Record 288 entries for Dubai World Cup

The Dubai Racing Club announced Sunday that it has received a record number

of

288 entries for the 2010 Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1), scheduled for March 27 at the

newly unveiled Meydan Racecourse.

At the closure of the free entry stage on January 13, a total of 1,951

entries have been received from 23 countries for the entire eight-race

program, highlighted by the 15th running of the $10 million Dubai World Cup.

The Dubai World Cup, run for the first time on an all weather surface,

Tapeta, attracted the highest number of nominations in its history, dual Eclipse

Award winner GIO PONTI (Tale of the Cat) and two-time Japanese Horse of the Year VODKA

(Tanino Gimlet) prominent among the

entries received. The latter leads a powerful contingent from Japan which also

includes the dual Classic winner and champion three-year-old filly BUENA VISTA

(Special Week),

Japan Cup Dirt (Jpn-G1) winner ESPOIR CITY (Gold Allure) and SUCCESS BROCKEN (Symboli

Kris S).

GLORIA DE CAMPEAO (Brz) (Impression) also returns for a third Dubai campaign hoping to go one

better than his second placing to Well Armed (Tiznow) last year, while Godolphin's REGAL

RANSOM (Distorted Humor) is among 34 entries from the stable and aiming to become the first horse

to win the Dubai World Cup 12 months after a U.A.E. Derby (UAE-G2) success. Hong Kong Cup

(HK-G1) first and second VISION D'ETAT (Chichicastenango) and COLLECTION (Peintre

Celebre) are also among the early entries.

The Dubai World Cup's 288 entries come from 82 trainers and 15 countries,

Saeed bin Suroor (34 entries) with the most number of nominations and one of

seven trainers having tasted Dubai World Cup success previously, the others

being Kiaran McLaughlin (four entries), Bill Mott (two), Steve Asmussen (one),

Bob Baffert (seven), Eoin Harty (one), Sir Michael Stoute (two).

Among this year's entries for the $5 million Dubai Duty Free (UAE-G1) are

the top three from the 2009 renewal -- GLADIATORUS (Silic [Fr]), PRESVIS (Sakhee) and

ALEXANDROS (Kingmambo). The three, along with the highly rated COURAGEOUS CAT

(Storm Cat), are among a

massive 400 entries from 19 countries.

The Dubai Duty Free and the $5 million Dubai Sheema Classic

(UAE-G1) traditionally attract a strong level of international entries, and this year

proves no different. Like the Dubai Duty Free, those prominent in the 2009 Dubai Sheema Classic are again among the entries for this year's renewal which has

attracted 242 nominations from 17 countries. The first seven home in 2009 are

all aimed at the race in 2010, as are PRESIOUS PASSION (Royal Anthem) from the

United States and Europe's

outstanding filly DAR RE MI (GB) (Singspiel [Ire]).

The Dubai Golden Shaheen (UAE-G1) has long been the domain of horses from the

United States

since 2000, and Breeders Cup Sprint (G1) winner DANCING IN SILKS (Black

Minnaloushe) spearheads the American entries. In all, the Golden Shaheen has

attracted 205 entries from 16 countries. Japan's LAUREL GUERREIRO (King Halo) and Australia's unbeaten filly BLACK CAVIAR

(Bel Esprit) will be attempting to halt

American dominance of this race. Richard Mandella, trainer of the 2004 Dubai

World Cup winner Pleasantly Perfect, also has his eye on this race, with his

charge CROWN OF THORNS (Repent) entered here. For the first time this year, the Dubai

Golden Shaheen will be run around a bend.

The addition to the program of the Al Quoz Sprint (SAf-G3) on the turf is proving to be

extremely popular, with the race receiving 202 entries from 16 countries. ALL

SILENT (Belong to Me), BLACK CAVIAR, TURFFONTEIN (Johannesburg) and GOLD TRAIL (Hussonet) are among a powerful group of

15 from Australia while Singapore's star ROCKET MAN (Viscount) and Hong Kong champion

SACRED KINGDOM (Encosta de Lago) are also entered. Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint winner CALIFORNIA

FLAG (Avenue of Flags), the globetrotting CANNONBALL (Catienus), Prix de l'Abbaye

(Fr-G1) winner TOTAL GALLERY (Namid) and

the outstanding South African OUR GIANT (Giant's Causeway) are also included.

Baffert and owner Mike Pegram have tasted Dubai World Cup success with

Captain Steve and their LOOKIN AT LUCKY (Smart Strike), winner of the Eclipse Award for

champion two-year-old male of 2009 heads the 173 entries for the $2 million

U.A.E. Derby. Godolphin's bin Suroor and South Africa's Mike de Kock

remain the only trainers to have prepared winners of the U.A.E. Derby and

unsurprisingly, both are well represented again. Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) winner

VALE OF YORK (Ire) (Invincible Spirit) heads Godolphin's 18 strong entry, while South Africa's

champion

two-year-old of last season, MUSIR (Redoute's Choice), is one of six entries from

de Kock.

Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) winner FURTHEST LAND (Smart Strike) heads a

61-strong American entry for

the $1 million Godolphin Mile (UAE-G2), those entries among a total of 370

received from 16 countries. GAYEGO (Gilded Time), second in the race last year, and stablemate

MIDSHIPMAN (Unbridled's Song) are prominent among powerful entries from the UAE.

The $250,000 Dubai Kahayla Classic for the purebred Arabians has

attracted a total of 71 entries, among them the winners of the two previous runnings in MIZZNA and FRYVOLOUS.

For a full list of nominations, please

visit www.dubairacingclub.com