Dubai hopefuls in Santa Anita test

Dubai: Tomorrow's $1 million Santa Anita Handicap (Gr 1) at Santa Anita Park will see several American-based Dubai World Cup (Gr 1) contenders hoping to secure a ticket to Dubai.

Up to ten of the 14 runners hold entries for the $6 million race on March 29, or its rich supporting races.

Six entrants are nominated to the Dubai World Cup, with four other members of the field eligible for either the Dubai Sheema Classic (Gr 1) or the Godolphin Mile (Gr 2).

Additionally, some have been cross nominated to other races, including the Dubai Duty Free (Gr 1) and the Dubai Golden Shaheen (Gr 1).

The early favourite is Grade 2 winner and Dubai World Cup nominee Awesome Gem, who has been knocking on the door to Grade 1 success, finishing third behind Horse of the Year Curlin in the Breeders' Cup Classic (Gr 1) and second in two other top races last year.

Third in his only start to date of 2008, the San Antonio Handicap (Gr.2) won by another Dubai World Cup candidate, Well Armed, Awesome Gem has been training smartly for the Santa Anita Handicap.

"It was a very good comeback race," trainer Craig Dollase said of the San Antonio. Dollase also will saddle front-running Monterey Jazz, recent winner of the Strub Stakes (Gr 2) who is nominated to the Godolphin Mile.

"Awesome Gem and Monterey Jazz have contrasting styles. Monterey Jazz has one way of going -come and catch me," Dollase said. "I'm not a very good poker player, but I've got a good hand here."

"I love Awesome Gem," said Jeff Bloom, executive vice president of West Coast operations for West Point Thoroughbreds, which owns the five-year-old Awesome Again gelding in partnership.

"He goes out there and lays his body down, and hopefully, the San Antonio was a good tightener for him to set up his stretch kick that we know he has, and get that Grade 1 win under his belt. He's definitely come close."

Awesome Gem missed winning the Goodwood Stakes (Gr 1) lat Santa Anita ast September by only a nose to fellow Santa Anita Handicap entrant Tiago, just one start after losing the Pacific Classic Stakes (Gr 1) in a strong rally that cut the advantage of Student Council, yet another horse in Saturday's field, to a diminishing half-length.