Cape Verdi attracts 11; Presvis goes in handicap

The fillies and mares take center stage at Friday's third Meydan meeting of

the 2010 Dubai International Racing Carnival, with the $200,000 Cape Verdi

(UAE-G3) attracting a field of 11.

A lot of attention in the about one-mile turf event will sure to be focused on the Mike

de Kock-trained

ZIRCONEUM (Jallad). A Group 1 winner in her native South Africa, she is penalized for

that success as the 129-pound highweight, but is clearly held in high regard and should go close under Kevin Shea.

"She is a nice filly but will come on for the run and, we hope, make into a

(Dubai) World Cup night contender," de Kock said. "The Group 1 penalty makes it

tough but she should go well."

Godolphin trainer Saeed bin Suroor is represented by ASPECTOFLOVE (Danetime), who will be

making her first start for the yard having been a listed winner for John Oxx

last season.

"Obviously she is new to the yard but has been

pleasing us at home," bin Suroor said. "She will be better for the outing but hope for a big run."

The race has a truly international flavor with YANA (Razeen) representing India under Ryan Moore, while

trainer Joanna Morgan, who does well in the UAE, relies on FOURPENNY LANE (Efisio) for Ireland.

Group 2-placed AHLA WASAHL (Dubai Destination), who won a very competitive listed handicap at Ascot in September, represents David Simcock, while

classic-placed VATTENE (Kendor) is a multiple listed winner

representing Italy.

SONEVA (Cherokee Run), a dual French Group 3 winner, will go close in her first start

for Italian Marco Botti. France is also well represented with Group 3 heroine SYNERGY

(Victory Note) and

listed winner CHEYRAC (Smadoun).

Earlier on Friday's card, Luca Cumani's PRESVIS (Sakhee) puts his Dubai World Cup

(UAE-G1) credentials on the line in a

handicap over the same about 1 1/4-mile Tapeta course as the world's richest horse race. He

faces only two rivals in the test.

"If we are going to aim him at

the $10 million Dubai World Cup we need to prove he handles the conditions, and

what better way to do that than in a race over the course and distance,"

assistant trainer Charlie Henson explained. "He seems

to be comfortable on it in the mornings and it would be great to be able to

target the inaugural Meydan Dubai World Cup."

Presvis opened his five-year-old season with a victory in this same event

last year when it was run over Nad al Sheba's turf, went on to take another turf

handicap over that same course, and finished second in the Dubai Duty Free

(UAE-G1). He added a victory in the Queen Elizabeth II Cup (HK-G1) at Sha Tin to

his line before posting runner-up efforts in the Singapore Airlines

International Cup (Mal-G1) and the Churchill S. Presvis ended his 2009 campaign

with a third in the Hong Kong Cup (HK-G1).

The two most successful trainers in Dubai International Racing Carnival

history, bin Suroor and de Kock, saddle

ALLYBAR (King's Best) and ZULU CHIEF (Fusaichi Pegasus), respectively, in opposition.

CITY LEADER (Fasliyev) is considered doubtful for the race.