Sands Of Mali’s part-owner Peter Swann will fly to Las Vegas this weekend to watch his star's participation in the Al Quoz Sprint at Meydan on Saturday.
He will watch the race with his fingers crossed that the Champions Day Sprint winner can add another Group One success for the Cool Silk Partnership on Dubai World Cup night.
Why Las Vegas so specifically you say? - the Chairman of Scunthorpe United was based in Vegas for the four-year-old's 28/1 outsider's Ascot victory in October as well his Group Three success at Deauville in France back in April and believes there must be some sort of superstitious link.
Swann discussed firstly how his colt has progressed over the winter break.
(Credit: Racing Post) He said: “I’ve been in regular contact with Richard [Fahey, trainer]. I went up and saw him the other day, he’s been in fantastic nick. He’s definitely progressed and we’re delighted with his conditioning.
“He’s travelled well and lost only a couple of kilos, which is fantastic, and he’s settled in. I don’t think he could be in better condition going into it.
“I’m going to be in Las Vegas, which sounds like a bit of a jetsetter's dream, but two times he’s won, I’ve been in Vegas. When he won in France I was in Vegas and when he won at Ascot I was in Vegas, so we’re going back – not solely for that, mind, it’s my son’s birthday.
"My son and I are going to Vegas, but my wife, my eldest son and [bloodstock agent] Matt Coleman are all going out to Dubai to support him. Even though I’m going to be away I will be watching, probably at some stupid time in the morning."
Phoenix Thoroughbreds bought into him over the lengthy break and Swann can hardly put in words how far he and the Cool Silk Partnership have come in just a few years.
He said: “I think everybody knows us for buying breeze-up horses and being successful.
"To pick Sands Of Mali up for £75,000 at Ascot sales, where he was a little, stubby, plain, dubious sort of horse, and then to get to a point where he’s won a Gimcrack, has been in seven Group 1s and won one, is amazing.
"We started with all-weather horses for about £800, so to then suddenly win the Champions Sprint, with a first prize of about £360,000, was quite a shock.
Sands Of Mali has attracted a bit of market support in the last twenty-four hours, backed into 8/1 from 15/2, but sits second best in the market to a top sprinter from Godolphin.
"Our target has primarily been this race with Sands Of Mali. We know we’ve got to beat a beautiful horse in Blue Point. If he does, he stamps his authority on the division.
Last year's Kings Stand winner Blue Point has been impressive on two starts over the winter so far in the Middle-East, and it already appears the world is his oyster for Charlie Appleby this term.