An all-star equine cast is set to compete in the $10m Group 1 Dubai World Cup, the world’s richest race, it was announced on Wednesday.
The 17th renewal of the race will be held on Saturday March 31, as part of the world’s richest day in racing valued at $27.25m.
The Group 1 2,000m all-weather contest has attracted an initial roster of 271 horses, representing 12 countries.
Eight of the 11 trainers to have won the Dubai World Cup are represented by nominees while Emirati trainer Saeed bin Suroor, who holds the record with five Dubai World Cup wins, has six nominees.
American trainer Bob Baffert has nine horses eligible to the race, led by his Group 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic runner up Game on Dude.
The list of nominees include three horses that earned Eclipse Awards in the United States – Animal Kingdom, the 2011 Kentucky Derby winner, champion three-year-old male; Acclamation, champion older male; and Royal Delta, Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic winner and champion three-year-old filly.
Other notable winners include Blue Bunting (UK’s Epsom Oaks), Cirrus des Aigles (Champion Stakes), Shackleford (Preakness Stakes), So You Think (three Group 1 wins in 2011), Ruler on Ice (Belmont Stakes).
There is also a number of 2011 Dubai World Cup programme veterans – River Jetez, (2nd Dubai Duty Free), (Transcend, 2nd Dubai World Cup), Wigmore Hall, (3rd Dubai Duty Free), Gitano Hernando (6th Dubai World Cup – winner of the 2011 Singapore Airlines International Cup) and Master of Hounds (2nd UAE Derby).
Martin Talty, international manager of the Dubai Racing Club, said: “Evident from the increased number of entries we received, it is clear that the world’s owners and trainers appreciate our international season and events.”
Follow us on
