The three American runners in this year's Dubai World Cup are better qualified to bring back a trophy than any group of horses that preceded them since the race moved to Meydan Racecourse.
The $5 million Sheema Classic over about 1 1/2 miles on turf Saturday at Meydan Racecourse lacks the depth of the Duty Free, but it has Gentildonna, the star Japanese filly who swept the Japanese Fillies Triple Crown and won the Japan Cup over males and older rivals late last year.
Little Mike has made a career bucking expectations. His connections believe Little Mike can lead all the way in the $5 million Duty Free at 1 1/8 miles on turf.
Mental delivered a decisive victory in the Group 3 Al Shindagha Sprint at Meydan on Feb. 14, his synthetic-surface debut, making him the horse to beat Saturday night in the Group 1, $2 million Golden Shaheen.
Mike de Kock will start 13 runners on the Dubai World Cup card. See an exclusive DRF interview with the trainer and learn about his entrants.
It’s a Dundeel, who won the Group 1 Randwick Guineas on March 16, will be favored to win the second leg of Australia’s autumn triple crown in Saturday’s $520,000 Rosehill Guineas at Rosehill Gardens Racecourse.
The Japanese filly Gentildonna, a heavy favorite in the Sheema Classic, made an impressive visual impression during her appearance at Meydan Racecourse on Wednesday.
Animal Kingdom breaks from post 12 in the $10 million Dubai World Cup, while Royal Delta is ideally drawn in post 8 and Dullahan will start from post 3. Hunter’s Light, the 7-2 favorite on the North American morning line for the World Cup, breaks from post 4.
Tuesday was a light training day for the two Dale Romans-trained horses here, with Dullahan going once around the main track at Meydan, and Little Mike jogging over the Tapeta surface on the training track located just southeast of the big track.
Ocean Park lost the first start of his career at a small country track in New Zealand. His New Zealand-based trainer, Gary Hennessy, trains a small 10- to 12-horse string at his farm near the town of Matamata. He and his wife, Jenny, do much of the work themselves. But do not be led astray by obscure origins nor the NZ next to his name: Ocean Park appears to be a major contender in the $5 million Dubai Duty Free.
