DUBAI, United Arab Emirates - Ian Jory disbanded his California stable in January 2005, citing the need for a larger stable than the 16 horses he had at the time. Consider that problem solved.

More than a year later, Jory, 47, oversees a stable of more than 200 horses owned by Prince Sultan Mohammed Saud al Kabeer, a member of the Saudi Arabian royal family. Jory, who trained such popular runners as Best Pal and Continental Red in the United States, relocated to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, last spring.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates - One glance at Gaff, and it is easy to see how he has developed into a top-class sprinter.

With a stocky and powerful frame, Gaff has very few wasted ounces among his 1,250 pounds. "He's a big horse," said Scott Blasi, assistant trainer to Steve Asmussen.

Whether Gaff can become a "big horse" in the world's sprint division will be better known this weekend, when he starts in the $2 million Golden Shaheen for sprinters at Nad Al Sheba racecourse.

Race 2
Godolphin Mile - Group 2
About 1 Mile
Purse $1,000,000

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates - Before he left the United States last weekend to prepare Brass Hat for Saturday's $6 million Dubai World Cup, trainer Buff Bradley sought out the advice of trainers who had made the trip in the past.

Speaking with Dale Romans, who trained 2005 Dubai World Cup winner Roses in May, Bradley learned that a prerace workout under the lights could help a horse better acclimate to the conditions for Saturday's 9:20 p.m. local post time (12:20 p.m. Eastern).

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates - Confusion led to momentary frustration for trainer Ted H. West at Nad Al Sheba racecourse on Monday morning. The layout of the course, complete with its three-furlong stretch, kept West from properly timing a half-mile workout by Jet West, his hope in Saturday's $2 million Golden Shaheen for sprinters.

It was later confirmed that Jet West had worked about a half-mile (or 800 meters) in 46.50 seconds, which pleased West, who is making his first international trip with the 5-year-old Jet West.

Deep Impact, the 2005 Japanese Horse of the Year, made a successful reappearance at Hanshin on Sunday with a handy score in the Grade 2 Hanshin Daishoten at 1 7/8 miles.

FLORENCE, Ky. - No, Fred Bradley never traveled with the circus. But he has done pretty much everything else, from immersing himself in hard-core politics to flying jet fighters to foaling Thoroughbred mares to all sorts of seemingly unrelated endeavors.

War of Attrition outlasted a gallant Hedgehunter to land the $700,000 Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase on Friday as Forget the Past completed a 1-2-3 St. Patrick's Day finish for Irish-trained runners in Britain's premier steeplechase event.

Beef or Salmon heads a record 24 starters in the 83rd running of Friday's $700,000 Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase, the definitive steeplechase fixture on the European jump racing calendar.

This will be the fourth Gold Cup try for Beef or Salmon, who is trained in Ireland by Michael Hourigan. Having fallen in in 2003, he finished fourth behind Best Mate in 2004 but was eased in last year's event. Coming off a big win in Leopardstown's Hennessy Gold Cup Chase on Feb. 12, the 10-year-old Beef or Salmon is the 5-1 favorite in this Grade 1 race, which has 22 fences at 3 5/16 miles.

The United States will be represented by a record 19 runners on Dubai World Cup Night at Nad Al Sheba on March 25 on a six-race Thoroughbred card worth an astounding $21 million.

The big bucks also have attracted runners from every other corner of the globe. Argentina, Brazil, Chile, South Africa, Australia, Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Britain, Ireland, and France will also be represented.