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- Dubai 04:26 05:44 12:20 15:47 18:50 20:08
In welcoming participants to this year’s World Cup at Meydan, Sheikh Mohammed recalled last year’s winner – the UAE’s ‘Monterosso’. Seen here with Sheikh Mohammed is jockey Mickael Barzalona who rode Monterosso to win the 17th Dubai World Cup. (Reuters).
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, welcomed contestants of the 18th Edition of the world’s richest horse race, Dubai World Cup 2013.
In a foreword that appeared in the Dubai World Cup official magazine, Sheikh Mohammed said that the event has become, by far, the most iconic horse race in the world ever since the American champion Cigar won the first edition of the Dubai World Cup in 1996.
“The Dubai World Cup has gained worldwide fame attracting elites of champions each year from around the globe, to race at Meydan Racecourse, which have rivaled the most famous international horserace tracks hosting the event for the fourth consecutive year in Dubai.
“In 2012, Monterosso won the $10-million-in-prizes race presenting the UAE its first win since 2006. This year, I would like to take the opportunity to welcome the international contestants and wish horse owners, trainers and jockeys all the best.”
American raiders Animal Kingdom and Royal Delta have been installed as the early favourites for the $10 million Emirates Airline Dubai World Cup at Meydan on March 30.
This Saturday sees the 18th renewal of the world’s richest horse race, an event which was born out of the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
The post-position draw will be on Wednesday evening at Meydan.
The 2011 Kentucky Derby winner, pn his first morning in Dubai with trainer Graham Motion was sent for a short burst of speed down the Meydan stretch, with Dubai Racing Club official Jim Cornes clocking the chestnut ridden by Alice Clapham in 36.24 seconds for 600 metres.
“That was exactly what I was looking for,” Motion said. “He looks terrific. I was very surprised he had a timed workout because it looked like he was just in an open gallop. He really seems to handle this track very well.”
"Everything went well," said the US-based Motion.
"He just needed a blowout. He's been here almost a week and I wanted him to have a pipe-opener. It went very smoothly.
"The great thing about this horse is that he handles things like travel very well - he's got a great attitude."
Animal Kingdom, who races in the colours of Team Valor International, was second in the Preakness Stakes after winning at Churchill Downs.
He was limited to two runs last year and returned to action in a Grade 1 handicap at Gulfstream Park last month.
Motion, who identified fellow US raider Royal Delta as one of the major threats on Saturday, added: "He'll be very comfortable on the surface. A strong pace would help, but that doesn't seem to happen over here.
"He's a fairly straightforward horse though, and you can put him where you want in a race."
Displaying some of the personality that trainer Bill Mott has described as “sassy,” two-time American champion Royal Delta reared as she jogged past a throng of media onlookers, drawing a slight rebuke from assistant trainer and exercise rider Rodolphe Brisset.
Settling immediately, Royal Delta glided into an effortless gallop and cruised once around the track impressively on Tuesday morning.
Ryan Moore will again come in for the ride on Planteur in the Dubai World Cup and trainer Marco Botti feels the six-year-old is in better shape than when the pair were third in the race last season, three and a half lengths behind winner Monterosso.
Since joining Botti, Planteur has been ridden by Moore in last year's race, while Christophe Soumillon renewed the partnership at Longchamp and Royal Ascot, and William Buick took the ride on his final start last season at York.
Adam Kirby was in the saddle when Planteur achieved his first win for his new trainer, when breaking the track record at Lingfield in the Winter Derby Trial - his first start this season and his prep race for the Dubai World Cup.
However, despite riding more for Botti than any other jockey in the last year, Kirby misses out on his first ride in the world's richest race.
"Ryan rode him when he was third last year and the previous owner had expressed a desire to have him again, so we'd booked him. When he switched owners the new owner was more than happy to have Ryan, so we left it as it was," explained Botti.
Botti is confident he has his charge in better shape and continued: "Ryan knows the horse well, he's in good shape and I think he has benefited from his preparation this year as he's had a run. He went there fresh last year and I think having the run will help him.
"We know he handles the track and if he gets a bit of luck with the draw he could have a very good chance. He did his final piece of work yesterday, which was very good, and he left this morning, so it's very exciting."
The six-year-old son of Danehill Dancer emerged from quarantine to complete one lap of the main track at a gentle canter under trainer Botti's wife Lucie. "We are very happy with him," she said. "We think he is in better form than last year (when Planteur finished third behind Monterosso)."
(Ed Dunlop’s Red Cadeaux works out at Meydan on Tuesday morning ahead of his tilt at Saturday’s US$10m Dubai World Cup, sponsored by Emirates Airline)
Red Cadeaux has made his mark on various points across the globe and the Hong Kong Vase winner will bid to add the Group 1 $10m Dubai World Cup to his haul this Saturday.
Ed Dunlop’s reliable seven-year-old scored in Hong Kong last December on the back of a tour which saw him finish mid-field in the Japan Cup and Emirates Melbourne Cup – 12 months on from his agonising defeat by the shortest of margins in the latter event.
Despite his high air miles, Red Cadeaux took a few days to adapt to local conditions having left the cold of Newmarket, England, behind but is beginning to thrive.
“We decided to bring him out early to allow him to acclimatise with the weather being so different to back home,” said Dunlop’s travelling head lad, Robin Trevor-Jones.
“For the first few days he wouldn’t eat as it was so hot but he is now back on his food and his work rider said he felt as good today as he has since he arrived.
“It is the end of long season for him but he is so versatile. This if a different challenge for him but we know he will be staying on at the end having gone so close over longer trips elsewhere.
“He has not run on the Tapeta before but has form on the all-weather in England and has won on heavy ground at the Curragh and has form on quick ground in Hong Kong so I don’t think the track will be an issue.”
The 7-year-old is improving on a daily basis with trainer Ed Dunlop’s travelling head lad Robin Trevor-Jones saying after a workout on Tuesday: “All is good and he cantered over a mile and a quarter this morning. He is getting better day by day. We had planned to work him on the Turf track midweek but we may stick to the all-weather. He is due to work on Wednesday or Thursday and we will decide which day when his trainer arrives tonight.”
The development of the Dubai World Cup day card and the growth of the event’s international profile, and that of Dubai since 1996 would not have been possible without the support of a select group of partners whose vision has helped support and nurture horse racing in the emirate.
Saeed Humaid Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board, Meydan Group, said: “Our long-term relationships with our partners are testament to the kind of commitment that these organisations bring year after year to this great day of racing.”
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