DUBAI // At 10.05pm after the gates have flown open at Meydan Racecourse thoroughbreds from six countries will embark on a two-minute oxygen debt for a slice of the US$10 million (Dh36.7m) on offer for the Dubai World Cup.
It could well be a farewell lap to the Tapeta surface on which the world’s richest race is staged.
Despite a field packed with Group 1 winners from around the world the glaring omission of a challenger from the United States for the first time in 19 runnings of the World Cup has raised the spectre of a return to dirt.
Earlier this week Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid criticised the all-weather surface that has been the driving force to the internationalisation of the Dubai World Cup since the race was moved to Meydan in 2010.
He stated that the surface was inconsistent and has worsened since the lavish opening night four years ago.
The Minister Of Finance crystallised the private grumblings of certain sections of the international racing fraternity that have been attached to the World Cup since it was first staged on an artificial surface that no major racing jurisdiction uses at its flagship racecourse.
Rumours have been circulating in the build-up to the race that either the Tapeta could be re-laid in the off-season, or be replaced with a dirt surface.
Meydan has reached a cross roads. When the Dubai World Cup was staged on dirt it was won by horses from the US on eight of the 14 occasions it was run. Saeed Bin Suroor, the Godolphin trainer, hit back with five wins, while England secured one.
Delve a little deeper and the dominance of the US and Godolphin at Nad Al Sheba was more total than simply the number of victories.
Of the 42 possible podium spots in the 14 World Cups staged on dirt, only 12 of those were filled by horses trained outside the US and Godolphin’s stables.
Since Meydan opened, France, Japan, Godolphin and the US have won the race. In addition to those wins, Godolphin and Japanese runners have run into the places, while England has recorded three places. South Africa has also secured a placed finish.
Although the World Cup on dirt was clearly a carve up for the US and Godolphin, it was not a closed shop. Japan sent over 17 challengers in total for a return of To The Victory’s second place in 2001.
England flew over 19 thoroughbreds for Singspiel’s win in 1997, Nayef’s third place in 2003 and Wilko’s runner-up spot in 2006.
These were clearly small gains for a huge outlay.
The US dirt horses have turned their back on the Dubai World Cup this year, despite talk of Mucho Macho Man’s possible participation before the Breeders’ Cup winner ran fourth to former World Cup runner Game On Dude in the Santa Anita Handicap three weeks ago.
In Hokko Tarumae and Belshazzar Japan have sent over their crack dirt runners and the former American horse Ron The Greek also has a dirt history.
If any of this trio win, talk of a return to dirt may well be lifted.
If any of Godolphin’s trio of African Story, Cat O’Mountain and Prince Bishop, the English challengers Red Cadeaux and Side Glance, or Satish Seemar’s Surfer and Mike De Kock’s Sanshaawes – all proven on Tapeta – prevail it could well precipitate big changes for next season.
sports@thenational.ae
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