Stage nearly set in Dubai

With the arrival on Tuesday of UAE Derby contenders Peasant and Pellegrino from Argentina, all but two of the foreign runners for the March 29 Dubai World Cup night, with $15.25 million in purses the world's richest card, have arrived safely. The exceptions were France's two leading candidates, Aquarelliste and Ange Gabriel.

Ange Gabriel, who will run in the Dubai Sheema Classic, was still scheduled to fly to Dubai, but flights out of Amsterdam, an international clearing center for horse transport, were being rerouted and schedules were in flux, according to Ange Gabriel's jockey Thierry Jarnet. Jockey Dominique Boeuf said Aquarelliste, his Dubai World Cup mount, is still scheduled to make the trip to Dubai.

Trainer Jeff Mullins will leave for Dubai on Sunday to finalize the preparations of Captain Squire for the six-furlong Dubai Golden Shaheen and Lusty Latin for the Godolphin Mile.

"I've been in contact with my people over there," Mullins said. "They said everything's quiet. Everybody we've talked to over there said there's nothing to worry about."

Passenger flights operated by Emirates Airways, the UAE's national carrier, are running normally except between Dubai and Kuwait, which have been cancelled until further notice.

Warren Stute, who will saddle defending champ Grey Memo in the $1 million Godolphin Mile, will depart for Dubai on Tuesday.

Saudi Arabia will be strongly represented in the Dubai World Cup, with last year's runner-up, the Argentine-bred Sei Mi, and Hans Anderson being joined by Grundlefoot.

The 6-year-old Grundlefoot worked sharply at Nad Al Sheba on Thursday morning for his Saudi-based trainer, Kevin McAuliffe.