filly Nopaya Naa, a daughter of Trinniberg, who has plenty of potential targets.

Antonio Cintra Interview: https://youtu.be/D_E7PJpsIDo