An impressive line-up has been nominated for the silver jubilee year of the Dubai World Cup on March 28 at Meydan Racecourse.
Almond Eye, Maximum Security, Anthony Van Dyck, Beauty Generation, Nature Strip, Star Catcher, and Benbatl headline the nominations for the US$35 million (Dh128.6m) meeting, the world’s richest day in horseracing.
The Group One $12m Dubai World Cup nominations are led by a strong USA representation, including Horse of the Year finalist Maximum Security, as well as Group One winners Midnight Bisou, Gift Box, McKinzie, Higher Power, Math Wizard, Seeking the Soul, and Roadster.
The 2019 Champions Cup winner Chrysoberyl, 2017 Champions Cup winner Gold Dream and JBC Classic K T Brave lead the Japanese contingency looking to add a second Dubai World Cup trophy after Victoire Pisa’s triumph in 2011.
In the UAE, Godolphin’s 2018 Dubai Turf winner Benbatl - trained by nine-time Dubai World Cup winner Saeed bin Suroor - leads Satish Seemar’s North America and Salem bin Ghadayer’s pair Capezzano and last year’s runner-up Gronkowski.
The Dubai World Cup is run over the 2,000-metre on dirt and has been won by horses trained in France, Japan, UAE, UK and USA over its 24 stagings.
The Group One $6m Dubai Sheema Classic has drawn nominations from Group/Grade Ones from all corners of the world and include Japan’s Suave Richard, last year’s third in the 2,410m turf and winner of the Japan Cup.
The race also includes triple Group One winning Cartier champion Star Catcher, Derby winner Anthony Van Dyck, Hong Kong Vase victor Exultant and Godolphin’s Grosser Preis von Baden winner Ghaiyyath.
Returning to defend her Group One $6m Dubai Turf is Japanese superstar Almond Eye.
Nominated for the Group One $2.5m Dubai Golden Shaheen are American Group One winners Imperial Hint, Hog Creek Hustle and Firenze Fire, as well as Breeders’ Cup Sprint runner-up Shancelot along with Dubai based Drafted and Gladiator King.
The Group One $2m Al Quoz Sprint over the 1200m trip on turf has attracted nominations from top Australian sprinters, including Winterbottom Stakes, winner Hey Doc, Darley Sprint Classic victor Nature Strip.
The three Group Two races on the day, the $2.5m UAE Derby, the $1.5m Godolphin Mile and $1.5m Dubai Gold Cup have all drawn global nominations.
The first supplementary stage for all races on Dubai World Cup day will close on February 12 and the second supplementary stage is on March 9. The third and final supplementary stage takes place on March 22, when horses can be supplemented into the races before the entry/declaration on March 23.
