Dubai World Cup day nominations announced

U.A.E. Derby winner Toast of New York is nominated to the World Cup this year (Andrew Watkins/Dubai Racing Club) For several months this winter, trainer Kenny McPeek had what was thought to be a formidable 1-2 punch in Repent (Louis Quatorze) and Harlan’s Holiday (Harlan). Until the latter failed as the lukewarm favorite in the Kentucky Derby (G1), McPeek held a huge trump card, even though Repent missed the classics with an injury. What a difference a day, or days, or weeks, makes. Take your pick. Flash forward five weeks, and the Lexington, Kentucky, native finally earned a classic, this coming in the $1 million Belmont S. (G1) with the overlooked SARAVA (Wild Again), who was guided to a sterling half-length upset score beneath Edgar Prado. All of this occurred just days after Harlan’s Holiday was switched to trainer Todd Pletcher in New York. War Emblem (Our Emblem), bidding to become the 12th Triple Crown winner, stumbled badly at the break, nearly unseating jockey Victor Espinoza, and had to be rushed toward the leaders. Though the Bob Baffert trainee was eventually able to grab the lead in the far turn after being under stout restraint early, the misfortune at the break had to have taken some toll. By the time the 11 horses reached the stretch, it was clear a Triple Crown would have to wait.

A star studded cast of the world’s best racehorses of 2014 highlight the
nominations for the 2015 Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1), the 20th running of the
world’s richest race.

Of the current 20 highest-rated Thoroughbreds in the world that remain in
training 13 feature among the 2,142 nominations from 19 countries for the
meeting on March 28, including the highest rated horses from Japan, Hong Kong,
Great Britain and the United States.

The $10 million Dubai World Cup attracted 296 nominations made notable by the
presence of the first seven over the line in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic
(G1) which includes Horse of the Year California Chrome (Lucky Pulpit), U.A.E.
Derby (UAE-G2) winner Toast of New York (Thewayyouare) and Belmont S. (G1)
winner Tonalist (Tapit).

Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) winner Bayern (Offlee Wild) attempts to give trainer
Bob Baffert a third Dubai World Cup success following Silver Charm in 1998 and
Captain Steve in 2001.

Also among the list is dual champion Main Sequence (Aldebaran) trained by Graham
Motion, who prepared Animal Kingdom to win the Dubai World Cup in 2013.

Japanese stars also dominate, with many holding multiple nominations for the
three richest races on the big day, the $6 million Dubai Sheema Classic (UAE-G1)
at 2400 meters, the newly-named $6 million Dubai Turf (UAE-G1) over 1900 meters
and the 2000-meter Dubai World Cup.

The Katsuhiko Sumii-trained Epiphaneia (Symboli Kris S), the highest-rated horse
in training, holds a Dubai World Cup nomination for owners U Carrot Farm. It was
Sumii who was responsible for the 2011 Dubai World Cup victory of Victoire Pisa
and he is preparing his Japan Cup (Jpn-G1) winner for another tilt at the race,
although the horse also holds nominations for the Dubai Sheema Classic and the
Dubai Turf.

Gold Ship (Stay Gold), the Takarazuka Kinen (Jpn-G1) star trained by Naosuke
Sugai, is also on the list from Japan, as is Japanese Derby (Jpn-G1) winner One
and Only (Heart’s Cry) and Japanese One Thousand Guineas (Jpn-G1) winner Harp
Star (Deep Impact), who represent Japan’s 2014 classic generation.

Hong Kong was responsible for the two sprint winners on Dubai World Cup day last
season and trainer John Moore, who won the $2 million Dubai Golden Shaheen
(UAE-G1) with Sterling City, looks to hold a strong hand with the world’s best
miler, 2014 Hong Kong Mile (HK-G1) victor Able Friend (Shamardal), on the list
for the Dubai Turf, as well as Hong Kong Cup (HK-G1) winner Designs on Rome.
(Holy Roman Emperor). Second in that race, Military Attack (Oratorio), has also
been nominated.

Peniaphobia (Dandy Man), the Tony Cruz-trained sprinter who won
the 2014 Jockey Club Sprint (HK-G2) as well as the recent Centenary Sprint, has
also been nominated for the Dubai Golden Shaheen. Hong Kong Sprint (HK-G1)
winner Aerovelocity (Pins), trained by Paul O’Sullivan, has also been nominated
for both the Dubai Golden Shaheen and the $1 million Al Quoz Sprint (UAE-G1).

Godolphin is well represented across the board by both Charlie Appleby and the
2014 Dubai World Cup winning trainer Saeed bin Suroor, as is Dubai World Cup
Carnival regular Mike de Kock. Sir Fever (Texas Fever) represents an interesting
new recruit for Appleby. The multiple Uruguayan Group 1 winner has been
nominated for the Dubai World Cup as well as the Dubai Sheema Classic, Dubai
Turf and the U.A.E. Derby. Meanwhile, bin Suroor has nominated his 2014 winner,
African Story (Pivotal), for a defense of his title.

Bet Horseracing Free Online at TwinSpires.com