There are 36 grade/group I winners, including former American star Ron the Greek, among the fields taking shape for the eight Thoroughbred stakes on Dubai World Cup (UAE-I) card March 29. Three U.S.-based horses have shipped to Meydan Race Course to race on the $27 million card.
Sixteen horses are likely for the main event at Meydan, the $10 million World Cup, and 10 are group or grade I winners, including Ron the Greek. The three-time grade I winner is now racing in Saudi Arabia under the name of Wattani, for the sons of King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz.
British-based globetrotter Red Cadeaux, who uncoiled a torrid late rally to take second behind United States-based Animal Kingdom in last year's World Cup, returns to take another crack at the world's richest race. Unlike last year, however, there are no American-based horses pointing to the 1 1/4-mile test on the synthetic Tapeta surface.
Overall, only three U.S.-based horses are listed among the remaining preliminary fields: West Point Thoroughbreds' multiple graded stakes winner Twilight Eclipse, trained by Tom Albertrani, is probable for the $5 million Dubai Sheema Classic (UAE-I); Zayat Stables' listed stakes winner Zee Bros, trained by Seth Benzel, is aimed at the $2 million Dubai Gold Shaheen (UAE-I); and Stud Sampaio's grade III winner Berlino Di Tiger, a Brazilian champion currently racing at Gulfstream Park with Eduardo Caramori, is pointing for the $1 million Al Quoz Sprint (UAE-I).
| Dubai World Cup | ||
| Horse | Trainer | Ctry |
| African Story (GB) | S bin Suroor | UAE |
| Akeed Mofeed (GB) | R Gibson | HK |
| Belshazzar (JPN) | K Matsuda | JPN |
| Hillstar (GB) | Sir M Stoute | GB |
| Hokko Tarumae (JPN) | K Nishiura | JPN |
| Hunter's Light (IRE) | S bin Suroor | UAE |
| Military Attack (IRE) | J Moore | HK |
| Mukhadram (GB) | W Haggas | GB |
| Prince Bishop (IRE) | S bin Suroor | UAE |
| Red Cadeaux (GB) | E Dunlop | GB |
| Ron the Greek (USA) | N Bachalard | KSA |
| Ruler of The World (IRE) | A O'Brien | IRE |
| Sanshaawes (SAF) | M de Kock | RSA |
| Side Glance (GB) | A Balding | GB |
| The Fugue (GB) | J Gosden | GB |
| Vancouverite (GB) | C Appleby | UAE |
| UAE Derby | ||
| Horse | Trainer | Ctry |
| Asmar (IRE) | F Nass | BAH |
| Cooptado (ARG) | D Watson | UAE |
| Emirates Flyer (GB) | S bin Suroor | UAE |
| Figure Of Speech (IRE) | C Appleby | UAE |
| Giovanni Boldini (USA) | A O'Brien | IRE |
| Jallota (GB) | M de Kock | RSA |
| King Rubi (GB) | M Palussiere | FR |
| Long John (AUS) | C Appleby | UAE |
| Michaelmas (USA) | A O'Brien | IRE |
| Oklahoma City (GB) | A O'Brien | IRE |
| Paximadia (AUS) | S bin Suroor | UAE |
| Safety Check (IRE) | C Appleby | UAE |
| Sir Jack Layden (GB) | D Brown | GB |
| Sir John Hawkins (USA) | A O'Brien | IRE |
| Toast of New York (USA) | J Osborne | GB |
| Al Quoz Sprint | ||
| Horse | Trainer | Ctry |
| Ahtoug (GB) | C Appleby | UAE |
| Alsaaegah (KSA) | B Al Shibani | KSA |
| Amber Sky (AUS) | R Yiu | HK |
| Beat Baby (IRE) | N Petersen | NOR |
| Berlino Di Tiger (BRZ) | E Caramori | USA |
| Catcall (FR) | P Sogorb | FR |
| Dux Scholar (GB) | D Watson | UAE |
| Hamza (IRE) | K Ryan | GB |
| Joy And Fun (NZ) | D Cruz | HK |
| Medicean Man (GB) | J Gask | GB |
| Shea Shea (SAF) | M de Kock | RSA |
| Sole Power (GB) | E Lynam | IRE |
| Dubai Gold Cup | ||
| Horse | Trainer | Ctry |
| Calvaryman (GB) | S bin Suroor | UAE |
| Certerach (IRE) | M Halford | IRE |
| Dabadiyan (IRE) | M Halford | IRE |
| Ernest Hemingway (IRE) | A O'Brien | IRE |
| Joshua Tree (IRE) | E Dunlop | GB |
| Moment In Time (IRE) | D Simcock | GB |
| Now We Can (GB) | N Clement | FR |
| Penglai Pavilion (USA) | C Appleby | UAE |
| Saddler's Rock (IRE) | J Oxx | IRE |
| Seismos (IRE) | A Wohler | GER |
| Sheikhzayedroad (GB) | D Simcock | GB |
| Simenon (IRE) | W Mullins | IRE |
| Songcraft (IRE) | S bin Suroor | UAE |
| Star Empire (SAF) | M de Kock | RSA |
| Godolphin Mile | ||
| Horse | Trainer | Ctry |
| Brightline (JPN) | I Sameshima | JPN |
| Capital Attraction (USA) | E Oertel | UAE |
| Eastern Rules (IRE) | M Halford | IRE |
| Elleval (IRE) | D Marnane | IRE |
| Flotilla (FR) | M Delzangles | FR |
| Forjatt (IRE) | D Selvaratnam | UAE |
| Glory Awaits (IRE) | K Ryan | GB |
| Haatheq (USA) | A Al Raihe | UAE |
| Mull of Killough (IRE) | J Chapple-Hyam | GB |
| Penitent (GB) | D O'Meara | GB |
| Shuruq (USA) | S bin Suroor | UAE |
| Soft Falling Rain (SAF) | M de Kock | RSA |
| Surfer (USA) | S Seemar | UAE |
| Variety Club (SAF) | J Ramsden | RSA |
| Dubai Sheema Classic | ||
| Horse | Trainer | Ctry |
| Ambivalent (IRE) | R Varian | GB |
| Amico Mio (FR) | Bentaher Y | QAT |
| Cirrus Des Aigles (FR) | C Barande Barbe | FR |
| Denim and Ruby (JPN) | K Sumii | JPN |
| Dominant (IRE) | J Moore | HK |
| Dubday (GB) | J Al Ghazali | QAT |
| Dunaden (FR) | M Delzangles | FR |
| Empoli (GER) | P Schiergen | GER |
| Excellent Result (IRE) | S bin Suroor | UAE |
| Festive Cheer (FR) | A O'Brien | IRE |
| Gentildonna (JPN) | S Ishizaka | JPN |
| Magician (IRE) | A O'Brien | IRE |
| Mars (IRE) | M de Kock | RSA |
| Meandre (FR) | D Watson | UAE |
| Mount Athos (IRE) | M Botti | GB |
| Twilight Eclipse (USA) | T Albertrani | USA |
| Dubai Duty Free | ||
| Horse | Trainer | Ctry |
| Blazing Speed (GB) | A Cruz | HK |
| Dank (GB) | Sir M Stoute | GB |
| Educate (GB) | I Mohammed | UAE |
| Just A Way (JPN) | N Sugai | JPN |
| Logotype (JPN) | T Tanaka | JPN |
| Mshawish (USA) | M Delzangles | FR |
| Tasaday (USA) | S bin Suroor | UAE |
| Tokei Halo (JPN) | H Shimizu | JPN |
| Trade Storm (GB) | D Simcock | GB |
| Vercingetorix (SAF) | M de Kock | RSA |
| Dubai Golden Shaheen | ||
| Horse | Trainer | Ctry |
| Balmont Mast (IRE) | E Lynam | IRE |
| Bello (AUS) | C Appleby | UAE |
| Complicate (AUS) | S bin Suroor | UAE |
| Jamesie (IRE) | D Marnane | IRE |
| Krypton Factor (GB) | F Nass | BAH |
| Nawwaar (USA) | A Al Raihe | UAE |
| Reynaldothewizard (USA) | S Seemar | UAE |
| Rich Tapestry (IRE) | M Chang | HK |
| Russian Soul (IRE) | M Halford | IRE |
| Sterling City (AUS) | J Moore | HK |
| United Color (USA) | D Selvaratnam | UAE |
| Zee Bros (USA) | S Benzel | USA |
