DUBAI, United Arab Emirates - One by one, they paraded before the well-appointed mini-grandstand at Al Quoz, Godolphin's nine-furlong training track barely 20 minutes by car from the heart of the city.

This was Wednesday, and the war in Iraq was put out of mind as first Danuta, Godolphin's leading hope for the Kentucky Oaks, and then Mezzo Soprano, a candidate for the 1000 Guineas, galloped around the track. They would be followed by Super Derby winner Essence of Dubai, British Group 2 winner Moon Ballad, and three-time Group 1 winner Grandera.

DUBLIN - The Martell Grand National at Aintree Racecourse outside Liverpool is often billed as "the world's greatest race," and though that may just be Eurocentric bragging, it's close enough to the truth to pack the stands. First run in 1839, the race is a grueling test of stamina over a steeplechase course that covers about 4 1/2 miles. It requires the horses to jump 30 fences and cross open ditches and fast-flowing brooks, a feat that only a handful ever complete successfully.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates - Xtra Heat was scratched from Saturday's Group 1 Dubai Golden Shaheen after she injured her left front ankle when cast in her stall Friday morning.

Trainer John Salzman reported the incident to the stewards of the Emirates Racing Association, who ordered her withdrawal from the $2 million sprint, in which she had finished third last year.

"Xtra Heat has some heat in the ankle but no filling," Salzman said. "She's got a problem, and I'm not going to run her."

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates - In a race that appears to have been created for the special talents of American sprinters, Avanzado can give the United States its fourth consecutive victory in the Group 1 Dubai Golden Shaheen, one of six races worth at least $1 million on a $15.25 million at Nad Al Sheba Saturday night.

The six-furlong Golden Shaheen, at $2 million the world's richest sprint race, is run over a straight and level course that played right into the hands of 2000 winner Big Jag and Caller One, the winner of the last two runnings.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates - Godolphin is pinning almost all its Kentucky Derby hopes on Inamorato, who will start as a hot favorite in Saturday's Group 1, $2 million UAE Derby.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates - Harlan's Holiday faces a difficult task Saturday night against three Maktoum-controlled turf stars in the eighth renewal of the world's richest race, the $6 million at Nad Al Sheba.

A victory by Harlan's Holiday would pull the United States even with Godolphin in World Cup wins at four apiece.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates - The tactical speed that Harlan's Holiday used to best advantage to win the Donn Handicap last month will be severely tested Saturday night in the world's richest race, the $6 million Dubai World Cup at Nad Al Sheba.

Dubai, United Arab Emirates - The Emirates Racing Association's $15.25 million Dubai World Cup night took a heavy hit Monday when Japan withdrew its leading World Cup hope Gold Allure as he was about to be loaded onto a plane in Tokyo on Sunday morning.

Dubai World Cup Committee chairman Les Benton said that the Yakuo Ikee-trained son of Sunday Silence was kept at home at the behest of the Japan Racing Association because of the war in Iraq. Also staying at home will be the large Japanese press corps, which routinely follows any Japanese horse running in a foreign race.

Hard Luck, trained by Ken McPeek, worked about three furlongs on Tuesday at Nad Al Sheba Race Course in Dubai in preparation for Saturday's $2 million United Arab Emirates Derby.

Time for the 600-meter work on Nad Al Sheba's dirt track was 32.67 seconds with exercise rider Danielo Arguello aboard. A Brazilian horse, Hard Luck was recently purchased by McPeek with Bill and Joe Gallion of Lexington, Ky.

Activity was light at Nad Al Sheba five days before Saturday's Dubai World Cup card, the world's richest day of racing with $15.25 million in purses.

ELMONT, N.Y. - John Velazquez will have more than the war with Iraq on his mind when he travels to Dubai on Wednesday to ride Harlan's Holiday in Saturday's $6 million Dubai World Cup at Nad Al Sheba.

Velazquez's wife, Leona, is expecting the couple's second child. While Leona is not due until April 7, she has been experiencing contractions for almost a week, John Velazquez said Monday.

"I was hoping she would have had it before now," Velazquez said. "Now, I'm hoping she doesn't have it until I get back."