Dubai Racing Club releases likely fields for World Cup night

On Monday, the Board of the Dubai Racing Club announced the likely fields for

the March 27 Dubai World Cup program at Meydan Racecourse. For the complete list

of projected runners in each race, along with their trainers and countries

represented,

click here.

Dual Eclipse Award winner GIO PONTI (Tale of the Cat) spearheads a full

14-horse field expected for the meeting's signature race, the $10 million Dubai

World Cup (UAE-G1). The about 1 1/4-mile event, which was formerly held on the

dirt at Nad al Sheba, will be contested over the Tapeta surface at the new,

state-of-the-art Meydan for the first time.

Runner-up to Zenyatta (Street Cry [Ire]) in the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1)

over Santa Anita's Pro-Ride two back, Gio Ponti is coming off a photo-finish

upset at the hands of Karelian (Bertrando) in the grassy Tampa Bay S.

The Christophe Clement charge is one of four American-based contenders in the World

Cup.

Champion S. (Eng-G1) winner TWICE OVER (GB) (Observatory), third to Zenyatta

and Gio Ponti in the Breeders' Cup Classic, leads the three-pronged British

team. GITANO HERNANDO (GB) (Hernando [Fr]), winner of the Goodwood S. (G1) last

fall and the Winter Derby Trial in his latest, and Group 1 veteran CROWDED HOUSE

(Rainbow Quest) will also fly the Union Jack.

France has two prime World Cup candidates. Multiple Group 1 star VISION

D'ETAT (Chichicastenango), last seen landing the Hong Kong Cup (HK-G1), would be

making his synthetic debut, while GLORIA DE CAMPEAO (Brz) (Impression)

captured the Maktoum Challenge Round 1 (UAE-G3) here in January.

Japan lost a key contender in the recently-retired Vodka, but its rooting

interests are still very much alive with Grade 1 queen RED DESIRE (Manhattan

Cafe), who got up to deny Gloria de Campeao in the Maktoum Challenge Round 3

(UAE-G2) at this track and trip.

The $5 million Dubai Sheema Classic (UAE-G1) at about 1 1/2 grassy miles

lures the respective second, third and fourth-place finishers from the Breeders'

Cup Turf (G1) -- PRESIOUS PASSION (Royal Anthem), DAR RE MI (GB) (Singspiel

[Ire]) and SPANISH MOON (El Prado [Ire]). Front-runner extraordinaire Presious

Passion, America's lone flagbearer in the Sheema Classic, comes off a repeat

victory in the Mac Diarmida S. (G2). Dar Re Mi has not raced since the Turf.

Spanish Moon has competed once in the interim, getting mugged on the line in the

Hong Kong Vase (HK-G1) in December.

Three-time Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (Fr-G1) runner-up YOUMZAIN (Sinndar),

10th in the Hong Kong Vase last out, will be trying the Sheema for the fourth

straight year. Third in 2007, the Mick Channon trainee was fifth in 2008 and

fourth in 2009. Grand Prix de Paris (Fr-G1) hero CAVALRYMAN (Halling), third to

Sea the Stars and Youmzain in the Arc two starts ago, reverts to turf after a

seventh when testing Tapeta in the Maktoum Challenge Round 3. Dual Japanese

classic winner and champion BUENA VISTA (Special Week) stayed at home to prep,

driving to victory in a hot renewal of the Kyoto Kinen (Jpn-G2).

COURAGEOUS CAT (Storm Cat), a gallant second to Goldikova (Ire) (Anabaa) in

the Breeder's Cup Mile (G1), is set to line up in the $5 million Dubai Duty Free

(UAE-G1) at about 1 1/8 miles on the turf. The Bill Mott pupil kicked off his

2010 campaign with a score in the Canadian Turf S. (G3). Also on the Duty Free

list is Breeders' Cup Mile third-placer JUSTENUFFHUMOR (Distorted Humor), who

has disappointed in his two runs at Meydan so far for Godolphin. Hollywood Derby

(G1) winner THE USUAL Q. T. (Unusual Heat) and E.P. Taylor S. (Can-G1) shocker

LAHALEEB (Ire) (Redback) round out the contenders with North American form on

the books.

The respective runner-up and third-place finishers from the 2009 Duty Free,

PRESVIS (Sakhee) and ALEXANDROS (Kingmambo), will be looking to improve this

time. Presvis just blew by Alexandros in the local prep, the Jebel Hatta

(UAE-G2). BANKABLE (Medicean), fifth in this race last year, comes off a

thrilling decision over IMBONGI (Russian Revival) in the Al Fahidi Fort

(UAE-G2). Adding further international flavor is GOOD BA BA (Lear Fan),

three-time winner of the Hong Kong Mile (HK-G1) but fourth when stretching out

to about 1 1/4 miles in the Hong Kong Gold Cup (HK-G1) in his latest..

The lone American-based Golden Shaheen candidate is the up-and-coming KINSALE KING (Yankee

Victor), who has landed the Palos Verdes H. (G2) and Vernon O. Underwood S. (G3)

in his past two for Carl O'Callaghan. Singapore sensation ROCKET MAN (Viscount),

Australian speedster EAGLE FALLS (Hussonet), Japan's LAUREL GUERREIRO (King

Halo), Hong Kong's ONE WORLD (Danehill) and the British duo of REGAL PARADE

(Pivotal) and BENBAUN (Stravinsky) make for a truly cosmopolitan affair.

The $2 million U.A.E. Derby (UAE-G2) features the first clash between South

African champion MUSIR (Redoute's Choice) and Godolphin's American Triple Crown

nominee MENDIP (Harlan's Holiday). Musir impressed in the first leg of the Dubai

Triple Crown, the U.A.E. Two Thousand Guineas (UAE-G3), where he convincingly

handled Godolphin's FROZEN POWER (Oasis Dream [GB]). The de Kock pupil skipped

the middle leg, the Al Bastakiya, which Mendip won in a romp from DELLA BARBA

(Della Francesca) and ENAK (Orpen).

Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) upsetter VALE OF YORK (Ire) (Invincible Spirit),

who could manage only fifth in the Al Bastakiya, will look to improve off that

tightener for Godolphin. U.A.E. One Thousand Guineas heroine SIYAADAH (Shamardal),

a well-beaten third to Raihana in the Oaks, is another hoping for a rebound in

this spot.

Godolphin's Grade 2 star DESERT PARTY (Street Cry [Ire]) tops the list of

probables for the $1 million Godolphin Mile (UAE-G2). The Saeed bin Suroor

trainee, who had been sidelined by injury since his subpar 14th in last year's

Kentucky Derby (G1), reappeared to capture the Mahab al Shimaal (UAE-G3) in fine

fashion. Among his projected rivals are CAT JUNIOR (Storm Cat), GREEN COAST

(Green Desert) and CALMING INFLUENCE (Ire) (King's Best), the respective top

three from the Burj Nahaar (UAE-G3), the course-and-distance prep; Japanese

shipper GLORIOUS NOAH (Precise End); and the respective second and third from

the Zabeel Mile (UAE-G2) on turf, KALAHARI GOLD (Trans Island) and SUMMIT SURGE

(Noverre).

Multiple South African Group 1 star OUR GIANT (Giant's Causeway), from the

ever-dangerous de Kock yard, merits respect in his Dubai debut. Lennox S.

(Eng-G2) winner FINJAAN (Royal Applause [GB]) and French veteran MARIOL (Munir)

invade from Europe, while the redoubtable English veteran JUDD STREET (Compton

Place) boasts a brave score over STAR CROWNED (Kingmambo) in a prep over the

Meydan straight. Godolphin's SIROCCO BREEZE (Green Desert) jumps up in class,

and switches surfaces, off two smart wins in Tapeta handicaps, and TERRIFIC

CHALLENGE (Royal Academy) wheels back off a coup in the Jebel Ali Sprint on the

dirt.

The first race on World Cup night is the $250,000 Dubai Kahayla Classic for

Purebred Arabians.