Large U.S. Contingent Set For Dubai

By Michele MacDonald 
The largest group of American challengers since Meydan Racecourse opened in 2010 is scheduled to fly to Dubai Mar. 17 to prepare for the 20th anniversary of the Dubai World Cup program, which will include nine races worth a total of $30 million. 

Led by Horse of the Year California Chrome (Lucky Pulpit) and champion turf horse and older male Main Sequence (Aldebaran), the squadron is expected to include 14 runners when the flight, coordinated by Mersant International, leaves the U.S. 

“It could have been even more,” said Martin Talty, the Dubai Racing Club’s international manager, referring to a few injury-related defections, “but we’re very happy with it.” 

“I think this is going to be the new trend–more Americans going to Dubai,” said Joe Santarelli, the Mersant official who is helping to coordinate the flight arrangements. 

The number of American horses traveling is a sharp increase from the previous five editions of the World Cup held at Meydan. From 2010 through 2014, an average of seven horses made the annual trip from the U.S., compared to an average of 14 that traveled for the previous five editions of the World Cup program held at Nad Al Sheba. 

Last year, only three horses represented the U.S. in Dubai, with none in the Dubai World Cup, which is the richest race on the globe with a $10 million purse. 

The late withdrawal of GI Donn H. winner Constitution (Tapit) with a sore shin, and the hoof problem that kept GI Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Bayern (Offlee Wild) on the sidelines prevented those top runners from competing in Dubai, but there is still plenty of American star power. 

Seven of the runners are Grade/Group 1 winners. California Chrome will attempt to become the third Kentucky Derby winner to also capture the World Cup, following Silver Charm (Silver Buck) in 1998 and Animal Kingdom (Leroidesanimaux {Brz}) in 2013. 

Also entered for the Dubai World Cup is Lea (First Samurai), winner of the 2014 Donn and runner-up in that race this year, who is trained by inaugural World Cup-winning conditioner Bill Mott. 

Main Sequence is one of two Breeders’ Cup winners slated to race in Dubai and will be a key contender in the $6 million G1 Dubai Sheema Classic. Trainer Graham Motion also is sending the champion’s Flaxman Holdings stablemateQuadrivium (Henrythenavigator) as a traveling companion with the possibility of running in the $1 million G2 Godolphin Mile. 

Bob Baffert, the only American trainer to win two editions of the Dubai World Cup, with Silver Charm and then Captain Steve (Fly So Free) three years later, will be represented this year by 2013 Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner Secret Circle(Eddington) in the $2 million G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen. American-trained horses have won nine of the 15 runnings of the Golden Shaheen since the sprint became a major race on the World Cup program in 2000, although only one of the past five runnings. 

Other Grade/Group 1 winners expected to compete in Dubai are Big Macher (Beau Genius), also set for the Golden Shaheen; Argentine-raced Galicado (Arg) (Asiatic Boy {Arg}), now trained by Ron McAnally, aimed at the $2 million G2 UAE Derby; and Mshawish (Medaglia d’Oro), slated for the $6 million G1 Dubai Turf by Todd Pletcher. 

Green Mask (Mizzen Mast), who finished second in the Gulfstream Park Turf Sprint S. last month for Wesley Ward, is considered “a strong possibility” to receive an invitation to the G1 Al Quoz Sprint, Talty said, and has been tentatively set to travel to Dubai. 

Zayat Stables’ Prayer For Relief (Jump Start) is being targeted at the Godolphin Mile, but he will join the care of South African trainer and Dubai stalwart Mike de Kock. Several other runners also have been listed as tentative, Santarelli said, but Talty indicated they were not likely to receive invitations. Several other runners also have been listed as tentative, Santarelli said, but Talty indicated they were not likely to receive invitations.