The war launched by the United States and Israel against Iran is introducing serious concerns to horsemen about traveling to Dubai for the $12 million Dubai World Cup scheduled for March 28 at Meydan Racecourse. David Fiske, racing manager for Winchell Thoroughbreds, initially said Monday that the barrage of airstrikes in the region has made any plans to participate in the race a “wait-and-see thing,” despite the need to firm up travel plans within the next 10 days. Winchell Thoroughbreds owns Magnitude, who won Saturday’s Grade 3 Razorback Handicap at Oaklawn Park in dominating fashion as a prep for the Dubai World Cup. However, after a discussion with the horse’s trainer, Steve Assmussen, later on Monday morning, Fiske said that the team had decided that they would adopt an attitude to prepare for the trip, with the intention of shipping to Miami to make a March 14 flight to Dubai. Magnitude is likely to be the second or third choice in the race. :: Access the most trusted data and information in horse racing! DRF Past Performances and Picks are available now. “The plan is to go ahead like we are going to run,” Fiske said, “with the caveat that if something doesn’t feel right, we’ll pull the plug. Right now, we’d rather be ready to go.” Since the first airstrikes were launched by the United States and Israel on Saturday morning, Iran has launched several retaliatory strikes across the Persian Gulf and used proxies in the Middle East to harry U.S. and Israeli allies. Shipping in the Persian Gulf has come to a standstill. Major airports lining the Persian Gulf are currently closed to all incoming and outbound flights, including the two major airports in the United Arab Emirates. However, those UAE airports were scheduled to begin accepting “limited” flights late Monday, according to an announcement from Dubai officials. Horses traveling from the United States to Dubai for the World Cup and its undercard races typically arrive two weeks before the race, on a single flight booked by a transportation company linked to the Dubai World Cup organizers. All transportation expenses are paid by the organizers. Horses are required to quarantine for 48 hours once they arrive in the country. Forever Young, the reigning champion older dirt male in the United States, is currently stabled at Meydan after traveling from Medina, Saudi Arabia, following his second consecutive win in the $20 million Saudi Cup on Feb. 14. No matter the competition that shows up for the World Cup, Forever Young will be the favorite. Brad Cox, the Kentucky-based trainer, had already reserved a spot on the flight to Dubai for Hit Show, but he said Monday that he doesn’t “have enough information to have enough confidence to know anything” about whether the horse will ultimately ship for the race. Hit Show won the Mineshaft on Feb. 14 at Fair Grounds in his last start. “I mean, I can’t just say to my staff, ‘Hey, you’re going,’ ” Cox said. “The staff would have to be completely comfortable with it. There are just so many questions right now. And it doesn’t look like it’s going to get resolved soon. But in 10 days or so, we’ve got to make that decision.” Cox, who, like Fiske, said he has not had any conversations with World Cup officials since the war started, speculated that the World Cup might not be held this year. “I think it’s tough right now to imagine it being held,” Cox said. “Maybe it doesn’t get run this year.” :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.