By the time people wake up on Thursday morning, most of the big international players for Dubai World Cup night on March 28 will be in situ at Meydan's quarantine facility.
California Chrome, the Dubai World Cup favourite, departs his Los Alamitos base in California for Dubai on Monday along with Alan Sherman, assistant trainer to his father Art.
The younger Sherman will travel to Dubai directly to meet America’s horse of the year on arrival, while California Chrome is slated to actually fly out of America tomorrow alongside fellow World Cup challenger Lea, who is bidding to hand trainer Bill Mott a second win in the US$10 million (Dh36.7m) event after Cigar in 1996.
Main Sequence, America’s turf horse of the year who is set to contest the Dubai Sheema Classic, is understood to be accompanying them as the much-vaunted trio spearhead the powerful American challenge to the richest night in racing.
This morning at Sha Tin Racecourse, the finishing touches were scheduled to be applied to the Hong Kong team, comprising Amber Sky, who will defend his title in the Al Quoz Sprint, and Rich Tapestry, who won the Mahab Al Shimaal last season before running second to fellow Hong Kong raider Sterling City in the Dubai Golden Shaheen.
Trainer John Moore, who won the Group 1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup with Able Friend at Sha Tin yesterday, has his eyes trained on the Dubai Sheema Classic with Designs On Rome.
Other Hong Kong challengers understood to be making the trip include Lucky Nine, who will attempt to better his third-place finish behind Krypton Factor in the 2012 Golden Shaheen, and fellow sprinters Peniaphobia, from Tony Cruz’s stable, and Super Jockey, who last week became the final addition to the Hong Kong riding party.
The Japanese are also set to arrive later this week, with Epiphaneia, the world’s highest-rated horse in training, set to lead the strong Japanese attack on the World Cup, a race they won in 2011 with Victoire Pisa.
Epiphaneia won the Japan Cup in December and will be ridden by Christophe Soumillon, while Hokko Tarumae will try to improve on his last-placed finish 12 months ago on Tapeta in what will be the 20th running of the world’s most valuable race.
The remaining European challengers that have not competed at the Dubai World Cup Carnival are due to leave on Saturday.
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