Dubai: A staggering total of 341 horses from 15 countries have been nominated for next month’s $10 million (Dh36.72 million) Emirates Dubai World Cup (Group 1) at the culmination of the free nomination stage.
The 2000m all-weather contest, which is the showpiece event of a lucrative $25.3 million card on March 29 at Meydan Racecourse, has attracted the current winners of several of the world’s most prestigious races.
Among them are the 2013 Breeder’s Cup Classic (G1) star Mucho Macho Man, the Breeder’s Cup Turf (G1) scorer Magician, Japan Dirt Cup (G1) sensation Belshazzar, Epsom Derby (G1) hero Ruler of the World, Durban July (G1) victor Heavy Metal and 2011 Melbourne Cup (G1) winner Dunanden.
Game on Dude, who disappointed in the 2012 Dubai World Cup won by Monterosso, returns as a legitimate contender following a rousing 2013 season, which saw him notch three Grade 1 victories for former Cup-winning trainer Bob Baffert.
Eclipse Award winning owners Ken and Sarah Ramsey, who sampled victory in 2005 with Roses in May have entered Secretariat Stakes winner Admiral Kitten alongside dual Grade 1 scorer Big Blue Kitten while lead Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien has nominated 13 runners led by Kingsbarns, the 2012 Racing Post Trophy (G1) winner. Dual Group 3-winner Ernest Hemingway and St Leger (G1) scorer Leading Light are among the high-quality contingent scheduled to make the trip to Dubai.
The 2013 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (G1) winner Olympic Glory trained by Richard Hannon Jnr and John Gosden’s Irish Champion Stakes (G1) winner and Breeder’s Cup Turf (G1) and Hong Kong Vase (G1) runner-up The Fugue have also been nominated.
Meanwhile, Godolphin’s African Story heads a strong 206-horse local entry that also includes recent Cape Verdi (G2) sensation Certify, who also holds nominations for the Dubai Duty Free (G1) and the Godolphin Mile (G2), and Al Maktoum Challenge Rd2 winner Prince Bishop.
Among the leading lights holding nominations for multiple races are the Joey Ramsden-trained Variety Club, a multiple Grade 1 winner in South Africa, who has been entered for the Dubai World Cup, Dubai Duty Free, Dubai Sheema Classic and the Godolphin Mile.
Helene Superstar, who won the 2013 UAE Derby (G2) under the name Lines of Battle, has been nominated by new trainer Tony Cruz for the Dubai Duty Free, the Dubai World Cup and the Dubai Sheema Classic. Helene Superstar was previously trained by Aidan O’Brien
Japan’s favourite race mare Gentildonna may have broken many hearts when she could only finish runner-up to St Nicholas Abbey in last year’s Dubai Sheema Classic (G1) but is set to make amends when she contests this year’s renewal of the 2,400m contest which carries a purse of $5 million.
The winners of both the sprint races on Dubai World Cup day, Reynaldothewizard and Shea Shea, are set to defend their titles this year.
Trained by Satish Seemar, Reynaldothewizard heads an impressive 301 entries for the Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1) while Mike de Kock’s South African sprinting star Shea Shea is among the 273 nominations for the Al Quoz Sprint (G1).
Hong Kong’s Amber Sky winner of the Group 1 Centenary Sprint Cup also holds a nomination for the Al Quoz Sprint.
The $5 million Dubai Duty Free (G1), traditionally one of the most competitive races on the Dubai World Cup card has received 359 nominations while the Dubai Gold Cup (G1) has attracted 264 nominations including 19 from South Africa.
