2001 Dubai World Cup Undercard

Dateline: 03/22/01
By: Terence Dulay

Results

The Dubai World Cup is not the only big race being run at Nad Al Sheba on Saturday March 24th. Over the years Sheikh Mohammed has added races to the program and now the Dubai World Cup day is the richest in racing, surpassing the Breeders' Cup Championship Day.

The first race of the day is the Group 1 Dubai Kahayla Classic, run at 1 1/4 miles on the main (dirt) track for a purse of $250,000. The race is restricted to purebred Arabians of both sexes including geldings.

Curule

The second race is the Group 3 Godolphin Mile, which is a one mile dirt race for four years old and upward, with a purse of $1,000,000. This year's field includes defending champion Conflict, and Godolphin's Kentucky Derby hopes from last year, Curule and China Visit.

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Dubai World Cup full card analysis from DRF

Street Cry

The third race is the Group 3 U.A.E. Derby, which is the world's richest Derby with its $2,000,000 purse. Run at 1 1/8 miles over the dirt, it is also an elimination race for Godolphin horses hoping to make the trip to Louisville in May. Street Cry is by far the home side's best hope for a Triple Crown contender, coming off his win in the U.A.E. 2000 Guineas and his third place finish by just 1 1/2 lengths in last year's Breeders' Cup Juvenile. Qawaqeb and Express Tour also have U.S. racing experience but are also Godolphin owned. No North American horses shipped over for this race, however California based trainer Bobby Frankel has Chilean colt Lido Palace, moved to his barn in January after a successful 6-for-10 career so far in his homeland.

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DRF Past Performances

Mutafaweq and Frankie Dettori

The fourth race moves us to Nad Al Sheba's turf course, for the $2,000,000 Group 2 Dubai Sheema Classic at 1 1/2 miles. The favorite Fantastic Light won this event last year and went on to have a successful 2000 season with wins in the Grade 1 Man O'War Stakes at Belmont and finally the Hong Kong Cup at Sha Tin, the latter which earned him the Emirates World Series championship. Last year's Canadian International winner, Mutafaweq, is back after a long layoff, as is Luca Cumani trainee Endless Hall, winner of the Group 1 Gran Premio di Milano at San Siro last June. World traveler Caitano from the Andreas Schutz barn and German horse Silvano may be the best challengers to beat the home team.

Entries and form
DRF Past Performances

Bertolini

The fifth race brings us back to the main track and the fastest race of the day, the Group 3 Dubai Golden Shaheen. Fifteen horses will face the starter to go a straight 6 furlongs down the long chute and homestretch, for a purse of $2,000,000. Unfortunately, defending champion Big Jag was injured while training for his title defense and had to be retired. Since the injury he has been at a Dubai equine hospital. Suddenly the race looks wide open. Bertolini is Godolphin's main hope here although his 2000 season consisted of no wins, two seconds and a third in six starts. Dirt sprints are an American specialty, and it's no surprise that five U.S. based horses have shipped over for the event. Caller One comes in off a second place finish to Dixie Union in the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes at Santa Anita, Istintaj has a two race winning streak going in, having won the Mr. Prospector and the Deputy Minister Handicaps, both Grade 3, at Gulfstream Park. Men's Exclusive beat Big Jag in the Palos Verdes last time out, Morluc, a turf sprinter switching back to dirt, had a three race win streak in Kentucky before finishing second by a head in the Hong Kong Sprint, and finally the filly Serenita is here coming off a second place finish in the Grade 1 Santa Monica.

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DRF Past Performances

Slickly

And to round out the undercard, the sixth race is the Group 2 Dubai Duty Free. The Duty Free has been on the World Cup undercard since its inception in 1996, but was originally written for World Cup nominees who didn't draw into the field. Now it is a 1 1/8 mile turf race, for a $2,000,000 purse. This field appears to be the most wide open on the card. The sentimental favorite has to be the New Zealand bred mare Sunline, who has taken on males successfully with wins in the Group 1 Cox Plate (two years in a row) and the Group 1 Hong Kong Mile in December. The U.S. is represented by Julio Canani trainee Ladies Din, coming off a second place finish in the Grade 2 Citation Handicap. Jim And Tonic, third to Fantastic Light in the Hong Kong Cup last out, is in to represent Hong Kong, while the Godolphin home team is represented by Slickly, winner of the Prix Dollar, Happy Diamond, with a four race winning streak, and, Mahfooth, winner of the local prep for this race, the Jebel Hatta on March 4th.

Entries and form
DRF Past Performances

All photos by Cindy Pierson. Logo courtesy of Dubai World Cup.

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