Nad Al Sheba in World Cup farewell

A field of classy thoroughbreds goes to post on Saturday night for the 14th and final running at the Nad Al Sheba racetrack of the $6 million (Dh22 million) Dubai World Cup, the world's richest horse race.

Nad Al Sheba is making way for the $1.25 billion Meydan racecourse being built near the state-of-the art Meydan City complex in time to stage the 2010 World Cup.

The great Cigar set the Nad Al Sheba World Cup ball rolling in 1996. Other big names to grace the winner's enclosure include Dubai Millennium in 2000, Invasor in 2007 and Curlin last year.

Saturday's big-race field of 14 is headed by US raider Albertus Maximus, the 2-1 favourite in London betting.

Though the five-year-old may not be in the league of Cigar, the horse is well drawn at 10, has solid form and is trained by Kiaran McLaughlin, who won with Invasor.

He told the World Cup website: "It's hard to be as confident as we were with Invasor because Invasor was a great horse, but we are confident and Albertus Maximus is doing very well."

Mike de Kock, a Dubai specialist, sends out locally trained Asiatic Boy (5-2), runner-up to Curlin in 2008 when Well Armed finished third. Well Armed again represents US-based trainer Eoin Harty and is rated an 8-1 shot.

Japanese raider Casino Drive (5-1) and My Indy (10-1), ridden by Frankie Dettori for the Godolphin stable of Sheikh Mohammed, also hold sound chances.

Latest London betting: 2-1 Albertus Maximus, 5-2 Asiatic Boy, 5-1 Casino Drive, 8-1 Well Armed, 10-1 My Indy, 12-1 Snaafy, 20-1 and upwards others.