Dubai: The 2015 Dubai World Cup Carnival has attracted what appears to be its strongest international contingent, with a record 240 horses, including 31 Group One winners, entered for the 11-week extravaganza that kicks off on January 8.
Among the entrants announced on Wednesday are winners of the English and Argentine Guineas, the Irish St Leger, Ascot’s King’s Stand Stakes, the Preis Von Europa in Germany, the Keeneland Phoenix Stakes in the USA and South Africa’s President’s Champions Challenge and Betting World Cape Flying Championship.
Norway is set to send its largest team, with champion handlers Rune Haugen and Neils Petersen accounting 23 raiders, led by Keeneland Phoenix Stakes (G1) scorer Sudirman.
As anticipated, the UK will be well represented by 106 horses, with champion trainer Richard Hannon responsible for ten of them, including stable stars Night Of Thunder, the 2000 Guineas scorer, Crave Stakes winner Toormore and 2013 Irish 1000 Guineas and EP Taylor Stakes scorer Just The Judge.
Marco Botti, who saddled Jakkalberry to win the Dubai City of Gold (G2) in 2013, will dispatch 11 hopefuls headed by Group 1 winners Energia Davos, Energia Fribby and Euro Charline.
Brown Panther, winner of the Irish St. Leger this year and the Goodwood Cup last season, will hope to give former England football star Michael Owen a taste of Meydan glory.
American handler Graham Motion sent Animal Kingdom to capture the Dubai World Cup (G1) in 2013 and has earmarked Beyond Empire and Horsted Kenes for a trip to Dubai.
Meanwhile, South Africa’s champion trainer Mike de Kock, who is by far the most successful international trainer at the Carnival since its inception in 2005, has booked passages for 46 challengers, with his top stars being Golden Horse Sprint winner Contador, Master Plan, winner of the 2012 Champions Cup, triple Group One scorers Via Africa and Yorker, and former Carnival runners Anaerobio and Vercingetorix.
The Carnival will culminate in the 20th running of the Dubai World Cup on March 28.
