Journalism-Sovereignty Rivalry Could Resume in Dubai

With some luck in the coming months, the resumption of the Sovereignty-Journalism rivalry could be an international sensation. Michael McCarthy, trainer of Preakness Stakes (G1) winner Journalism, said the son of Curlin will return to his Santa Anita Park barn in mid-January with the hope of getting in six or seven works before starting his 4-year-old campaign in mid- to late-March. "We're going to make sure we get six or seven works into him and then chart a path," McCarthy said by phone Dec, 29. "And that would put everything in mid- to late-March into play." That timetable works quite well for running in the $12 million Dubai World Cup (G1) March 28 at Meydan Racecourse, a 1 ¼-mile test that Godolphin's Sovereignty, who will also resume training in January, is also expected to target if his training goes well. "Dubai is a possibility we're thinking about," McCarthy said. Sovereignty and Journalism met twice last year, with Sovereignty taking the Kentucky Derby (G1) and Belmont Stakes (G1) and Journalism finishing second both times. They were expected to clash in the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) at Del Mar, but Sovereignty was scratched a few days before the race due to a fever. Journalism, a $4.3 million earner, finished fourth in the Nov. 1 Classic. It was the first time in 11 career starts that he wound up worse than third. Owned by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Bridlewood Farm, Robert LaPenta, breeders Don Alberto Stable, Elayne Stables Five, and partners associated with John Magnier's Coolmore, Journalism captured a trio of grade 1 races this year: the Santa Anita Derby, Preakness, and Haskell stakes.