Dubai World Cup Nominations Released

DUBAI WORLD CUP NOMINATIONS RELEASED 
   Nominations have been released for the G1 Dubai World Cup Mar. 29 at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai, with 341 in total given a chance at the world’s richest race. Heading the nominations for the $10 million contest are Mucho Macho Man (Macho Uno), winner of last year’s GI Breeders’ Cup Classic; the Aidan O’Brien pair of GI Breeders’ Cup Turf and G1 Irish 2000 Guineas hero Magician (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and G1 Epsom Derby victor Ruler of the World (Ire)(Galileo {Ire}), both also nominated to the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic; G1 Hong Kong Cup winner Akeed Mofeed (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), also nominated to the G1 Dubai Duty Free; G1 Durban July winner Heavy Metal (SAf) (Silvano {Ger}), who also holds nominations to the Duty Free and Sheema Classic, and 2011 G1 Melbourne Cup and G1 Hong Kong Vase winner Dunaden (Fr) (Nicobar {GB}), also nominated to the Sheema Classic. 
   Owner Ken Ramsey has nominated Big Blue Kitten (Kitten’s Joy) and Admiral Kitten (Kitten’s Joy), and Game On Dude (Awesome Again) could line up for another shot after finishing off-the-board in 2012. In total, 30 American-trained runners have been nominated to the World Cup. European heavyweights Olympic Glory (Ire) (Choisir {Aus})–also nominated to the Dubai Duty Free–and The Fugue (GB) (Dansili {GB})–also nominated to the Dubai Duty Free and Sheema Classic–could also join the lineup. 
   Six of last year’s eight World Cup night winners are nominated for title defenses. They are Soft Falling Rain (SAf) (National Assembly) (G2 Godolphin Mile), Cavalryman (GB) (Halling) (G2 Dubai Gold Cup), Helene Super Star (War Front) (formerly Lines of Battle, G2 UAE Derby), Shea Shea (SAf) (National Emblem {SAf}) (G1 Al Quoz Sprint), Reynaldothewizard (Speightstown) (G1 Golden Shaheen) and Sajjhaa (GB) (King’s Best) (Duty Free). 
   Two-time G1 Japan Cup heroine Gentildonna (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), second in last year’s Sheema Classic, will look to go one better this year as she was nominated only to that spot. 
South Africa’s two-time Horse of the Year Variety Club (SAf) (Var), who will make his Dubai debut in Thursday’s G3 Firebreak S., is being given plenty of options in the World Cup, Duty Free, Sheema Classic and Godolphin Mile. For the full list of nominations for all Dubai World Cup night races, click here.