Dubai: Britain’s Red Cadeaux, who was a creditable runner-up to Animal Kingdom in last year’s $10m Dubai World Cup, heads a star-studded field of 16 likely runners for next Saturday’s 18th running of the world’s richest horse race.
A seasoned international campaigner who has contested 11 Group 1 races around the world, Red Cadeaux is joined by three other horses who contested last year’s race - including fellow British-trained Side Glance (4th) and the Saeed Bin Surour duo of African Story (5th) and Hunter’s Light (7th).
Bin Surour also has a third entry in Prince Bishop, who contested the Dubai World Cup in 2011 and 2012 and the Group 1 Dubai Sheema Classic twelve months ago. The Godolphin veteran earned his ticket to the March 29 following impressive winning performances in Round 2 and 3 of the Al Maktoum Challenge.
Fellow Godolphin handler Charlie Appleby saddles his first Dubai World Cup runner in the former French-trained Vancouvertie, who was a noteworthy runner-up in the Group 1 Jebel Hatta on Super Saturday.
In what looks a super strong renewal of the 2000m all-weather contest, illustrious Irish handler Aidan O’Brien is represented by 2013 Epsom Derby sensation Ruler Of The World and Breeders’ Cup Turf hero Magician. John Gosden attempts to win his maiden Dubai World Cup with the outstanding triple Group 1 winning mare, The Fugue.
The Japanese raiders have always highly respected and are well represented by four-time Grade 1 scorer Hokko Tarumae and Grade 1 Japan Dirt Cup victor Belshazzar while the Japs are matched in firepower are Hong Kong raiders Military Attack and Akeed Mofeed.
The former, who is trained by prolific Group-winning handler John Moore, comes into the race in red-hot form having romped home in the Group1 Hong Kong Gold Cup just three weeks ago.
The Ron Gibson-trained Akeed Mofeed also won his warm-up race, the Group 3 Centenary Vase at Sha Tin late February, and heads to Dubai in the best form of his life.
British hopes also rest with the William Haggas-trained Mukhadram, an exciting runner-up to Al Kazeem in last year’s Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot and Sir Michael Stoute’s King Edward VII Stakes Group 2 scorer Hillstar, who produced some rousing efforts in the King George, Juddmonte and Champion Stakes last season.
Ron The Greek, winner of the Jockey Club Gold Cup in America last season but now representing Saudi Arabia, is an interesting entry.
Perhaps the most interesting entry among the 16-strong field is South African-trained Sanshaawes, who has stormed into the big-race stratosphere with a string of notable efforts in handicap events at the Dubai World Cup Carnival. He is trained by Mike De Kock, seeking a first victory in the big race.
The Dubai Racing Club also released the likely fields for the eight other thoroughbred races on the $27.5 million card with the $5 million Dubai Sheema Classic (G1), potentially the most exciting race.
Shea Shea and Reynaldothewizard return to defend their titles in the two sprint races, the Al Quoz Sprint (G1) and Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1) while Soft Falling Rain will also bid for back-to-back wins in the $1 million Godolphin Mile (G1).
Godolphin’s Cavalryman was an impressive winner of the Dubai Gold Cup (G1) 12 months ago and returns for a repeat shot at the $1 million purse.
