Cigar on the mend

Cigar, who is making excellent progress after bruising a foot last month, is on course for the Dubai World Cup on 27 March.

The Breeders' Cup Classic winner cantered at Gulfstream Park on Saturday, and trainer Bill Mott is delighted with him.

"His foot was cold, he was moving fine and jogged sound," said Mott. Cigar will exercise today and again on Saturday before a 16-hour flight to Dubai.

"I feel pretty good about him although we can't have any setbacks now," Mott added. "Everything has got to be plain sailing, but I don't think we are any more disadvantaged than if we had gone for the Santa Anita Handicap. I would rather have a fresh horse than a tired one. You saw him run in the Donn Handicap after a lay-off. Who was going to beat him that day?"