Dubai World Cup takes shape!

Dubai World Cup field bolstered by Saudi hopes


DUBAI World Cup contenders have looked fairly thin on the ground this year but the likely field for the world's richest race is set to be bolstered by three leading Saudi Arabian-trained horses.

Muller, Paris Perfect and Joe Louis - one-two-three in the recent King's Cup, Saudi Arabia's most prestigious race in Riyadh last month - are all on schedule to take on Albertus Maximus and Asiatic Boy at Nad Al Sheba on March 28.


Saudi Arabia-based Jerry Barton has left his mark on this year's Dubai Carnival thanks to Group-race wins for the likes of top sprinter Big City Man and Deem, plus UAE 1,000 Guineas winner So Shiny.

The nation also has a decent record in past World Cups, where former US-trained Premium Tap was second to Invasor in 2007, while Barton saddled Sei Mi and Crimson Quest to finish second and fourth behind Street Cry in 2002.

This year Barton relies on former Argentine Grade 1 winner Joe Louis, winner of last year's King's Cup - the race Premium Tap won prior to his arrival in the UAE two years ago.

Joe Louis was only third in that race this year to former Peruvian Derby winner Muller, who is also set to travel to Dubai for Riyadh-based South African Neil Bruss, who will also saddle King's Cup runner-up Paris Perfect.

Joe Louis beat Muller on their previous outing in the Crown Prince Cup and Barton's assistant, Stephane Chevalier, reports the horse in good shape.

"He is here in Dubai now and taken the trip well," said Chevalier on Thursday.

"He was here two years ago so it is not a new experience for him but he is a far better horse now. He is better than his last run, when he was just a bit flat, and we hope he can bounce back to his best.

"Obviously we would love to win the race but Albertus Maximus and Asiatic Boy are serious rivals and we did clash, without joy, with the latter twice in 2007 - but we have certainly improved in the interim, though I am sure he has also!"

Albertus Maximus, bought by Sheikh Hamdan after winning last year's Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile, remains ante-post favourite in Britain for the Dubai World Cup.

Invitations for the race went out this week, and opposition to the favourite will be headed by Mike De Kock's pair of UAE Derby winners Asiatic Boy and Honour Devil, plus last year's third Well Armed.

Other likely runners are headed by Godolphin's My Indy, winner ofthe first two legs of the Maktoum Challenge, while Japan's strongest contender looks to be Casino Drive.

Britain could also have a runner in the shape of the Ralph Beckett-trained Muhannak, winner of the inaugural Breeders' Cup Marathon, while Happy Boy could be a first World Cup runner for rookie trainer Mubarak Bin Shafya, who has set the Dubai Carnival alight.

US-based Eoin Harty is pleased with the progress of Well Armed, third to Curlin in 2008.

"He worked really well at the weekend and he's on target," said the trainer.

"He's really come around of late, and he's certainly doing as well this year as he did last year."

Other big-name contenders for World Cup night due to arrive in Dubai next week include Marchand D'Or from France, Paco's Boy from the UK and Lush Lashes from Ireland, plus multiple Group 1-winning racemare Tuesday Joy from Australia. Tuesday Joy is headed for the Dubai Duty Free.

Dubai World Cup
Blue Square: 7-4 Albertus Maximus, 5-2 Asiatic Boy, 6 Well Armed, 7 My Indy, Casino Drive

Marchond d`or?? now that would be a matchup jj vs marchond?

Paris Perfect in the World Cup would've been quite a longshot bet a year ago, I would guess.

True Sabre.

PE horse for Dubai World Cup

THE 2008 Port Elizabeth Horse of the Year, Paris Perfect, has been invited by the Emirates Racing Association to run in the $6-million Dubai World Cup (Gr 1) at Nad Al Sheba on March 29.

He is one of two horses trained by former Zimbabwean Neil Bruss, now private trainer to HRH Prince Faisal bin Khalid in Riyadh, that will represent Saudi Arabia in the 2009 Dubai showpiece.

Paris Perfect (Muhtafal – Candle Princess) was bred by Gail Fabricius at Summerhill Stud in KwaZulu-Natal and raced in her colours in PE. Trained by Des McLachlan, he win 10 of his 17 starts. He was sold by Northfields Bloodstock in July last year and exported. He won his first start in Saudi Arabia, recording his sixth in his last seven starts and his 11th overall, to set himself up for a crack at Saudi’s richest race, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Kings Cup (Gr 1), on dirt over 2400m.

The second of the two Saudi World Cup entries is Muller, bred in Argentina and winner of 11 races in Peru including the Triple Crown as a three-year-old. However, he had been winless in Saudi Arabia in two years and was a six-year-old when Bruss arrived in Saudi in November last year. He won his first race for his new trainer by six lengths and has rocketed to local stardom in just three months.

The two stablemates fought out the Kings Cup (Gr 1) two weeks ago, in a photo finish, with the previous year’s winner Joe Louis (Arg) third, some three lengths away. As Joe Louis has a Timeform rating of 116, the inference is that Muller would be 122 and Paris Perfect, who shouldered three pounds overweight in the race, at 123.

South African Bernard Fay d’Herbe, currently stable jockey in Saudi, will ride Paris Perfect, while fellow countryman Weichong Marwing has been engaged for Muller.

As South African trainer Mike de Kock has two entries in the World Cup, it seems that four of the 12 runners in the world’s richest horse race will have South African connections.

TRAINER Mike De Kock’s Dubai World Cup squad led by Maktoum Challenge RIII winner Asiatic Boy looks likely to reach double figures.

``This is the period we just hope to get all our big-night runners there in one piece, so it is baited breath every morning when they pull out of their box and during or after exercise,’’ De Kock told The National. ``Hopefully we will have 10 or maybe 11 runners on the night.’’

Hopes are high that Asiatic Boy can go one better than his second to Curlin last year in the world’s richest race, the $6-million Dubai World Cup, sponsored by Emirates. The six-year-old looks right on track following a comfortable win in that G2 race on Super Thursday.

``Asiatic Boy’s was a great performance from that draw (No 15 of 16),’’ said De Kock. ``He will come on for that run as well and there is hopefully more to come. A few detractors knocked him after his defeat the previous time but we have always maintained you will see the 100% fit Asiatic Boy this month. His preparation has gone as well as we could have hoped and fingers crossed we are well on target.’’

Asiatic Boy could be joined by Honour Devil in the 2000m showpiece following an encouraging second in the Burj Nahaar. ``His preparation has been nowhere near as smooth and he will have needed that run,’’ De Kock explained. ``As things stand we are still looking at the World Cup with him, though the Godolphin Mile is always an option. He has a lot of improvement yet to come.
``Russian Sage was a good second in the Jebel Hatta and is Dubai Duty Free bound, giving us a strong hand with Archipenko already qualified - and you never know, Imbongi may yet get an invitation.

``Front House, King Of Rome, and Macarthur (first, third and eighth in the Dubai City of Gold) will hopefully run in the Dubai Sheema Classic.

De Kock spoke of his delight at seeing Front House seal a landmark UAE win in the world-famous John Magnier colours. Kevin Shea was in the saddle on Front House on Super Thursday in what is a trial for the Dubai Sheema Classic, sponsored by Nakheel on 28 March.

The classy four-year-old defied a No 16 of 16 draw to win the Dubai City of Gold on Super Thursday at Nad Al Sheba - the first time the dark blue silks have been carried to victory in the UAE. The Irish-bred filly, who won the Gold Circle Oaks at Clairwood last year, is owned in partnership by Magnier’s wife Susan and Wilgerbosdrift Stud, run by South African breeder Mary Slack.

De Kock said: ``It is an honour to have trained this winner. It is nice for the Magniers to have their colours carried to victory in Dubai. And I’m glad that my local stalwart patron Mary Slack is reaping rewards for spending big at the Goffs Sale in recent years.

``Front House has a touch of class and I always maintained her Oaks win was a phenomenal effort against fillies six months older than her. She will be a big runner in the Sheema Classic on the big night. Dubai aside, Front House is an exciting prospect for the UK.’’

He added: ``She is a lovely filly and improved a lot from two previous runs and hopefully she can run a big race World Cup night. She is no Sun Classique yet but is going the right way certainly

worldcup betting www.oddschecker.com/horse-racing/ante-po...flat/dubai-world-cup

Eagle Mountain misses Dubai through injury


EAGLE MOUNTAIN has had a setback and will miss the Dubai World Cup meeting and the first half of the European campaign.

Trainer Mike De Kock has revealed that the Hong Kong Cup winner has injured a suspensory ligament and will miss about two months’ training, ruling out a crack at the $5 million Dubai Sheema Classic on World Cup night.

The news is a major blow to De Kock, who could not run Eagle Mountain in last year’s Sheema Classic owing to a pelvic injury.
De Kock explained: “Sadly Eagle Mountain will again miss the Sheema Classic and the World Cup meeting.

“He has damaged a suspensory but we think we have been lucky and detected the problem very early on.

“There is certainly no point in risking such a good horse and we willprobably give him six to eight weeks off now and then re-assess the situation. The plan remains to send him to England next month.

“Obviously it is a blow but we have Front House for the Sheema Classic and hopefully a couplemore for a race we won last year with Sun Classique.”

After watching Albertus Maximus turn in his most significant workout for the US$6 million Dubai World Cup (Gr.1), trainer Kiaran McLaughlin knew he had witnessed something special.

The five-year-old son of Albert the Great covered six furlongs at Palm Meadows Training Center on Saturday morning in 1:11.80, a time good enough to win many races. And he did it easily.

“He was just flying out there. He couldn’t be doing any better,” McLaughlin said of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid al Maktoum’s Shadwell Stable colorbearer. “We’re so excited.”

As the trainer of 2007 Dubai World Cup winner Invasor, McLaughlin knows what it takes to win the world’s richest race—and the thinks he just might have it in the form of Albertus Maximus.

“I wouldn’t trade places with anybody. I feel like he’s the horse to beat,” said the four-time United Arab Emirates champion trainer. “This is a very professional racehorse. We might get beaten, but they’ll have to run a tremendous race to beat this horse. He’s just doing fabulous.”

Although there were some questions when Shadwell acquired Albertus Maximus last year regarding whether he could run as well on dirt tracks as he had on synthetic surfaces and at distances longer than a mile, McLaughlin said the horse has grown stronger.

“There wasn’t anything wrong with him, but we feel like he’s doing better in our program, especially in the last month,” he said.

Albertus Maximus benefited from his winning race in the Donn Handicap (Gr.1) at Gulfstream Park on January 31, his first victory at 1 1/8 miles and on a dirt surface, and has trained robustly since then, reeling off four impressive breezes, including three at six furlongs.

Always a consistent performer when competing in California for breeders and former owners Brandon and Marianne Chase, Albertus Maximus has won six of 16 career starts while placing five times and earning $1,208,230. He has tactical speed and can be close to the pace or come from behind.

“We think he can get the mile and a quarter,” McLaughlin said, referring to the virtually equivalent distance to the World Cup's 2,000 meters.

World Cup night likely fields



A TOP-CLASS, well-balanced field of 15 runners promises an intriguing contest in the US$6-million Dubai World Cup on March 28.

The principal contenders look likely to be US-trained raider Albertus Maximus and local hero Asiatic Boy, trained by South Africa’s Mike de Kock (pictured here winning earlier in the Dubai season).

The Dubai Racing Club has unveiled the likely fields for the seven races at the US$21.25-million race meeting, the world’s richest race day of racing, which could see horses prepared by trainers from as many as 12 countries.
Final fields will be declared on Monday, March 23, and then released at the Post Position Draw ceremony on Wednesday, March 25.
The 14th renewal of the Dubai World Cup is set to be engraved in UAE history as it is the final meeting to be staged at the flagship Nad Al Sheba Racecourse, before racing is moved to the iconic horse racing city, Meydan.
My Indy, Godolphin’s emphatic winner of the first two rounds of the Al Maktoum Challenge, Japan’s Casino Drive and Brazil’s Gloria de Campaeo are amongst the opposition for the Dubai World Cup.
The chief supporting races are of course the US$5million Dubai Sheema Classic, sponsored by Nakheel and the US$5million Dubai Duty Free, sponsored by Dubai Duty Free. Both are run on the turf and claiming Group 1 status, they each have so far attracted their maximum fields of 16.
The former will see the likes of Dr Dino, the 2007 and 2008 Hong Kong Vase Cup winner and multiple Group winner Red Rocks take on Youmzain, who is back with a vengeance and looking to better his fifth placing at last year’s edition.
The latter race, the second leg of the 2009 Asian Mile Challenge, contains 10 individual Group or Grade 1 winners including 2008 winner Jay Peg who bids to be the first horse to have two Dubai Duty Free wins under his belt. Hoping to see him off amongst the throng of proven performers – Kip Deville, Archipenko and Niconero - are classy mares Tuesday Joy and Vodka – a pair the boys should watch out for.
The US$2million Dubai Golden Shaheen, a Group 1 dirt race sponsored by Gulf News, sees a handful of 2009 Dubai International Racing Carnival graduates bid to make their mark against the strong American contingent. Balthazaar’s Gift, Big City Man, Change Alley, and Force Freeze have each earned at least one win each over the last two months, but Indian Blessing appears the star of this year’s raiding party of sprinters, she was champion two-year-old filly of 2007 and is the reigning champion female sprinter of the USA.
The Group US$2m UAE Derby, sponsored by Saeed & Mohammed Al Naboodah Group, features a strong UAE-based field. Godolphin’s Desert Party will try to emulate the last two winner’s form, by cinching the UAE 2000 Guineas – Derby double, and to give Godolphin a return to the winner’s list in the Derby. Soy Libriano, fresh from his win on Super Thursday could upset.
The other thoroughbred race on the card is the Group 2 US$1million Godolphin Mile, sponsored by Etisalat, also features a strong home team, with the UAE occupying 11 potential fields. Godolphin’s Two Step Salsa and Gayego have both won their last, and only starts here in Dubai, whilst Kalahari Gold and
The best Purebred Arabians in the world line up for the Group 1 Dubai Kahayla Classic, sponsored by Emaar Properties, and sees the winners of the second and third rounds of the Al Maktoum Challenge for Purebred Arabians, Al Jalfane and and Santhal, battle another 10 possible contenders for the crown. – Dubai Racing Club


Race 7: DUBAI WORLD CUP, Group 1. 2,000m Dirt. US$6,000,000
1st: US$3,600,000. 2nd: US$1,200,000. 3rd: US$600,000. 4th: US$300,000. 5th: US$180,000. 6th: US$120,000
(2008 Winner: Curlin (USA). Owner: Stonestreet Stables & Midnight Cry Stables. Trainer: S Asmussen. Jockey: R Albarado.)
(Horse, Owner, Trainer)
ALBERTUS MAXIMUS Sh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum (UAE) Kiaran McLaughlin (USA)
ANAK NAKAL Four Roses Thoroughbreds (USA) Nick Zito USA
ARSON SQUAD Jay Em Ess Stable USA Richard Dutrow USA
ASIATIC BOY Sh Mohd bin Khalifa Al Maktoum UAE Mike de Kock Sth Africa
CASINO DRIVE Mr Hidetoshi Yamamoto JPN Kazuo Fujisawa JPN
GLORIA DE CAMPAEO Estrela Energia Stable BRZ Pascal Bary FR
HAPPY BOY Sh Hamdan bin Mohd Al Maktoum UAE Mubarak bin Shafya UAE
HONOUR DEVIL Sh Mohd bin Khalifa Al Maktoum UAE Mike de Kock Sth Africa
JOE LOUIS Prince Sultan Mohd Saud Al Kabeer KSA Jerry Barton KSA
MUHANNAK R A Pegum UK Ralph Beckett UK
MULLER Prince Faisal bin Khalid bin Abdulaziz Al Saud KSA Neil Bruss KSA
MY INDY Godolphin UAE Saeed bin Suroor UAE
PARIS PERFECT Prince Faisal bin Khalid bin Abdulaziz Al Saud KSA Neil Bruss KSA
SNAAFY Sh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum UAE Musabah Al Muhairi UAE
WELL ARMED WinStar Farms, LLC USA Eoin Harty USA

Race 6: DUBAI SHEEMA CLASSIC. Group 1. 2,400m Turf. US$5,000,000
1st: US$3,000,000. 2nd: US$1,000,000. 3rd: US$500,000. 4th: US$250,000. 5th: US$150,000. 6th: US$100,000
(2008 Winner: Sun Classique (AUS). Owner: L Cohen, W V Rippon. Trainer: M de Kock. Jockey: K Shea.)
(Horse, Owner, Trainer)
DEEM Prince Sultan Mohd Saud Al Kabeer KSA Jerry Barton KSA
DOCTOR DINO J Martinez Salmean FR Richard Gibson FR
EASTERN ANTHEM Sh Hamdan bin Mohd Al Maktoum UAE Mubarak bin Shafya UAE
FRONT HOUSE Mrs John Magnier & Wilgerbosdrift Stud Sth Africa Mike de Kock Sth Africa
KING OF ROME Prince Sultan Mohd Saud Al Kabeer UAE Mike de Kock Sth Africa
KING'S GAMBIT Mrs Fitriani Hay UAE Herman Brown Sth Africa
KIRKLEES Godolphin UAE Saeed bin Suroor UAE
LADY MARIAN Godolphin UAE Saeed bin Suroor UAE
MACARTHUR Sh Mohd bin Khalifa Al Maktoum UAE Mike de Kock Sth Africa
MARSH SIDE Robert S Evans USA Neil Drysdale USA
PURPLE MOON Mr Craig Bennett UK Luca Cumani UK
QUIJANO Stiftung Gestüt Fahrhof GER Peter Schiergen GER
RED ROCKS J Paul Reddam USA Mark Hennig USA
SPANISH MOON K Abdulla KSA Michael Stoute UK
THE BOGBERRY Mr S Efros & Mr A Khakhonin FR Alain De Royer Dupre FR
YOUMZAIN Jaber Abdullah UAE Mick Channon UK

Race 5: DUBAI DUTY FREE. Group 1. 1,777m Turf. US$5,000,000
2nd leg of the 2009 Asian Mile Challenge
1st: US$3,000,000. 2nd: US$1,000,000. 3rd: US$500,000. 4th: US$250,000. 5th: US$150,000. 6th: US$100,000
(2008 Winner: Jay Peg (SAF). Owner: M Shirtliff, E Braun, P Loomes, S Marcus. Trainer: H Brown. Jockey: A Marcus.)
(Horse, Owner, Trainer)
ALEXANDROS Godolphin UAE Saeed bin Suroor UAE
ARCHIPENKO Sh Mohd Khalifa Al Maktoum & Dr AH Parker & Mrs RMA Parker, MF De Kock, J Malherbe & Dr J McVeigh, Hugo Merry (UAE) Mike de Kock (SA)
BALIUS Sheikh Rashid bin Mohammed Al Maktoum UAE Abdulla bin Huzaim UAE
BANKABLE Ronchalon Racing UK Limited UK Mike de Kock Sth Africa
CHARLIE FARNSBARNS The English Girls UK Brian Meehan UK
CREACHADOIR Godolphin UAE Saeed bin Suroor UAE
GLADIATORUS Sh Mansoor bin Mohd Al Maktoum UAE Mubarak bin Shafya UAE
HYPERBARIC Prestonwood Farm Inc USA Julio Canani USA
JAY PEG E Braun, M Shirtliff, P Loomes, S Marcus Sth Africa Herman Brown Sth Africa
KIP DEVILLE IEAH Stables, Andrew Cohen, Pegasus Holding Group Stables, Resolute Group Stables & Steve Cohen
(USA) Richard Dutrow (USA)
NICONERO Peter Bernard Devitt, Leslie Charles Gordon & David Andrew Hayes (AUS) David Hayes (AUS)
PACO BOY The Calvera Partnership 2 UK Richard Hannon UK
PRESVIS Léonidas Marinopoulos UK Luca Cumani UK
RUSSIAN SAGE LM Nestadt, Team Valor & G Barber Sth Africa Mike de Kock Sth Africa
TUESDAY JOY Strawberry Hill Stud Syndicate AUS Gai Waterhouse AUS
VODKA Yuzo Tanimizu JPN Katsuhiko Sumii JPN


Race 4: DUBAI GOLDEN SHAHEEN. Group 1. 1,200m Dirt. US$2,000,000
1st: US$1,200,000. 2nd: US$400,000. 3rd: US$200,000. 4th: US$100,000. 5th: US$60,000. 6th: US$40,000
(2008 Winner: Benny The Bull (USA). Owner: IEAH Stables, Greg James et al. Trainer: R Dutrow Jr. Jockey: E Prado.)
(Horse, Owner, Trainer)
BALTHAZAAR'S GIFT Sh Sultan bin Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan UAE Rod Simpson UAE
BAMBOO ERE Bamboo Bokujo JPN Akio Adachi JPN
BIG CITY MAN Prince Sultan Mohd Saud Al Kabeer KSA Jerry Barton KSA
BLACK SEVENTEEN Wind River Stb, Berta, Lyons, Et Al USA Brian Koriner USA
CHANGE ALLEY Hamad Mohd M Kadfoor & Abdullah Muammer Abdullah Amin UAE Ali Rashid Al Raihe UAE
DIABOLICAL Godolphin UAE Saeed bin Suroor UAE
DUFF Kilboy Estate IRE Edward Lynam IRE
FORCE FREEZE Sh Rashid bin Humaid Al Nuaimi UAE Doug Watson UAE
HAMMADI Malih Al Basti UAE Doug Watson UAE
INDIAN BLESSING Patti & Hal J Earnhardt II USA Bob Baffert USA
LUCKY QUALITY Dr Peter Wu Hin Ting HK Me Tsui HK
MACHISMO Barber & Barber USA John Sadler USA
MARCHAND D'OR Mme Jean-Louis Giral FR Freddie Head FR
STAR CROWNED Bouresly Racing Syndicate UAE Rashed Bouresly UAE


Race 3: UAE DERBY. Group 2. 1,800m Dirt. U$2,000,000
1st: US$1,200,000. 2nd: US$400,000. 3rd: US$200,000. 4th: US$100,000. 5th: US$60,000. 6th: US$40,000
(2008 Winner: Honour Devil (ARG). Owner: Sh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum. Trainer: M de Kock. Jockey: J Murtagh.)
(Horse, Owner, Trainer)
BALCARCE NOV Mrs Fitriani Hay UAE Herman Brown Sth Africa
DESERT PARTY Godolphin UAE Saeed bin Suroor UAE
I AM THE BEST Hamad M Kadfoor Abdullah Ali Mehairi UAE Ali Rashid Al Raihe UAE
JOSE ADAN Godolphin UAE Saeed bin Suroor UAE
LELAH DORAK King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Sons KSA Badar Resaque KSA
MUY PONDERADO Sh Ahmed bin Mohd Al Maktoum UAE Mubarak bin Shafya UAE
NAVAL OFFICER Prince Sultan Mohd Saud Al Kabeer KSA Jerry Barton KSA
PASO DE GLORIA Sh Hamdan bin Mohd Al Maktoum UAE Mubarak bin Shafya UAE
R A JUNIOR Roldvale Ltd & Gold Property Investments UK Brian Meehan UK
REDDING COLLERY Mrs Fitriani Hay UAE Herman Brown Sth Africa
REGAL RANSOM Godolphin UAE Saeed bin Suroor UAE
SO SHINY Prince Sultan Mohd Saud Al Kabeer KSA Jerry Barton KSA
SOY LIBRIANO Sh Majid bin Mohd Al Maktoum UAE Mubarak bin Shafya UAE


Race 2: GODOLPHIN MILE, sponsored by Etisalat
Group 2. 1,600m Dirt. US$1,000,000
1st: US$600,000. 2nd: US$200,000. 3rd: US$100,000. 4th: US$50,000. 5th: US$30,000. 6th: US$20,000
(2008 Winner: Diamond Stripes (USA). Owner: Four Roses Thoroughbreds. Trainer: R Dutrow Jr. Jockey: E Prado.)
(Horse, Owner, Trainer)
AL MORHIJ King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Sons KSA Badar Resaque KSA
ART OF WAR Sh Mohd Khalifa Al Maktoum & M F de Kock UAE Mike de Kock Sth Africa
BLUE KSAR Sh Mansoor bin Mohd Al Maktoum UAE Erwan Charpy UAE
BRAVE TIN SOLDIER D Heffernan, Mike de Kock, Mrs N Malherbe, Dr J McVeigh Sth Africa Mike de Kock Sth Africa
CAT JUNIOR Roldvale Ltd & Gold Property Investments UK Brian Meehan UK
DIJEER Sh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum UAE Mubarak bin Shafya UAE
DON RENATO Prince Sultan Mohd Saud Al Kabeer KSA Jerry Barton KSA
GAYEGO Godolphin UAE Saeed bin Suroor UAE
GOLDEN ARROW Sh Hamdan bin Mohd Al Maktoum UAE Erwan Charpy UAE
GREEN COAST Mohsin Al Tajir UAE Doug Watson UAE
INFORMED Westside Rentals.com USA Doug O'Neil USA
KALAHARI GOLD Sh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum UAE Doug Watson UAE
LUCKY FIND Sh Ahmed bin Mohd bin Khalifa Al Maktoum UAE Mike de Kock Sth Africa
SUMMER DOLDRUMS Sh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum UAE Doug Watson UAE
TIZ NOW TIZ THEN Zabeel Racing International Corp UAE Satish Seemar UAE
TWO STEP SALSA Godolphin UAE Saeed bin Suroor UAE

Race 1: KAHAYLA CLASSIC. Purebred Arabians. Group 1. 2,000m Dirt. US$250,000
1st: US$150,000. 2nd: US$50,000. 3rd: US$25,000. 4th: US$12,500. 5th: US$5,000. 6th: US$2,500
(2008 Winner: Mizzna (FR). Owner: Sh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Trainer: E Lemartinel. Jockey: T O'Shea.)
(Horse, Owner, Trainer)
AL JALFANE Sh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum UAE Doug Watson UAE
AL MOUTAWAKEL Eng Dhafi Rashid Al Marri QAT Satish Seemar UAE
AMOKING Sh Mansoor bin Mohd Al Maktoum UAE Ali Rashid Al Raihe UAE
FRYVOLOUS His Highness Sh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan UAE Rod Simpson UAE
NASHWAN AL KHALIDIAH Al Khalidiah Stables KSA John-Francois Bernard FR
NIL BLANC Eng Dhafi Rashid Al Marri QAT Rashid Aljehani QAT
NIRWAN Sh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum UAE Doug Watson UAE
PALAPAL Sh Ahmed bin Mohd Al Maktoum UAE Ali Rashid Al Raihe UAE
PARIS GAGNER Sh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum UAE Doug Watson UAE
SANTHAL Sh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum UAE Erwan Charpy UAE
SHADIYDA Sh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan UAE Eric Lemartinel UAE
VITE ROYAL Sh Saeed bin Mohd Al Maktoum UAE Musabah Al Muhairi UAE

the DUBAI DUTY FREE looks a tough competitive race and as a result some decent prices, 7/1 the field with bookmakers,

Dubai Duty Free Betting

Vodka 7/1
Archipenko 7/1
Paco Boy 7/1
Kip Deville 8/1
Presvis 8/1
Jay Peg 8/1
Creachadoir 8/1
Russian Sage 10/1
Balius 10/1
Hyperbaric 12/1
Niconero 14/1
Bankable 14/1
Alexandros 16/1
Tuesday Joy 16/1
Gladiatorus 20/1
Charlie Farnsbarns 25/1

What about Paris Perfect running for a first prize of R36,000,000!!!
Still cant get my mind around that.

Europeans head World Cup undercard betting


BLUE SQUARE have opened betting on the main supporting races on Saturday week's Dubai World Cup card - and European-trained horses dominate their ante-postmarkets.

France's much-travelled Doctor Dino is 5-1 for the Sheema Classic, in front of dual Arc winner Youmzain, who is 11-2.

The Luca Cumani-trained Purple Moon is 6-1 as he bids to avenge a narrow defeat by Doctor Dino in the Hong Kong Vase.

Stablemate Presvis is 8-1 for the Duty Free, where the Richard Hannon-trained Paco Boy heads the market at 13-2 favourite in front of Mike De kock's Archipenko and Japanese superstar Vodka, who are both 7-1.

Europe's champion sprinterMarchand D'Or is 2-1 market leader for the Golden Shaheen, in which he finished eighth to Kelly's Landing in 2007.

Most of the big firms are now betting on the World Cup itself, where Blue Square's 2-1 about favourite Albertus Maximus is generally available.
Mick Channon -York - 2006


Mick Channon reports Youmzain to be at the top of his game as he bids to make it third-time lucky in Dubai in the Sheema Classic, where he has finished third and fifth in the last two years.

"Youmzain is in great form," said Channon. "I was out there a couple of weeks ago and he did a nice bit of work under Richard Hills so he should go there with a great chance.

"It's very competitive and it is still early in the year so I would hope he would improve a bit for it.

"But in these Group 1 races you have got to be right so we have done plenty with him," added the trainer.

"He has had a far betterpreparation this year than last year so I would be very hopeful really."

Blue Square betting

Duty Free: 13-2 Paco Boy, 7 Archipenko, Vodka, 8 Kip Deville, Presvis, 11 Balius, 12 Creachadoir, Jay Peg, 14 Bankable, 16 Russian Sage, 20 bar

Sheema Classic: 5 Doctor Dino, 11-2 Youmzain, 6 Purple Moon, 8 Lady Marian, 10 King Of Rome, Kirklees, 12 Eastern Anthem, Front House, Marsh Side, Quijano, 14 Macarthur, The Bogberry, 20 bar

Golden Shaheen: 2 Marchand D'Or, 7-2 Indian Blessing, 5 Diabolical, 11-2 Big City Man, 10 Black Seventeen, 12 Duff, Machismo, 14 bar