Gio Ponti, Twice Over lead cast

Abu Dhabi: Gio Ponti and Twice Over, who chased the mighty Zenyatta to the line in last year's Breeders' Cup Classic (Gr 1) at Santa Anita, are among a star-studded field of 14 runners expected to contest the $10 million (Dh36.7 million) Dubai World Cup (Gr 1) at Meydan racecourse on March 27.

The French-trained Vision d'Ttat, an impressive winner of the Hong Kong Cup (Gr 1) at Sha Tin in December and Japan's Maktoum Challenge III winner Red Desire are two other eyecatchers among the likely runners announced by the Dubai Racing Club yesterday together with the supporting races.

All fields for the night's eight races will be finalised at the declaration stage on Monday.

Other prominent entries include: Breeders' Cup Classic winner Life Is Sweet and surprise Pacific Classic (Gr 1) winner Richard's Kid from America.

The UAE has only two representatives in the 2,000 metre race on the all-weather (Tapeta), and both hail from the Godolphin stable — the still improving dual Meydan winner Allybar and last year's Italian Derby (Gr 2) scorer Mastery.

Christophe Clement's Gio Ponti, who leads the ante-post betting at odds of 6/1, carries a mighty reputation with four consecutive Grade 1 victories during his four-year-old campaign during which he won an Eclipse Award.

"His ability to train and race in such an honest fashion over different conditions makes him such a versatile horse right now," said Shane Ryan, President of American horse racing stable Castleton Lyons, in the Thoroughbred Times.

Tod Pletcher's Take The Points won the Jamaica (G1) and Secretariat (G1) in 2009 and the 2010 Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap (G1) before being disqualified to fifth for interference in the stretch and arrives here in pursuit of a first Dubai World Cup win for the trainer.

Mike Maker's Furthest Land gives owners Ken and Sarah Ramsey a chance to win their second World Cup after the triumph of Roses in May in 2005 while trainer Bob Baffert, who saddled the 1998 winner Silver Charm and 2001 winner Captain Steve, is shipping Richard's Kid to try and win his third Dubai World Cup.

Godolphin trainer Saeed Bin Surour, who has sent out six winners in the last 14 editions, will be banking on Mastery and Allybar while his main rival in the Dubai International Racing Carnival, South African trainer Mike de Kock, will also be doubly represented by Lizard's Desire and Mr Brock.

Also among the contenders for the $6 million winner's purse is Pascal Bary's Gloria De Campeao, second to Well Armed in last year's Dubai World Cup.

Brian Meehan's Crowded House, Cecil Henry's Twice Over and Marco Botti's Gitano Fernando comprise the trio from Britian while French raider Vision d'Etat completes Europe's challenge.

The following is the list of runners for DWC meeting:

Race 1: 4.45pm DUBAI KAHAYLA CLASSIC, Purebred Arabians, sponsored by Emaar
Group 1. $250,000, 2,000m All Weather

Damis Qatar de Mieulle A

Fryvolous UAE Charpy E

Jaafer Qatar Smart J

Jalab Al Khalidiah France Bernard JF

Kandar Du Falgas UAE Watson D

Mizzna UAE Lemartinel E

Nashwan Al Khalidiah France Bernard JF

Nil Blanc Qatar Al Jehani R

Nirwan UAE Watson D

No Risk Al Maury UAE Duffield G

Santhal UAE Charpy E

Theoretically GB Smith W

Race 2: 5.20pm AL QUOZ SPRINT, sponsored by Emirates NBD, Group 3. $1,000,000,1,200m Turf

Horse Country Trainer

All Silent Australia Begg G

Asset UAE Bin Surour S

California Flag USA Koriner B

Finjaan GB Tregoning M

Fravashi UAE Bin Surour S

Joy And Fun Hong Kong Cruz Derek

Judd Street GB JohnstonHoughton E

Mariol France Collet R

Our Giant South Africa de Kock M

Sir Gerry GB Best J

Sirocco Breeze UAE Bin Surour S

Star Crowned UAE Bouresly R

Terrific Challenge UAE Seemar, S

War Artist GB Eustace J

Race 3: 5.55pm GODOLPHIN MILE, sponsored by Etisalat (Group 2) $1,000,000, 1,600m All

Horse Country Trainer

Calming Influence UAE Bin Surour S

Cat Junior GB Meehan B

Consul General Saudi Arabia Mandeel N

Desert Party UAE Bin Surour S

Forgotten Voice GB Noseda J

Glorious Noah Japan Yahagi Y

Green Coast UAE Watson D

Kalahari Gold UAE Watson D

Le Drakkar UAE bin Huzaim A

Lucky Find South Africa de Kock M

Oiseau De Feu UAE Charpy E

Skysurfers UAE Bin Surour S

Summit Surge GB Cumani L

Vesuve UAE Al Muhairi M

Race 4: 6.35pm UAE DERBY, sponsored by The Saeed & Mohammed Al Naboodah Group 2. $2,000,000, 1,900m All Weather

Horse Country Trainer

Champagne Style GB Meehan B

Della Barba Saudi Arabia Barton J

Enak UAE Bin Surour S

Frozen Power UAE Bin Surour S

Makaanah Saudi Arabia Barton J

Mendip UAE Bin Surour S

Mr Crazy Boy South Africa de Kock M

Musir South Africa de Kock M

Oroveso France Bary P

Raihana South Africa de Kock M

Siyaadah UAE Bin Surour S

Timely Jazz Norway Petersen N

Uncle Tom France Bary P

Vale Of York UAE Bin Surour S

Race 5: 7.15pm DUBAI GOLDEN SHAHEEN, sponsored by Gulf News, Group 1, $2,000,000, 1,200m All Weather

Horse Country Trainer

Benbaun GB Ryan K

Eagle Falls Australia Hayes D

Force Freeze UAE Watson D

Gayego UAE Bin Surour S

Kinsale King USA O'Callaghan C

Laurel Guerreiro Japan Kon M

Mutheeb UAE Al Muhairi M

One World Hong Kong Moore J

Regal Parade GB Nicholls D

Rocket Man Singapore Shaw P

Race 6: 7.55pm DUBAI DUTY FREE, sponsored by Dubai Duty Free, Group 1, $5,000,000, 1,800m Turf

Horse Country Trainer

Al Shemali UAE Al Raihe A

Alexandros UAE Bin Surour S

Bankable South Africa Brown, H

Confront GB Stoute M

Courageous Cat USA Mott W

Deem Saudi Arabia Barton J

Good Ba Ba Hong Kong Cruz D

Ibn Battuta UAE Al Muhairi M

Imbongi South Africa de Kock M

Justenuffhumor UAE Bin Surour S

Lahaleeb Bahrain Nass F

Presvis GB Cumani L

Snaafy UAE Al Muhairi M

The Usual Q. T. USA Cassidy J

Race 7: 8.35pm DUBAI SHEEMA CLASSIC, sponsored by Guangsha Group, Group 1. $5,000,000, 2,410m Turf:

Horse Country Trainer

Amor De Pobre Saudi Arabia Barton J

Anmar UAE Bin Surour S

Buena Vista Japan Matsuda H

Campanologist UAE Bin Surour S

Cavalryman UAE Bin Surour S

Dar Re Mi GB Gosden J

Eastern Anthem UAE Bin Surour S

Golden Sword South Africa de Kock M

Jukebox Jury GB Johnston M

Mourilyan South Africa Brown H

Pan River Turkey Kasar A

Pompeyano UAE Seemar S

Presious Passion USA Hartmann M

Quijano Germany Schiergen P

Spanish Moon GB Stoute M

Youmzain GB Channon M

Race 8: 9.45pm DUBAI WORLD CUP, sponsored by Emirates Airline

Group 1. 2,000m All Weather

Purse: US$10,000,000: 1st: $6,000,000 2nd: $2,000,000 3rd: $1,000,000 4th: $500,000 5th: $300,000 6th: $200,000

Horse Country Trainer

Allybar UAE bin Suroor S

Crowded House GB Meehan B

Furthest Land USA Maker M

Gio Ponti USA Clement C

Gitano Hernando GB Botti M

Gloria de Campeao France Bary P

Lizard's Desire South Africa De Kock M

Mastery UAE bin Suroor S

Mr Brock South Africa De Kock M

Red Desire Japan Matsanuga M

Richard's Kid USA Baffert B

Take the Points USA Pletcher T

Twice Over GB Cecil H

Vision d'Etat France Libaud E