So Jamie Spencer will be replaced on Crowded House by John Velazquez in the Dubai World Cup.

Apparently the owners believe that the American rider’s experience, having won the race on Roses In May in 2005, could prove useful because, according to the colt’s trainer, Brian Meehan, “the World Cup is an American-style race run on an American-style track.”

As always the owners have the final say, but given that Nad Al Sheba (where Roses In May won) has been replaced by Meydan experience is in short supply anyway and as dirt has given way to the synthetic Tapeta, which rides more like the all-weather surfaces found in Britain, just how much experience does Velazquez bring to the project?