Article posted on -  1/22/2008 7:29:39 PM

Linngari

VIP HORSES NOMINATED FOR WORLD CUP NIGHT

Curlin, officially the world’s highest-rated horse still in training, heads a total of 169 horses nominated for the US$6 million Dubai World Cup, sponsored by Emirates Airline on March 29.

They hail from 11 countries: UAE (78), US (38), Japan (18), UK (11), Brazil and France (6), Argentina, Turkey, Saudi Arabia (3), Macau (2) and Bahrain (1).

Apart from the Breeders’ Cup Classic winner, some other top names nominated for the world’s richest race run over 2000m on dirt, include Premium Tap (KSA), Asiatic Boy (SA), Happy Boy (BRZ), Literato (UAE), Daaher (US), Daiwa Scarlet (JPN), Vermilion (JPN), Awesome Gem (US), Latency (ARG), Student Council (US), and West Virginia (US).

The remaining card has also attracted most of the best horses in the world at this first closing stage for nominations.

The US$5million Group 1 Dubai Duty Free, sponsored by Dubai Duty Free and run over 1,777m on turf, is headed by Godolphin’s flagbearer of last season, Ramonti, as well as the triple Group 1-winning French filly Darjina, and New Zealand’s latest superstar Seachange. Recent Group 1 winner, Linngari is also nominated.

The US$5million Group 1 Dubai Sheema Classic, sponsored by Nakheel and run over 2400metres on turf, has attracted six of the first seven home in last year’s race: Vengeance Of Rain (HK), Oracle West (SAF), Youmzain (UK), Sushisan (SAF), Pop Rock (JPN) and Quijano (GER), as well as the top class Japanese star Meisho Samson.

American dominate the first Group 1 race on the card, the US$2million Dubai Golden Shaheen, sponsored by Gulf News and run over 1200m on dirt. Breeders’ Cup Sprint hero Midnight Lute, last year’s winner Kelly’s Landing and Idiot Proof all represent the US, while Australia is represented by their flying filly Miss Andretti.

The US$1million Godolphin Mile, a Group 2 race run over 1600m on dirt and sponsored by Etisalat, could see Spring At Last (US) trying to defend his crown from 12 months ago, while the US$2million Group 2 UAE Derby, run over 1800m on dirt and sponsored by Saeed & Mohammed Al Naboodah Group, has attracted the top British colt, Strike The Deal and the unbeaten American raider El Gato Malo.

Dubai Racing Club CEO Mr Frank Gabriel Jr said: “The nominations for the 13th Dubai World Cup meeting are extremely satisfying.

“Most people agreed that last year’s meeting was the best yet and that the fixture can now lay claim to being the most competitive and international day’s racing anywhere in the world.

“What is particularly rewarding is that a number of horses who competed last year are set to return and it shows that many horsemen are keen to keep their horses in training now, and target international meetings such as this one.

“We are likely to see a lot of horses who ran in the Breeders’ Cup, Japan Cup and Hong Kong International meetings at the end of last year, then competing here, and it shows how strong and thriving the international racing scene is.”