Indian star In the Spotlight among Dubai Carnival runners

Horses from 21 countries, including 26 International Group 1 winners, have

been accepted for the Dubai World Cup Carnival which gets underway on January 10

at Meydan Racecourse.

The first flights, bearing more than 60 horses, touched down from Europe and

Singapore during the Christmas week and a further 70 horses are due to arrive in

the first week of January.

The list of equine stars features high-profile racehorses including India's

highly-regarded filly, In the Spotlight, who claimed an Indian classic at every

racing center in the country including Bangalore, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Kolkata and

Pune, before traveling to Dubai.

Conditioned by S. Padmanabhan, In the Spotlight is slated to have her first

Dubai World Carnival start in a handicap on January 17, when she will race for

the first time on a left-handed course as well as against truly international

competition.

Back for a second season is Singapore-based trainer Steven Burridge, who

enjoyed great success on his debut season in Dubai in 2012. Burridge, who

claimed four winners from 11 runs, is set to saddle four horses this season,

including Benji's Empire, Devil's Cut, Freezemaster and Tiger Stripes.

The Dubai World Cup Carnival culminates with the March 30 Dubai World Cup,

the richest day of racing in the world, which carries $27.25 million in prize

purses. In total the Dubai World Cup Carnival and Dubai World Cup day are worth

$37.36 million in prize money.

"The start of the Dubai World Cup Carnival is fast approaching and excitement

is building as more and more contenders arrive at Meydan Racecourse ahead of the

January 10 start date," said Martin Talty, international manager of the Dubai

Racing Club. "One of the most pleasing aspects so far is not only the numbers

and the truly global reach of the Dubai World Cup Carnival, but also the quality

of horses, which continue to improve year on year.

"While many trainers specifically target particular races in the Dubai World

Cup Carnival, it is also fascinating to watch progressive horses that improve so

much during the 10 meetings that they ultimately earn a place in a race on Dubai

World Cup day."

Last year Krypton Factor won the Group 1 Dubai Golden Shaheen on Dubai World

Cup day after progressing through the highly-regarded Dubai World Cup Carnival

sprint races. The Fawzi Nass charge is set to defend his crown this season with

his first start likely to be in the February 14 Group 3 Al Shindagha Sprint.

The Dubai World Cup Carnival also sees Pearl Bloodstock, the owners of 2012

Group 1 Caulfield Cup winner and 2011 Group 1 Melbourne Cup and Group 1 Hong

Kong Vase victor, Dunaden, cheering on their first Dubai runners. Side Glance,

Dubawi Sound and King Air have all been accepted to the three-month long

festival of racing.

Pat Shanahan, a familiar face at the Dubai World Cup Carnival as a jockey,

returns to try his hand from the ground as trainer with Chicago, My Special J's

and Colliding Worlds all accepted.

Another rider-turned-trainer, Jessica Harrington, a former eventer who

achieved a third at the world-renowned Badminton Horse Trails, saddles her first

Dubai runner, Bob Le Beau.

To see the list of accepted horses for the 2013 Dubai World Cup Carnival,

please click

here (note that is a working database which is subject to change).

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