World cup is not a one-horse race

At this stage of the UAE racing season, there is usually a stand-out Dubai World Cup horse. Last year, Curlin, who was on Sunday crowned America's Horse of the Year for the second consecutive time, was deemed almost unbeatable.

Previous renewals have seen matches between Discreet Cat and the mighty Invasor, and the aptly named Dubai Millennium was the number one choice in the year 2000. However, so far this campaign, the trend has been bucked, and while I am not detracting from the fact that this year's 2,000m contest will be utterly competitive, there is yet to be a horse “they all have to beat'' which I think is more of a positive than a negative – it makes the race and the build-up even more intriguing and exciting.

With more than 1,600 early nominations spread over all the races, there is absolutely no doubt the final meeting ever at Nad Al Sheba will be a star-studded spectacle.

The Japanese, who already boast a good record, rely on recent Arima Kinen heroine Daiwa Scarlet in the Dubai World Cup, although how she will fare on the harsh dirt surface is another matter.

The equally talented Vodka, who ironically contested the Dubai Duty Free last term, is hoping to go better than fourth; while Screen Hero, popular winner of the Japan Cup, is another quality performer who could be on show come March 28.

Those trained in the US are also to be strongly feared and Champs Elysees, a dual G1 winner was also added to the bulging list of equine A- listers, however he is another who is yet to race on artificial ground and his effort on the synthetic track at Santa Anita on February 8 will be key.

devlin's dreamer I popped along to Grandstand Stables one afternoon in the week and enjoyed watching – from a spectator's point of view rather than being on top myself – work riders from the yard exercising members of Ali Rashid Al Raihe's string.

Paul Devlin must be thought of quite highly as he was trusted to steer Dubai Dreamer and Aamaaq around the trotting ring.

Each clearly does not lack fitness, but their handler is obviously leaving no stone unturned, or indeed, anything for the next man.

CUMANI CLEAR-OUT

Apart from the traditional breaking-in of yearlings, this is a quiet time for flat yards in the UK, but the lads at Luca Cumani's stable must have plenty of tack-cleaning time after animals previously housed at Bedford House Stables have moved on.

With a sizeable bunch representing the Italian at the carnival, there are some who will be in colours of their new connections. Sanbuch (a Glorious Goodwood winner for Cumani) ran very well for Mubarak Bin Shafya last week, and Monte Alto, a recent Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum purchase has been sent to Ali Rashid Al Raihe and his UAE debut will be closely monitored.

VINTAGE FORM

On the track this week, Royal Vintage looked in good form under Kevin Shea on Tuesday, while it was good to see John Egan riding Redding Colliery for his retained owner, Jim Hay, and the grey was another that caught my eye.