A new dirt track star?

Electrocutionist won his dirt debut by 7 lengths, landing the Maktoum Challenge III (G2) in great style beating last year's winner Chiquitin and returning a high Globeform rating.

There are still some sceptics, "how will he react to a battle with Americans, or the Japanese dirt champion Kane Hekili?" but Electrocutionist does look the one to beat in the eleventh running of the Dubai World Cup (G1).

The 5-year-old son of Red Ransom has the profile of a top class, older horse. He has made 9 lifetime starts, for 7 wins. He has won big races in Italy, England and Dubai, on turf and dirt over such distances, and his last performance was his best to date. Perhaps he is sitting on an even bigger one today?

Electrocutionist ran a super prep for the World Cup when he won the last leg of the Maktoum Challenge. Racing on dirt for the first time, and tackling the full World Cup distance, he was always travelling well just off the pace before moving up on the turn and running away for an easy win. He beat Chiquitin and Elmustanser who had run first and second in the race 12 months earlier. Electrocutionist still produced Globeform 125, improving on his best turf form. Which was close to top class last year.

He made his name known worldwide when winning the Juddmonte International Stakes (G1) at York in England last summer. Ridden by Mick Kinane, Electrocutionist came with a strong run from off the pace to deny the Japanese champion Zenno Rob Roy in a tight finish.

Electrocutionist is essentially a one-mile performer on turf and that is often what you want when going for a big race over 10 furlongs on dirt.

Godolphin bought Electrocutionist at the end of last year and he is their only runner in the Dubai World Cup. As he is by Red Ransom out of an Arazi mare, one can say that his pedigree makes him ideal for dirt racing. He will be hard to beat on Saturday.

- Globeform.com