A strong American cast, led by champions West Coast and Forever Unbridled, are top contenders for the Dubai World Cup race won last year by Arrogate in his dazzling last-to-first run. Following his solid performance in the Pegasus World Cup, the four year old son of Flatter has sights on the lofty Dubai World Cup title. West Coast is up against old rival Gunnevera whom he beat in the Pegasus World Cup to come up second against Gun Runner. The four year old colt Antonio Sano pupil has been preparing well for this race and is expected to deliver the goods.
The quiet lady in the midst, Fipke-owned Forever Unbridled has the class, the breeding and the conditioning to beat the boys. She stormed through five furlongs in 59.60 seconds at the New Orleans Fair Ground in her last breeze before heading to Dubai. Hall of Famer Mike Smith defends his Gr.1 Dubai World Cup (2017) victory on the champion mare.
The American raiders go up against a wall of UAE trained horses who know the track well. Prix Jean Prat winner Thunder Snow and Seemar trained-North America go head-to-head yet again. Satish Seemar says of North America “He was always a very impressive and imposing looking horse but he has strengthened and grown again in the year that we have had him.”
They have been battling each other in every Al Maktoum Challenge since the Dubai World Cup Carnival began. "Thunder Snow is favourite for the Dubai World Cup so he would be an obvious stand out for the race," said Doyle who is booked to ride the bin Suroor pupil. Thunder Snow, the four-year-old from Helmet, has had seven wins in 17 starts. Erwin Charpy’s Amazon princess hopes to prove her mettle in this year’s running of the race. Last year Furia Cruzada was literally embroiled in an unfortunate incident at the start of the Dubai World Cup race last year.
Japanese Awardee, rated at 112 raced against Arrogate in the last Dubai World Cup to come up unplaced. Yet as an 8 year old gelding, may be bested by younger and fresher horses.
French trained lightly raced Talismanic comes home to Godolphin for the first time. The well regarded Oro colt won the Prix Darshaan in great style recently. He was also second in the Hong Kong Vase and won the Breeders’ Cup Turf. Although it remains to be seen whether he can switch from his preferred turf to dirt. He managed to win on a synthetic surface and it is definitely in his breeding.
Bob Baffert brings another trainee, Mubtaahij owned by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa bin Saeed Al Maktoum who is first cousin of to Godolphin owner HH Sheikh Mohammed and the head of the Dubai Land Department, the land registrar of the Emirate of Dubai. The Dubawi son was second in the recent Gr.1 Santa Anita Handicap. His style and form suggests an improvement with age but he may be outclassed in this august gathering.
Reddam Racing owned-Pavel comes in with great expectations for a great race. He has battled Mubtaahij many a time but Bob Baffert pupil has always managed to best him. They face off again on March 31.
Click Here For Full Racecard