Field of 13 likely for Dubai World Cup

1.1691963-717722546 — Special Fighter, ridden by jockey Fernando Jara wins the Al Maktoum Challenge Round 3 race at Meydan on Super Saturday. Jara believes Special Fighter can pull off a shock victory next week. Image Credit: Virendra Saklani/Gulf News Archives

Dubai: A likely field of 13 runners led by former Kentucky Derby winner California Chrome look set to contest the 21st running of the $10 million (Dh36.73 million) Group 1 Dubai World Cup at Meydan on Saturday week following a press release from the Dubai Racing Club.

Chrome, who hopes to go one better in the race after finishing runner-up to Prince Bishop twelve months ago, is joined by four other American challengers including Godolphin’s Frosted, Keen Ice, the only horse to beat Triple Crown sensation American Pharaoh, last month’s San Antonio Stakes (G2) scorer Hopportunity and Recent Donn Handicap (G1) victor Mshawish.

Intilaaq, winner of the Rose of Lancaster Stakes (G2) last season, is the lone British raider, while French hopes of second success in the race after Glória de Campeão’s triumph in 2010 rest with Vadamos, winner of group races in France and Germany.

South Africa’s Mike de Kock, the most successful international trainer at the Dubai World Cup Carnival, seeks a first success with last year’s UAE Derby (G2) winner Mubtahi.

Hokko Tarumae, fifth in the race last year, flies the flag for Japan, who carried the day in 2011 with Victoire Pisa.

Hong Kong are represented by Australian-bred Gun Pit, while Saudi Arabia are represented by Teletext, formerly trained in France and an impressive winner of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Cup (G1).

No UAE-based handler other than Godolphin’s Saeed Bin Surour has won the famous race, but reigning UAE champion handler Musabah Al Muhairi will attempt to break the jinx with Al Maktoum Challenge Round 3 scorer Special Fighter, while this season’s leading handler Doug Watson can cap what has been an outstanding term should Candy Boy, fourth in this race last year, win on his first appearance since that day.

Five winners of the third round of the Al Maktoum Challenge, the feature race on Super Saturday, the dress rehearsal for the $30 million Dubai World Cup meeting, have gone on to win the big race and Panamania jockey Fernando Jara, who sampled success in 2007 with Invasor, believes Special Fighter has got what it takes to pull off a shock victory.

“He gave me a great feel when he won on Super Saturday and I believe he’s a horse that’s peaking at the right time,” said Jara. “Obviously it’s a very tough race, but you have got to be a little confident when your horse wins like he did that day (4½ lengths).

“A lot will depend on how the race plays out, anything can happen. So we’ve got to hope we get a good draw and hope the race is run to his benefit.”

Dubai Millennium (2000), Street Cry (2002), Electrocutionist (2006), Prince Bishop (2014) and African Story (2015) were the horses that completed the Al Maktoum Challenge-Dubai World Cup double.

However, California Chrome, whose prep race was a modest handicap at Meydan, is the 2/1 international favourite, while Frosted is a close 3/1 second favourite.

The Dubai World Cup is the showpiece event of a nine-race card that includes the Group 2 $2 million UAE Derby and the Dubai Turf (G1) and Dubai Sheema Classic (G1), the joint two richest turf races in the world with prize money of $6 million each.

The Dubai Racing Club also released the likely runners for the other eight races on the night.

Race 9: $10m Dubai World Cup (G1) 2,000m Dirt