O'Neill hoping to have five runners on Dubai World Cup card

ARCADIA, Calif. – Led by multiple stakes winner Wildman Jack, trainer Doug O’Neill could have five starters on the Dubai World Cup program on March 27 at Meydan Racecourse.

Wildman Jack, who won the Grade 3 Palos Verdes Stakes at six furlongs by 4 1/4 lengths on Jan. 23 at Santa Anita, has been invited to the Group 1 Golden Shaheen at six furlongs on dirt. Fernando Jara has been booked to ride Wildman Jack, O’Neill said.

In 2020, Wildman Jack won the Group 3 Nad Al Sheba Sprint at six furlongs on turf at Meydan when O’Neill had a small stable there for a few months.

Hockey Dad, who won his third consecutive race in a one-mile allowance race for California-breds on turf, will start in the Group 2 UAE Derby at 1 3/16 miles, which will be his stakes debut. O’Neill has asked Dubai officials to consider the recent maiden race winner Ambivalent for the UAE Derby.

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Ambivalent was third in the Grade 3 Bob Hope Stakes at seven furlongs at Del Mar in November.

Parsimony has been invited to the Group 2 Godolphin Mile on dirt, but O’Neill said he has inquired about having the 5-year-old invited to the $12 million Dubai World Cup. Parsimony won the Curlin Stakes at Meydan in February 2020 at 1 1/4 miles, the same distance as the Dubai World Cup. On Jan. 30, Parsimony was second in an allowance race at six furlongs at Santa Anita in his second start following a five-month break.

Strongconstitution, who won the restricted Let It Ride Stakes for 3-year-olds at Del Mar in November, is being considered for the Godolphin Mile or the Group 1 Al Quoz Sprint at six furlongs on turf, O’Neill said. Strongconstitution was seventh in the restricted Clocker’s Corner Stakes at six furlongs on turf on Jan. 24 at Santa Anita.