After the world came together for 2016 Dubai World Cup, what is next for the winners?

International horses from 13 countries took aim across the nine races and California Chrome’s triumph capped the best night of racing in the six years that the UAE’s premier racing facility has been open for business, writes Geoffrey Riddle.

Team California Chrome celebrates with the trophy after victory in the Dubai World Cup at the Meydan Racecourse on March 26, 2016 in Dubai, UAE. Warren Little/Getty Images

On the eve of Saturday's Dubai World Cup at Meydan, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, published a letter.

In it he outlined his affinity with the horse, the relationship of the Emirati people with them and how he hoped the winners from the event would come from all over the world at Meydan.

His wish was granted.

International horses from 13 countries took aim at the total prize-money of $US30 million (Dh110.2m) across the nine races and California Chrome's troubled victory procession for the United States in the World Cup capped the best night of racing in the six years that the UAE's premier racing facility has been open for business.

California Chrome’s populist triumph was the result that the race craved, and it was the first time the Star-Spangled Banner had been played after the World Cup since the Nad Al Sheba days as Animal Kingdom’s links with owner-breeder John Messara ensured Advance Australia Fair played out on the PA system in 2013.

There was no better storyline among the 12 runners than his rags-to-riches tale, his wide trip that ensured he travelled 25 metres further than runner-up Mubtaahij and Victor Espinoza’s now notorious slipping saddle.

American Pharoah’s journey towards Triple Crown immortality in America last year dominated headlines, but no horse has taken such a deep root in the hearts of so many as California Chrome around the world in recent times.

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It is extraordinary that Espinoza has ridden them both, and as the dust settles on a tenth American winner of the world’s most valuable race Espinoza reflected on what it all meant to him.

“I worked really hard in my early days of my career,” he said. “I basically spent all the time at the track and focused. Sometimes I thought I wasted a lot of years, but it has all been worth it with all of these amazing horses I am riding.”

California Chrome was one of six international horses to win on the night.

British runner Postponed provided Italian jockey Andrea Atzeni with a welcome 25th birthday present in the Dubai Sheema Classic and sealed the burgeoning relationship between trainer Roger Varian and owner Sheikh Mohammed Obaid.

Japan secured two victories for the second time at Meydan with Real Steel in the Dubai Turf and Lani in the UAE Derby. Buffering struck in the Al Quoz Sprint for Australia and Vazirabad was a worthy favourite in the Dubai Gold Cup.

When you add in Musabah Al Muhairi's fortunate win with AF Mathmoon, a locally-bred winner of the Kahayla Classic, and Muarrab in the Dubai Golden Shaheen, in addition to Doug Watson's first World Cup night winner with One Man Band in the Godolphin Mile it was a World Cup nonpareil.

And now the world has come to Meydan, the winners will return to the world.

Buffering is set to run in the Chairman’s Sprint Prize at Sha Tin on May 1 before the eight-year-old will attempt to become a fifth Australian winner of the King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot in June.

Lani will travel to America for the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 6, while trainers of both Vazirabad and Postponed mull over Europe’s best races over 2,400 metres. Connections of Real Steel have no immediate plans.

And California Chrome will ship to Chicago on Thursday, where he will undergo quarantine. The leading prize-money earner in American history will then travel to Taylor Made Farms in Kentucky, where he spent last autumn recuperating from his injuries, and will be thoroughly checked over by vets Rood & Riddle.

Owner Perry Martin once again underlined California Chrome’s programme to be the Pacific Classic at Del Mar on August 20 and then the Breeders’ Cup Classic on Art Sherman’s doorstep at Santa Anita on November 5.

“If we win the Breeders’ Cup Classic we become the highest-earning horse of all time,” Martin said. “In 2014 we ran and finished third.

“We were five wide then as well, and I think he travelled 41 feet further than the winner and missed it by a nose and a neck. Let’s hope we can finish it off.”

In the summer of 1959 Sheikh Mohammed visited Newmarket, England with his father, Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum.

In his letter he described the home of British racing in conjunction with Kentucky as the most influential places in racing, but added that Dubai has now overtaken those two august centres of excellence.

In racing terms, and after Saturday’s results, it is impossible to argue with that.

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