South Africa will have eight representatives at the Dubai World Cup racemeeting to be held at Maydan on Saturday, March 26.
Participation is by invitation and Paul Lafferty was sweating on Harry’s Son’s entry for the Dubai Turf. However, the Australian-bred colt will be in the line-up.
The other seven runners are all trained by ‘Dubai King’ Mike de Kock who will have another crack at the $10 million World Cup with Mubtaahij. The race is run over 2000m on dirt and former Kentucky Derby winner California Chrome is warm ante-post favourite after his recent smashing win in the Trans Gulf Electromechanical Trophy at Meydan.
The former Dubai Derby winner was deemed good enough by De Kock to try his luck in the U.S. Classics but has yet to win since the Derby.
Other loclly bred runners on the night are Tellina and Star Empire, both entries for the Dubai Gold Cup and Forries Waltz who will start with Harry’s Son in the Dubai Turf.
The full list of runners is:
HARRY’S SON (Dubai Turf) – Paul Lafferty
MUBTAAHIJ (Dubai World Cup) – Mike de Kock
FORRIES WALTZ (Dubai Turf) – Mike de Kock
PRAYER FOR RELIEF (Godolphin Mile) – Mike de Kock
TELLINA (Dubai Gold Cup) – Mike de Kock
STAR EMPIRE (Dubai Gold Cup) – Mike de Kock
VALE DORI (UAE Derby) – Mike de Kock
Meanwhile, there are no Frankel’s, Black Caviar’s or Variety Clubs around this season and currently the world’s best three racehorses are bracketed on a modest 121 with a host of runners cramped in just behind.
The only two South African horses to feature are J&B Met winner Smart Call (above) in joint sixth place on 119 and runner-up Legal Eagle who shares seventeenth place with a rating of 117.
The LONGINES World’s Best Racehorse Rankings is the official listing of the world’s best racehorses (For 3yos and upwards which raced between 1st January and 6th March 2016).
The leading trio come from across the globe and although none of them are based in the United Arab Emirates, all three are being pointed toward the lucrative Dubai World Cup card on March 26.
Kentucky Derby winner California Chrome is the leading dirt horse and is current favourite for the Dubai World Cup. Alongside in joint first is the Japanese galloper Duramente and the Irish-bred Postponed.
California Chrome kicked off his 2016 campaign at home with a victory in the San Pasqual Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita before heading to Dubai. He then easily won the Trans Gulf Electromechanical Trophy at Meydan giving his rivals 7.5kg. He finished second in last year’s edition of the world’s richest race but was sidelined for the rest of 2015 and did not race again until the San Pasqual.
Also returning from a lengthy layoff is Japanese champion Duramente who has not raced since last May when he won the Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) (G1). He then suffered fractures in both front legs and missed the rest of the year while recovering from surgery.
Postponed, who ended his 2015 season with a victory in the Qatar Prix Foy (G2) at Longchamp, made his first start of 2016 a memorable one during Super Saturday of the Dubai World Cup Carnival. The 5-year-old was an easy winner when he took the Dubai City of Gold Sponsored by Skycargo (G2) by three lengths. Postponed and Duramente are now set to square off in the Dubai Sheema Classic (G1) on Dubai World Cup night.
– Andrew Harrison
– Pictures: Liesl King (Smart Call) and JC Photos (Harry’s Son)
