Full field of 14 set for Dubai World Cup


At Monday's final declaration stage, a full field of 14 was set for Saturday's $10 million Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1). Post positions for this inaugural running on the Tapeta surface at the new Meydan Racecourse will be revealed on Wednesday. While the leading contenders stood their ground in the about 1 1/4-mile test, including dual Eclipse Award winner GIO PONTI (Tale of the Cat), there was one notable change in the field for the meeting's signature race. Multiple Grade 1 star Take the Points (Even the Score) decided to stay on the turf and entered the $5 million Dubai Duty Free (UAE-G1) instead.

A trio of American-based contenders will try to give the United States its fourth straight World Cup title, following Invasor (Arg) (2007), Curlin (2008) and Well Armed (2009). Gio Ponti, the reigning champion older male and champion turf male, spearheads the American team. Runner-up to Zenyatta (Street Cry [Ire]) in the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) over Santa Anita's Pro-Ride two back, the Christophe Clement charge is coming off a photo-finish upset at the hands of Karelian (Bertrando) in the grassy Tampa Bay S. Regular rider Ramon Dominguez has the call. Pacific Classic S. (G1) hero RICHARD'S KID (Lemon Drop Kid) will attempt to give Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert his third World Cup trophy, emulating Silver Charm (1998) and Captain Steve (2001). Richard's Kid, who finished sixth behind Zenyatta and Gio Ponti in the Breeders' Cup Classic, was most recently successful in the San Antonio H. (G2). Garrett Gomez will be back aboard.Rounding out the American squad is Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) scorer FURTHEST LAND (Smart Strike), a close fifth in the San Antonio. The Mike Maker charge is owned by Ken and Sarah Ramsey, who campaigned 2005 World Cup winner Roses in May. Julien Leparoux will guide the synthetic aficionado.

Whereas the past World Cups at old Nad al Sheba arguably suited American horses best, given their expertise on dirt, the advent of the synthetic Tapeta may have leveled the playing field for the rest of the world. This hypothesis will be tested Saturday, for the rest of the world will be represented by top-caliber horses. This can be an imperative factor for many top Grade l winners. Tapeta is more speed favoring than Pro-ride which is what the Breeder’s Cup was run over last two years.

Champion S. (Eng-G1) winner TWICE OVER (GB) (Observatory), third to Zenyatta and Gio Ponti in the Breeders' Cup Classic, leads the three-pronged British invasion. Trained by Henry Cecil, the Juddmonte Farms homebred has reportedly thrived over the winter and has never been better. Tom Queally will renew his long-standing association with Twice Over here. Team Valor International's GITANO HERNANDO (GB) (Hernando [Fr]) brings a perfect four-for-four mark on synthetic surfaces. Winner of the Goodwood S. (G1) last fall, beating Richard's Kid into third, the Marco Botti pupil comes off a near track record-equaling romp in the Winter Derby Trial at Lingfield. Gitano Hernando has won his past three with Kieren Fallon, and keeps the crafty Irishman in the saddle for the World Cup. Group 1 veteran CROWDED HOUSE (Rainbow Quest) will also fly the Union Jack, and the late runner gets a key rider switch to John Velazquez. The Brian Meehan charge has turned in two strong runner-up efforts at the Dubai International Racing Carnival, rallying in the Al Rashidiya (UAE-G3) on turf and just falling a half-length short in the Maktoum Challenge Round 2 (UAE-G3) on the Tapeta. France has two prime World Cup candidates. Multiple Group 1 star VISION D'ETAT (Chichicastenango) will be making his synthetic debut, but the Eric Libaud charge is a specialist at this distance on turf. The five-year-old sports a few high-profile victories at about 1 1/4 miles, including the 2008 Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby) (Fr-G1) and the 2009 Prix Ganay (Fr-G1), Prince of Wales's S. (Eng-G1) and the Hong Kong Cup (HK-G1) last out. Olivier Peslier will once again be at the helm.

The Pascal Bary-trained GLORIA DE CAMPEAO (Brz) (Impression) is a veteran of the Dubai International Racing Carnival. A distant second to Well Armed in last year's World Cup, he went on to land the Singapore Airlines International Cup (Sin-G1) at Kranji prior to finishing a subpar seventh to Gio Ponti in the Arlington Million (G1) last summer. Gloria de Campeao came back to capture the Maktoum Challenge Round 1 (UAE-G3) here in January, and he was just denied in the last stride in the Maktoum Challenge Round 3 (UAE-G2) at this track and trip. Regular pilot T.J. Pereira will ration out the speed of the likely pacesetter. Japanese Grade 1 queen RED DESIRE (Manhattan Cafe) uncorked a blistering late run from the clouds to nip Gloria de Campeao in the Maktoum Challenge Round 3. In so doing, she booked her ticket to the World Cup, instead of her initially likely aim, the Dubai Sheema Classic (UAE-G1). The Mikio Matsunaga filly is a seasoned veteran of several stretch battles back home on turf, as exemplified by her hard-fought, photo-finish success in the Shuka Sho (Jpn-G1) last October. Red Desire proved that she was capable of holding her own at the international level when finishing third in the Japan Cup (Jpn-G1) in her 2009 finale. Top reinsman Christophe Soumillon picks up the mount.

Godolphin, going in search of its sixth World Cup trophy, sends out a pair of hopefuls. ALLYBAR (King's Best), who held off Crowded House in the Maktoum Challenge Round 2, exits a fourth to Red Desire and Gloria de Campeao in Round 3. Ahmed Ajtebi will reunite with the chestnut, who had been no more than a Group 2-placed performer in France in his pre-Godolphin days. St. Leger (Eng-G1) hero MASTERY (GB) (Sulamani [Ire]) has not raced since finishing third in the Breeders' Cup Marathon, but attracts Frankie Dettori back into the cockpit.


Contentious races spice up World Cup undercard
Although the $10 million Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1) is the marquee event at Meydan on Saturday, the other six Thoroughbred stakes on the blockbuster program have no shortage of intrigue themselves.  It’s less than a week away so get ready for the World’s very best!