Dubai World Cup attracts its own 'Sweet 16'

Dubai World Cup attracts its

own 'Sweet 16'

Hong Kong's duo is led by Horse of the Year Military Attack, who comes off a

dynamic repeat victory in the February 23 Hong Kong Gold Cup. Compatriot Akeed

Mofeed was only fifth that day, but boasts major wins in last year's Hong Kong

Derby and Hong Kong Cup.

Japan is likewise double-handed with Belshazzar and Hokko Tarumae. Belshazzar

garnered the December 1 Japan Cup Dirt, beating Hokko Tarumae in third, but the

form was reversed last time in the February Stakes. Hokko Tarumae finished a

close second, and Belshazzar a rallying third in that one-mile affair, and both

bring solid credentials to their first start outside of Japan.

Godolphin trainer Saeed bin Suroor, who has won the World Cup a record five

times, is back with two chances. Prince Bishop swept the last two local preps,

Round 2 and Round 3 of the Maktoum Challenge. Stablemate African Story, a

three-time Group winner on the Meydan Tapeta in the past, looks to turn the

tables after a second in Round 2 and a subpar eighth in Round 3. Both Prince

Bishop and African Story were unplaced in their previous World Cup bids,

however.

Also exiting the Maktoum Challenge Round 3 are Sanshaawes, Surfer and Cat

O'Mountain, who rounded out the top four behind Prince Bishop. Sanshaawes was a

better-than-appears second from an unfavorable post that day. Group 1-placed in

his native South Africa, the Mike de Kock charge had won two straight handicaps

in his prior starts, including one over the World Cup course and distance. The

Satish Seemar-trained Surfer also deserves credit for his commendable third in

Round 3 from a similarly bad draw.

Cat O'Mountain is one of two from the yard of Charlie Appleby, now in his

second season as a trainer for Godolphin. The lightly-raced synthetic specialist

will be joined by turf performer Vancouverite, runner-up in the Jebel Hatta in

his Dubai bow.

Post positions for the World Cup, and the other Group 1s on the Saturday

card, will be drawn Wednesday.

The Fugue, Dank, Japan's Just a Way and de Kock's Vercingetorix are among the

headliners in the Group 1, $5 million Dubai Duty Free at about nine furlongs on

turf. Trained by John Gosden, The Fugue has suffered heartbreaks in two straight

Breeders' Cups, and most recently encountered trouble when upset by Dominant in

the December 8 Hong Kong Vase. At one time under serious consideration for the

World Cup, the hard-luck mare instead shortens up for this assignment. Dank had

better fortune at Santa Anita, wrapping up an Eclipse Award in the Breeders' Cup

Filly & Mare Turf, and seeks to continue her current streak for Sir Michael

Stoute.

Just a Way has won his last two by daylight, drubbing

Gentildonna in the Tenno Sho Autumn last October and prepping for Dubai with a

comfortable victory in the March 2 Nakayama Kinen. Fellow Japanese shipper

Logotype was a comeback third at Nakayama, and has plenty of back class as his

country's champion two-year-old colt and record-setting classic winner of the

Satsuki Sho last April. Rounding out Japan's contingent is Tokei Halo, who

notably split Akeed Mofeed and Cirrus des Aigles in the Hong Kong Cup two starts

ago.

Complicate and Jamesie were a solid third and fourth,

respectively, in the Mahab al Shimaal, while also-rans Balmont Mast, Russian

Soul (who adds blinkers here), Nawwaar, Bello and United Color must all move

forward considerably to take a hand.

Zayat Stables' Zee Bros, who wasn't able to draw into the Mahab

al Shimaal, instead had to prep on turf in the Meydan Sprint. In contention

before retreating to 11th, he should perhaps be judged instead on his

respectable fourth at this track and trip February 27. That handicap marked his

Dubai debut for Seth Benzel, and it wouldn't be a shock if he goes even better

this time. Sophomore My Catch also warmed up in the Meydan Sprint, checking in

seventh.

South African ambassador Shea Shea, who returned from a layoff

to take the Meydan Sprint for the second straight year, looms large in his title

defense in the Group 1, $1 million Al Quoz Sprint at about five grassy furlongs.

The de Kock veteran will renew rivalry with several others from the Meydan

Sprint, including near-miss runner-up Ahtoug, third Dux Scholar and fourth Sole

Power, his familiar foe who is sure to improve off the tightener.

The evergreen Joy and Fun, now 11 years old by Northern

Hemisphere reckoning, will be making his fourth trip to Meydan from Hong Kong.

The winner of the 2010 Al Quoz, he was third in 2012 and runner-up to Shea Shea

in 2013.

Hong Kong flyer Amber Sky is the one to catch, and Berlino di

Tiger, a Brazilian champion who is based in the United States with Eduardo

Caramori, also promises to turn on the speed. Catcall, Hamza, Medicean Man, Beat

Baby and Jebel Ali regular Sholaan are also slated to compete.

Bin Suroor's team comprises Emirates Flyer, best of the rest in

both the Guineas and Al Bastakiya, and Australian-bred Paximadia, who's entitled

to do better than his seventh in the Guineas in his Meydan premiere. Appleby

also fields two contenders, with Guineas fourth Safety Check joining Long John

in the gate. The other Carnival regular, Jallota, faces a tall task for de Kock.

Argentinean Group 1 star Cooptado, third versus older horses in

last December's Gran Premio Carlos Pellegrini, is now based in Dubai with Doug

Watson. But the four-year-old didn't get a prep in, and it remains to be seen

how he's acclimated. British raider Sir Jack Layden was a close third in the

September 28 Royal Lodge at Newmarket in his seasonal finale, and French

stakes-placed King Rubi captured a conditions race at Chantilly on March 14.

Godolphin's Cavalryman looks tough to beat in his title defense

in the Group 2, $1 million Dubai Gold Cup over two miles on turf. A decisive

three-length winner last year, the bin Suroor veteran tuned up with a course

record-setting romp in the March 1 Nad al Sheba Trophy. His beaten rivals Star

Empire (second), Certerach (third), Simenon (fifth), Moment in Time (seventh)

and Saddler's Rock (11th) appear up against it in the rematch.

New shooters who deserve a look are three-time Canadian

International hero Joshua Tree, who was second in the inaugural Dubai Gold Cup

in 2012; Songcraft, who steps up to a marathon trip after a photo-finish loss to

Excellent Result in the City of Gold; the Aga Khan's homebred Dabadiyan, fifth

in that same race; France's Now We Can; Germany's Seismos; and O'Brien's Ernest

Hemingway.

The Thoroughbred stakes action on World Cup night begins with

the Group 2, $1 million Godolphin Mile on Tapeta. Defending champion Soft

Falling Rain faces a tougher group this time around for de Kock, including

two-time South African Horse of the Year Variety Club and Godolphin's

horse-for-the-course Shuruq.

Variety Club was mightily impressive in the February 13

Firebreak over this metric mile, but in the March 8 Burj Nahaar, he was upended

by the filly Shuruq. Previously the first distaffer to win Round 1 of the

Maktoum Challenge on opening night of the Carnival, Shuruq also rates as the

first to beat males in the Burj Nahaar. Variety Club's chances of revenge took a

hit when drawing post 15 of 16 in the Godolphin Mile.

Of the rest, British-based globetrotter Mull of Killough sports

smart form at this distance, Penitent is capable on his day, Flotilla hopes that

a surface switch helps to recapture her old sparkle, Japan's Brightline was a

useful fifth in the February Stakes, and such Carnival regulars as Elleval,

Capital Attraction and Haatheq could make their presence felt.

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