Fourteen set for 14th Dubai World Cup

Albertus Maximus is taking the well-traveled Donn-to-Dubai route to World Cup success (Dubai Racing Club)

Saturday’s $6 million Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1) has attracted a competitive
field of 14 for its 14th running. The crescendo of an all-stakes, seven-race
card worth more than $21.2 million, the about 1 1/4-mile World Cup will be
staged at Nad al Sheba for the final time. Next year, the scene shifts to the
state-of-the-art Meydan complex currently under construction.

Its Nad al Sheba swan song has an air of familiarity, with the battle lines
being drawn between the American shippers and Godolphin’s local representative.
In 12 of its first 13 editions, the World Cup has either gone to an
American-based horse or a Saeed bin Suroor trainee.

On Saturday, ALBERTUS MAXIMUS (Albert the Great) leads a quartet of
American-trained runners seeking World Cup glory. Purchased by Sheikh Hamdan’s
Shadwell Stable after his victory in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile, the bay
captured the January 31 Donn H. (G1) in his debut for Kiaran McLaughlin.
Albertus Maximus will try to become the fifth horse to use the Donn as a
springboard to triumph in the World Cup, following the mighty Cigar (1996),
Captain Steve (2001), Roses in May (2005) and Invasor (Arg), who won the World
Cup for Sheikh Hamdan and McLaughlin in 2007. Alan Garcia has the return call.

My Indy enters in career-best form for Godolphin (Dubai Racing Club/Andrew Watkins)

The Eoin Harty-trained WELL ARMED (Tiznow), third to two-time Horse of the
Year Curlin in last year’s World Cup, is back for another try. The gelding has
had mixed results since his signature win in the Goodwood S. (G1) in September,
winding up ninth to Albertus Maximus as the 6-5 choice in the Dirt Mile and
fourth in the San Pasqual H. (G2). Well Armed showed much more when runner-up in
the February 8 San Antonio H. (G2) last time out, the same prep used by
Pleasantly Perfect on the way to his World Cup score in 2003. Regular rider
Aaron Gryder will be in the saddle.

Godolphin last won the World Cup with Electrocutionist in 2006, and hopes of
recapturing the trophy rest with MY INDY (Indygo Shiner). A Group 2 winner in
his native Argentina, the bay did not impress in Dubai last year when third in
the U.A.E. Two Thousand Guineas (UAE-G3) and sixth in the U.A.E. Derby (UAE-G2).
This season, however, My Indy is a vastly improved two-for-two. Returning from a
nine-month layoff in Round 1 of the Maktoum Challenge (UAE-G3), he rolled to a 5
3/4-length tally.

Asiatic Boy could give Mike de Kock his first World Cup (Dubai Racing Club/Andrew Watkins)

Although Asiatic Boy was beaten by My Indy two starts back, he is eligible to
turn the tables in their rematch. The Mike de Kock charge was invincible at Nad
al Sheba in 2007, sweeping the U.A.E. Triple Crown by a total of 21 lengths.
Asiatic Boy did not reproduce that form in 2008, but he still managed to outduel
Well Armed for second in the World Cup. Sidelined for 10 months, Asiatic Boy was
in need of a race when clashing with My Indy, and he moved forward off that
effort to garner Round 3 of the Maktoum Challenge at this distance. De Kock has
enjoyed a terrific success rate in Dubai over the years, and it would be no
surprise if Asiatic Boy rounds out his resume with a victory in the World Cup.
Regular partner Johnny Murtagh will be in the irons.

Asiatic Boy is not the only one who can interrupt the narrative of American
shipper versus Godolphin contender. While de Kock is overdue in the World Cup,
so is rising international powerhouse Japan, which dispatches CASINO DRIVE
(Mineshaft). The Kazuo Fujisawa trainee was a devastating victor of the Peter
Pan S. (G2) last year, and might have had a starring role in the Belmont S.
(G1), but for an ill-timed foot bruise. Casino Drive failed to establish his
Grade 1 credentials when a subpar last in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) and a
one-paced sixth in the Japan Cup Dirt (Jpn-G1), but he finally earned his
stripes with a near-miss second in the February S. (Jpn-G1) in record time last
time out. Katsumi Ando makes the trek to stay with the chestnut, a three-quarter
brother to champion Rags to Riches (A.P. Indy).