A total of 13 American challengers look likely to arrive in Dubai to compete in races on Dubai World Cup day and with total prize money of US$15,250,000 it is the world's richest day of racing. For all the entries, post positions, and past performances for the entire Dubai World Cup card, check here.
Congrats, winner of the San Pasqual Stakes (Gr.II) in January and recent runner- up in the Santa Anita Handicap (Gr.I), will be joined in the Dubai World Cup (Gr.I) by fellow American contenders Choctaw Nation, trained by Jeff Mullins, Bobby Frankel's Lundy's Liability, and Roses In May, trained by Dale Romans.
De Kock, who trained Victory Moon to finish third in the Dubai World Cup a year ago, runs Yard-Arm, winner of the US$200,000 Al Fahidi Fort (Gr.III) during the 2005 Dubai International Racing Carnival. The J & B Met (Gr.I) winner finished fifth, behind Chiquitin, on his first run on the Nad Al Sheba dirt in the final round of the Al Maktoum Challenge (Gr.II) over the Dubai World Cup trip.
Chiquitin is one of the two runners in the Dubai World Cup trained by Saudi Arabian-based Jerry Barton, the other being King's Boy who was fifth in this race last year. Also from Saudi Arabia comes the Christophe Clement-trained Dynever.
Adjudi Mitsuo will be flying the flag for Japan, the Masayuki Kawashima-trained four-year-old has an impeccable record coming into the race, a winner of five of his nine starts including the Tokyo Derby. His most recent win came last time out in the Tokyo Daishoten (Gr.I), over 2,000 metres in December.
Local challengers include Godolphin's Grande Hombre, fourth to Pleasantly Perfect a year ago, Ruler's Court, trained by Ismael Mohammed, and the Doug Watson-trained Elmustanser.
Smart sprinter Pico Central, trained by Paulo Lobo, is one of the American runners in the US$2,000,000 Dubai Golden Shaheen (Gr.I), sponsored by Gulf News, the others include Bear Fan, My Cousin Matt And Saratoga City.
U.S. based trainer Ken McPeek will send out Gulfstream Park BC Handicap winner Prince Arch in the Dubai Sheema Classic (Gr.1) and Brazilian-bred Durban Thunder in the UAE Derby (Gr.2) while Julio Canani will enter Tsigane (Fr) in the Godolphin Mile (Gr.2).
