DUBAI, United Arab Emirates - Buff Bradley, the trainer of Brass Hat, sat in a clubhouse on the Nad Al Sheba backstretch earlier this week recalling the unlikely sequence of events that brought him and his millionaire gelding to the Middle East for Saturday's $6 million , the world's richest race.

Bradley remembered Brass Hat's wins in the 2004 Ohio and Indiana derbies as well as the frightening cannon bone fracture that occurred when Brass Hat finished ninth in the Lone Star Derby that October.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates - The equine drag race that is Saturday's $2 million at Nad Al Sheba racecourse has become an American showcase.

Five of the last six winners are from the United States, and this year's running includes five American invaders expected to dominate the race, which is at about six furlongs on a straightaway course.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates - The $2 million at Nad Al Sheba on Saturday is not expected to have major implications in the build-up to the Kentucky Derby. Most of the starters are too old to run in the Derby.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates - At an age when many champion females have been retired, Ouija Board will race at 5 this year. Already a major stakes winner in Texas, Europe, and Hong Kong, Ouija Board will try to conquer the Middle East when she starts in Saturday's $5 million Sheema Classic at about 1 1/2 miles on turf at Nad Al Sheba racecourse.

The shares billing as the world's richest turf race with Saturday's $5 million Duty Free Stakes at about 1 1/8 miles.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates - Electrocutionist's task of winning Saturday's $6 million Dubai World Cup at Nad Al Sheba Racecourse, and ending a two-year winning streak by American horses, became more difficult when the 5-year-old drew the rail in the field of 11 at the post position draw on Wednesday.

A Group 1 stakes winner in England and Italy last year and the winner of a major Dubai stakes on dirt earlier this month, Electrocutionist will be making his second start on dirt in the Dubai World Cup, the world's richest race.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates - Unless he scores an easy win in Saturday's $2 million UAE Derby and shows he is suited to running 1 1/4 miles, Discreet Cat is unlikely to run in the 2006 Kentucky Derby, said Godolphin racing manager Simon Crisford on Wednesday. Undefeated in two starts - a maiden race at Saratoga last August and an allowance race here on March 9 - Discreet Cat is a strong favorite with English bookmakers to win the UAE Derby, which is run at about 1 1/8 miles on dirt at Nad Al Sheba racecourse.

Discreet Cat, the likely favorite for Saturday's $2,000,000 UAE Derby, is unlikely to run in the Kentucky Derby. He may be pointed to the Preakness.

Achilles of Troy, recovering from a back injury, will resume training and point to one of the major Triple Crown preps, possibly the Arkansas Derby.

Dubai World Cup - Group 1
About 1 1/4 Miles
Purse $6,000,000

DRF.com has learned that multiple Group 1 winning hurdler Moscow Flyer has retired at the age of 12 after a fifth-place finish in the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham on March 15.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates - Angel Cordero Jr., the retired Hall of Fame jockey, was jogging Magna Graduate past a small crowd standing trackside at Nad Al Sheba racecourse on Tuesday morning when he tossed his whip to Kim Valerio, the racing manager for Magna Graduate's owner, Elisabeth Alexander.

"I don't need this," Cordero said while riding away.