Based on the odds put out by UK bookmaker Coral, the $1 million Al Quoz Sprint at five furlongs on turf is the most wide-open race on Saturday's Dubai World Cup program. Sole Power, beaten a nose in the Meydan Sprint, was Coral's 6-1 favorite.
The newest race on the Dubai World Cup card is the $2 million Gold Cup at two miles on the turf. Fox Hunt and Opinion Poll, the 1-2 finishers from the Nad al Sheba Trophy at 1 3/4 miles on March 1, head the field. Both are trained b Mahmoud Al Zarooni.
Of his seven mounts on the Dubai World Cup card on Saturday, jockey Frankie Dettori – who leads all riders with 17 World Cup night victories – believes his best chance at number 18 is with African Story in the $1 million Godolphin Mile over the Tapeta surface.
In Ambitious Dragon, it would appear trainer Tony Millard has the horse to beat in Saturday night’s $5 million Dubai Duty Free at Meydan.
When Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom was withdrawn from consideration for Saturday’s $10 million Dubai World Cup due to injury, the world’s richest horse race may have lost some of its luster, at least among American viewers. Still, the presence of Royal Delta, Southern California’s top handicap male Game On Dude, and an international cast of the world’s top horses among its 14 runners makes the World Cup an intriguing event.
Gamilati, a two-time stakes winner for the Maktoum family’s Godophin racing, will miss the English 1000 Guineas this spring after having a bone chip removed from an ankle.
With 3-year-olds Went the Day Well and Howe Great back home preparing for America’s Triple Crown series, trainer Graham Motion and owner Barry Irwin had the luxury of shipping Lucky Chappy halfway around the world for Saturday’s $2 million UAE Derby at Meydan.
Last year, trainer Bob Baffert was second to one in the $2 million Golden Shaheen with Euroears, who got beat by Rocket Man in the $2 million race at six furlongs over Meydan’s synthetic surface. Baffert has returned for another crack at the Golden Shaheen with speed merchant The Factor.
France’s Corine Barande-Barbe could become the first female trainer to win a Thoroughhbred race on Dubai World Cup Night when she sends out Cirrus des Aigles in the $5 million Sheema Classic at 1 1/2 miles on turf.
2012 Dubai World Cup handicapping videos
