American raiders likely to dominate

When Ken and Sarah Ramsey named Roses in May their specific target was winning the Kentucky Derby.

Unfortunately for them he suffered a tendon injury and wasn't ready in time but now Roses in May is poised to capture the richest prize in international racing in the $6 million (Dh22 million) Dubai World Cup at Nad Al Sheba tonight.

After being given time to develop and mature Roses in May began proving himself as a superior racehorse last year.

His six starts yielded five wins featuring the Grade 1 Whitney Handicap and Grade 2 Kentucky Cup Classic and a sterling second behind Eclipse Award winner Ghostzapper in the Grade 1 Breeders Cup Classic (2000-metre) in Texas.

His trainer Dale Romans has given the five-year-old one preparatory outing leading up to the World Cup in the Grade 1 Donn Handicap (1800-metre) at Gulfstream Park when he finished second behind Saint Liam.

A highly-regarded performer Saint Liam applied the pressure to the front-running Roses in May 1200 metres from home and went on the win the battle.

The outing will have improved the son of Devil His Due and he will have been further tightened up by the plane trip from the US.

Since the Cup was first run in 1996, the US and Godolphin have shared the honours in the World Cup by each winning on four occasions with English trainer Sir Michael Stoute successful with Singspiel, owned by General Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Minister of Defence, in 1997.

It seems that this year's 10th running will be dominated by the Americans with last year's winning trainer Richard Mandella, Bobby Frankel and Californian Jeff Mullins each having a strong hand.

Mandella will be saddling recent acquisition Congrats, who at his latest start was second behind his emerging stablemate Rock Hard Ten in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap (2,000m).

Frankel whose Medaglia D'Oro lost an epic battle with Pleasantly Perfect, will be looking to go one better than last year with Lundy's Liability.

A classy four-year-old Lundy's Liability was prepared by South African Mike de Kock when he scored in last year's UAE Derby (1800-metre) at Nad Al Sheba.

He was subsequently transferred to the care of the US Hall Of Famer and has since started on four occasions for two wins including the Grade 2 San Antonio Handicap (1800-metre) at Santa Anita in February.

Choctaw Nation, who will represent the Mullins stable, has virtually come from obscurity over the last 12 months.

After winning an Allowance race at Hollywood Park in May last year, he rose the heights when he defeated Pleasantly Perfect in the Grade 2 San Diego at Del Mar in August. He finished strongly when fourth over an unsuitable 1400-metre at his only start this year.

An emerging influence in Middle East racing Saudi Arabia will have respectable contenders in Dynever, Chiquitin and King's Boy.

A consistent performer at the top level in the US, Dynever demonstrated his ability when third in the 2003 Breeders' Cup Classic at Santa Anita.

At his most recent start in United States, two months ago, he charged home from well back to be third behind Badge Of Silver in the Grade 3 Hal's Hope Handicap (1800-metre) at Gulfstream Park.

Chiquitin has improved with each start since being transferred to Saudi Arabia from Argentina where he proved himself a high-class performer.

He was impressive in leading throughout to win the Maktoum Challenge over the World Cup course and distance.

Adding further depth to the field will be the presence of Yard-Arm, who is a five-time Grade 1 winner in South Africa.

Originally prepared by Geoff Woodruff the six-year-old is now in the care of Mike de Kock, who saddled up third-placed Victory Moon in last year's World Cup.

After winning the Al Fahidi Fort at his first start for the popular South African he was switched to dirt and was a moderate fifth behind Chiquitin. He will have benefited from that experience.

Rulers Court a one time favourite for the Kentucky Derby is on the comeback trail in the care of Esmael Mohammad in the UAE. At his only recent start he was a tiring sixth over 2,000-metre on Super Saturday.

England's representative Jack Sullivan has shown he relishes racing at Nad Al Sheba. Last year he was fourth in the UAE Derby and this season he has been victorious in two of his three starts at the course.

The Japanese runner Adjudi Mitsuo has won five of his nine starts including the Grade 1 Tokyo Daishoten (2,000-metre) on his latest outing. Local four-year-old Elmustanser completes the field.

Ellis's choice
1. Roses in May
2. Congrats
3. Chiquitin
4. Choctaw Nation