A field of 11, headed by American star Life Is Good, is expected for the $12 million Dubai World Cup on March 26. The Dubai Racing Club on Thursday announced likely fields for the nine races – eight Thoroughbreds, one purebred Arabians – that comprise the World Cup card. The American horses in the World Cup, contested over 2,000 meters, about 1 1/4 miles, should dominate. Life Is Good has hit a career peak his last two races, crushing rivals in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile, where he earned a world-class 109 Beyer Speed Figure, and in the Pegasus World Cup on Jan. 29, where his Beyer reached 110. The Pegasus marked his first start over a distance as far as 1 1/8 miles, and Life Is Good now tries 1 1/4 miles for the first time. Life Is Good was the only American-based World Cup starter shipped to Dubai this week. Hot Rod Charlie has been there since January and romped Feb. 4 the Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2. Country Grammer and Midnight Bourbon finished second and third, respectively, in the $20 million Saudi Cup on Feb. 26 and shipped directly to Dubai. Japanese runners abound on the World Cup card, and the Japan-based World Cup runner Chuwa Wizard finished second behind Mystic Guide in the 2021 World Cup. The other likely starters are Aero Trem, fifth in the Saudi Cup; Magny Cours, a distant third in the 2021 World Cup; Hypothetical, a Dubai-based 5-year-old coming off a win in the Al Maktoum Challenge Round 3; Grocer Jack, an England-based horse who never has raced on dirt; Remorse, second in the Al Maktoum Challenge Round 3; and Real World, most recently 11th in the Saudi Cup. The $6 million Sheema Classic over about 1 1/2 miles on turf has 14 likely runners, a deep, fascinating bunch headed, at least for American audiences, by 2021 Breeders’ Cup Turf winner Yibir. On international ratings, Yibir sits below several other intended runners. Glory Vase last was seen winning the Group 1 Hong Kong Vase and is one of several capable Japan-based Sheema Classic hopes along with Authority, Shahryar, Stella Veloce, and Uberleben. Some high-level performers from England, topped by Alenquer, add spice. Colonel Liam, who rates among the leading American turf horses at nine to 10 furlongs, is one of 15 likely runners in the $5 million Dubai Turf, contested at roughly 1 1/8 miles. Returning from a long layoff, Colonel Liam won the Pegasus World Cup Turf on Jan. 29, though American horses historically have struggled in Dubai turf routes. Schnell Meister from Japan is this race’s most likely winner. Lord North won the 2021 Dubai Turf and returns for a repeat attempt. American dirt sprinters Dr. Schivel and Drain the Clock are top rated among 13 likely entrants for the $2 million Golden Shaheen, which has drawn a third American horse, Wondrwherecraigis. Copano Kicking from Japan met with a setback this week in Dubai and is out of the race. American horses Casa Creed and Get Smokin will try to emulate Extravagant Kid, who won the $1.5 million Al Quoz Sprint in 2021. Casa Creed was a strong second in the 1351 Sprint in Saudi Arabia last month and shipped directly to Dubai. Godolphin has two strong Al Quoz candidates – Man of Promise and Creative Force. European horses Suesa and A Case of You lend depth to a strong field. Bob Baffert-trained Pinehurst, who won the Saudi Derby, leads 15 likely runners in the $1 million UAE Derby. Azure Coast, who began his career in Russia, has been the best 3-year-old dirt-route horse based in Dubai this winter. The $1 million Gold Cup, a two-mile grass race, is expected to draw 14 entrants.