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Dubai – at centre stage of the horse racing world
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The Dubai World Cup meeting is a celebration of sorts. Each year, it attracts some of the finest competitors in the sport to battle it out for the ultimate prize — the Emirate Airline-sponsored Dubai World Cup (Group 1). It's the world's richest-ever race with stakes of $6,000,000.Six exquisitely crafted support races, including the world's richest Derby and the Purebred Arabian Classic, make for an exhilarating evening's entertainment.
This year, as part of an exciting new initiative by the Emirates Racing Association — the sport's governing body in the region, the Dubai World Cup meeting will be the culmination of the inaugural Dubai International Racing Carnival that featured nine weeks of high-quality racing contested by horses from all corners of the globe.
But the Dubai World Cup, a 10-furlong contest on dirt, remains very much the showpiece event of the seven-race extravaganza. It is a much sought-after prize and just about every middle distance champion in the world is here to challenge for a winner's purse of $3,000,000.
Over the years, the race has delivered some of racing's most stirring finishes; Cigar's gut-wrenching win over Soul of the Matter in the inaugural event in 1996, and Silver Charm's short-head denial of the home hope Swain in 1998, are just two races that are etched permanently in the memory. American horses have won three of the eight runnings of the great race and, this year look certain to add another magnificent triumph. Of the 12 horses expected to line up to contest today's race, four have flown across the Atlantic , while two others have been bred in America . Breeders' Cup Classic (Gr 1) winner and runner-up, Pleasantly Perfect and Medaglia d'Oro, are the joint favourites with South Africa's Victory Moon, a part-time local resident, also a very strong contender.
Contenders
The US is also represented by Fleetstreet Dancer, winner of the Japan Cup Dirt (Gr 1), and rising challenge Domestic Dispute, who is seeking his first Grade stakes win.
Godolphin, winner of the Dubai World Cup on four occasions — with Almutawakel, Dubai Millennium, Street Cry and Moon Ballad — is represented by the US-bred and raced Grande Hombre. Another horse with American roots, State Shinto, will make a record-breaking fourth successive start in the event. Now trained by local champion elect Mazin Al Kurdi, the evergreen eight-year-old American-bred horse will surpass his own record of three Dubai World Cup appearances. Japanese horses have, in recent years, emerged very strong contenders in dirt races, and this year, appear to have their strongest hand with Admire Don, runner-up in the Japan Cup Dirt, Regent Bluff, and Silent Deal.
International representation
Japan claimed a noteworthy second place behind American raider Captain Steve in the 2001 running of the Dubai World Cup with To The Victory. Saudi Arabia's King's Boy, the winner of his last three starts, completes the field of 12.
The Dubai World Cup has consistently been rated among the top middle distance races in the world and this year's renewal is no exception. One of the most exciting races on the support card has been the Dubai Golden Shaheen, a sprint contest that again has been dominated by American horses who have won three of the last four runnings.
Given the success rate, America has one of its strongest representations in the six-furlong dash on dirt, with Breeders' Cup Sprint winner Cajun Beat, the unbeaten Alke, Our New Recruit, Tsigane and Tour of the Cat.
The UAE racing has produced its fair share of sprint specialists and four of the country's fastest thoroughbreds, Feet So Fast, Conroy Conceal and State City, will also challenge the American speedsters in this don't-blink-or-you'll-miss-it race worth a staggering $2,000,000. Eleven invitees will contest the Dubai Duty Free (Gr 1) — a race originally conceptualised as a substitute race for the Dubai World Cup, but one that has grown immensely in stature.
One of the most exciting international races on the card, this year's renewal has attracted entries from France, Ireland, England, Germany, South Africa, UAE, and needless to say, the US.
Unquestionably one of the most open races on tonight's programme, the field is perhaps led by former South African contender, Crimson Palace, who was recently purchased by Sheikh Rashid bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, and today runs under the Godolphin banner. However, South Africa is not without a strong representation, with former Queen-owned Right Approach looking a leading contender.
The Godolphin Mile, UAE Derby, and Dubai Sheema Classic, all feature cracking fields and should provide suitable thrills to whet the appetite of the many thousands of racegoers who are expected to descend on Nad Al Sheba this evening to join in the celebration of the equine champions.
Champions of previous years
A list of winners at previous Dubai World Cup races:
• 1996 Cigar
• 1997 Singspiel
• 1998 Silver Charm
• 1999 Almutawakel
• 2000 Dubai Millennium
• 2001 Captain Steve
• 2002 Street Cry
• 2003 Moon Ballad |
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