"My hat's off to whoever orchestrated all this," Blasi said, praising the Janah Management Co. Ltd. of Newmarket, England, which dispatched skilled traveling groom Chris Webster to help tend to Curlin.

Blasi said Curlin is scheduled to breeze early next week before his prep race, which will be contested at about 1 1/4 miles. Jockey Robby Albarado is due to arrive in Dubai on February 26, and trainer Steve Asmussen, who sent out the 4,000th winner of his career on Sunday at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Arkansas, will arrive the following day.

Another significant Dubai arrival is YOUMZAIN (Sinndar), whose major goal is the $5 million Dubai Sheema Classic (UAE-G1) on World Cup night. Ranked as the world's second best turf horse still in training, the English-based campaigner shipped in Monday.

Third in last year's about 1 1/2-mile turf showpiece, the Mick Channon charge has since gone on to record second-place finishes in Europe's two premier middle distance races. Youmzain was beaten four lengths by Dylan Thomas (Ire) in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S. (Eng-G1) at Ascot in July before agonizingly going down by a head to the same horse in October's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (Fr-G1). Those efforts saw the now five-year old given a rating of 124, according to the 2007 World Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings, which sees only Soldier of Fortune (Galileo [Ire]) ahead of him at 125.

Channon believes he is set to improve on last year's Dubai Sheema Classic result, when he was beaten home by Hong Kong's Vengeance of Rain and Mike De Kock's Oracle West (SAf) (Western Winter).

"We've gone over earlier this year and that should help," the horseman said. "It's likely we'll go straight for the big race but not out of the question that we'll give him a prep run in the City of Gold ([UAE-G3] on March 6). We'll see how he is once he's settled in Dubai."

Channon is preparing a major raid on World Cup night with his other horses, reserving particular praise for Youmzain's traveling companion, the Group 1-winning filly MAJESTIC ROI (Street Cry [Ire]).

"She's being aimed at the Dubai Duty Free (UAE-G1) and she will love the ground over there," Channon said. "It's right up her street and will suit her. She's a high class filly who improved a lot last year and I've got no concerns that she can hold her own in the top company that will no doubt line up in the Dubai Duty Free."

The former England soccer captain also has hopes of getting HALICARNASSUS (Cape Cross [Ire]) and SWEET LILLY (Tobougg [Ire]) into races on World Cup night.