African Story could make Dubai World Cup history

Saturday's $10 million Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1), the

20th running of the world's richest horse race, is already guaranteed a place

in the history books as the first renewal to be contested on dirt at Meydan.

However, more historic value could be added with last

year's hero, Godolphin's African Story (Pivotal), bidding to become the first dual

winner of the race and a seventh for trainer Saeed bin Suroor.

To clarify, bin Suroor's charge is actually only the second horse to seek a

second victory in the 2000-meter contest after Silver Charm landed the prize in 1998

but was well beaten the following year.

Three of bin Suroor's previous Dubai World Cup winners landed the Al Maktoum

Challenge Round 3 on their way to victory in the crowning glory of the UAE

season, as did African Story this year -- on Super Saturday three weeks ago.

He was chased home on that occasion by stablemate Prince Bishop (Dubawi) and

bin Suroor is clearly looking forward to Saturday's big race.

"African Story won this last year on the all-weather and proved he can win on

dirt on Super Saturday," the trainer said. "With good horses like him, the

surface really makes less difference as the best horses will handle any surface.

"He has a nice draw in 3, while Prince Bishop, from stall 1, will

hopefully break better than he has the last twice."