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Racing News
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World's Best Preparing For Dubai World Cup 27/02/06
With just over three weeks to go before the eleventh running of the US$6,000,000 Dubai World Cup (Gr.1), sponsored by Emirates Airline, the fields for the seven races on the world's richest day of racing have begun to take shape.
Headlining the Dubai World Cup (Gr.1) this year is the Japanese superstar Kane Hekili, trained by Katsuhiko Sumii and the mount of Yutaka Take.
The most recent victory for Japan Cup Dirt (Gr.1) winner Kane Hekili came last week with an easy win in the February Stakes (Gr.1) over 1,600 metres at Tokyo Racecourse.
Seeking The Dia, trained by Hideyuki Mori, has finished runner-up to Kane Hekili on his last two occasions, in the Japan Cup Dirt (Gr.1) and the February Stakes (Gr.1), will also be flying the flag for Japan at Nad Al Sheba Racecourse on 25th March, in the Dubai World Cup (Gr.1).
Mori will also be saddling the four-year-old colt Agnes Jedi in the US$2,000,000 Dubai Golden Shaheen (Gr.1), sponsored by Gulf News.
Asakusa Den'en, winner of the Keio Hai Spring Cup (Gr.1) and the Yasuda Kinen (Gr.1), along with the Hong Kong Mile (Gr.1) winner Hat Trick will represent Japan in the US$5,000,000 Dubai Duty Free (Gr.1), sponsored by Dubai Duty Free, the second leg of the Asia Mile Challenge.
Japan was victorious in the 2001 Dubai Sheema Classic (Gr.1) with Stay Gold, this year its hopes in the US$5,000,000 Dubai Sheema Classic (Gr.1), sponsored by Nakheel, are with the Kojiro Hashiguchi-trained Heart's Cry, recent winner of the Arima Kinen (Gr.1), in which he beat Japanese star Deep Impact.
Ireland is likely to be represented in the Dubai World Cup (Gr.1) by the Dermot Weld-trained Grey Swallow, a five-year-old son of Daylami and winner of the 2004 Irish Derby and 2005 Tattersalls Gold Cup.
Jim Bolger will be targeting multiple Group One winning mare, Alexander Goldrun at the US$5,000,000 Dubai Sheema Classic (Gr.1).
Britain's representatives in the Dubai World Cup could include the Sir Michael Stoute-trained Maraahel, third in the Hong Kong Cup (Gr.1), and the Brian Meehan-trained Dubai Champion Stakes (Gr.1) winner David Junior.
Classic winning filly Ouija Board, from the Ed Dunlop stable, is on course for the US$5,000,000 Dubai Sheema Classic (Gr.1) and will be partnered by Kieren Fallon, who won this race back in 1999 with Fruits of Love and in 2000 with Fantastic Light.
Others from Britain in the Dubai Sheema Classic (Gr.1) look to be Irish St. Leger winner Collier Hill, trained by Alan Swinbank, Mark Johnston's Bandari and Norse Dancer, trained by David Elsworth.
Willie Haggis is set to run Suggestive along with Dunlop's Court Masterpiece in the US$1,000,000 Godolphin Mile, sponsored by Jebel Ali International Hotels.
Britain could have two runners in the US$2,000,000 UAE Derby, sponsored by Saeed & Mohammed Al Naboodah Group, Baan, trained by Johnston, and the Clive Britain-trained Well Armed.
America, already winners of the Dubai World Cup on five occasions, will once again be sending a strong team, including the recent Donn Handicap (Gr.1) winner Brass Hat, trained by William Bradley.
Cigar, winner of the inaugural Dubai World Cup, won the Donn Handicap before his success under the lights of Nad Al Sheba Racecourse as did the 2001 winner Captain Steve.
Todd Pletcher, who saddled Harlan's Holiday, to finished second to Moon Ballad in the 2003 Dubai World Cup, is sending Magna Graduate, fourth in the Donn Handicap, on sloppy going, and winner of three of his nine starts.
Super Frolic, fourth to Saint Liam in the Breeders' Cup Classic, is another who is likely to make the trip with trainer Vladimir Cerin deciding to skip the Santa Anita Handicap (Gr.1) and come straight to Dubai.
Richard Mandella, who landed an unforgettable Dubai World Cup victory with Pleasantly Perfect back in 2004, returns to Dubai with The Tin Man in the US$5,000,000 Dubai Duty Free. Other runners from America in the race could include Todd Pletcher's Host, Whilly, trained by Doug O'Neill and Bobby Frankel's Badge of Silver.
Malibu Stakes (Gr.1) winner Proud Tower Too, trained by Sal Gonzalez, heads the American challenger in the US$2,000,000 Dubai Golden Shaheen (Gr.1), sponsored by Gulf News. Others include Gaff, trained by Steve Asmussen, Jeff Mullins' Captain Squire, Bobby Frankel's Major Success, Thor's Echo, from the O'Neill stable, the Bill Spawr-trained Bordonaro and Jet West, the likely mount of Kent Desormeaux.
Christophe Clement's Relaxed Gesture, winner of the Canadian International (Gr.1), will be America's representative in the US$5,000,000 Dubai Sheema Classic (Gr.1), sponsored by Nakheel.
Julio Canani, who has had seven runners over the years in Dubai, is bringing his multiple Grade One winning mare Island Fashion to Dubai for the US$1,000,000 Godolphin Mile (Gr.2). Eoin Harty, who was assistant trainer to Bob Baffert when Silver Charm won the Dubai World Cup in 1998, could saddle Shamoan for the Godolphin Mile (Gr.2)
Perfect Promise trained in Australia by Lee Freedman, is set to line up in the first leg of the Asian Mile Challenge - the Futurity Stakes (Gr.1) in Melbourne before travelling to Dubai to run in the second leg - the Dubai Duty Free (Gr.1). Perfect Promise could be joined in the 1,777 metre turf race by Lad Of The Manor, who will be taking in the Australian Cup prior to departing for Dubai.
Mike de Kock could be double handed in the Dubai Duty Free (Gr.1), a race he won with Ipe Tombe in 2003, with Tyson and Irridescence, impressive winner of the Balanchine (Listed) at Nad Al Sheba Racecourse last weekend.
Linngari, trained by South African Herman Brown is a winner of two Group races during the 2006 Dubai International Racing Carnival and will now be aimed at the Dubai Duty Free.
