O’Brien well represented as Dubai World Cup meeting entries revealed
The John and Thady Gosden-trained Lord North (Dubawi) will face stablemate Nashwa (Frankel), and the Aidan O’Brien-trained pair Luxembourg (Camelot), who was runner-up in the Hong Kong Cup (Gr 1, 2000m), and Irish 2,000 Guineas (Gr 1, 1m) runner-up Cairo (Quality Road) when he bids for a record-extending fourth success in the US$5 million (approx. AU$7.64 million) Dubai Turf (Gr 1, 1800m) at Meydan.
The eight-year-old has won the last three runnings of the race under Frankie Dettori, who will again be aboard, and has raced only once since last year’s success when second in last month’s Winter Derby (Gr 3, 1m 3f) at Southwell in February.
Last-start Arima Kinen (Gr 1, 2500m) winner Do Deuce (Heart’s Cry) and Godolphin’s Measured Time (Frankel), who was a comfortable winner of the Jebel Hatta (Gr 1, 1800m) on his most recent outing, currently head the market.
Europe’s champion three-year-old Auguste Rodin (Deep Impact), who was kept in training by Coolmore this year and the O’Brien-trained four-year-old makes his first start of the campaign in the US$6 million (approx. AU$9.17 million) Sheema Classic (Gr 1, 2400m), where he is joined by stablemate Point Lonsdale (Australia).
Successful four times at the highest level last year, including in the Epsom Derby (Gr 1, 1m 4f) and Breeders’ Cup Turf (Gr 1, 12f), the Deep Impact (Sunday Silence) colt’s clash with Japan’s fillies’ Triple Crown winner Liberty Island (Duramente) – who is out of Australian dual Group 1 winner Yankee Rose (All American) – is one of the highlights of the US$30.5 million (approx. AU$46.63 million) meeting.
Britain will have two notable Sheema Classic contenders in high-class mare Emily Upjohn (Sea The Stars) and Spirit Dancer (Frankel), while there will be no British runners in the US$12 million (approx. AU$18.34 million) Dubai World Cup (Gr 1, 2000m), in which last year’s winner Ushba Tesoro (Orfevre) will look to reverse form from last month’s Saudi Cup (Gr 1, 1800m) with Senor Buscador (Mineshaft).
In the Al Quoz Sprint (Gr 1, 1200m), Diligent Harry (Due Diligence), Emaraaty Ana (Shamardal) and Frost At Dawn (Frosted) will face off against Hong Kong raiders California Spangle (Starspangledbanner) and Sight Success (Magnus).
The Dubai Gold Cup (Gr 2, 3200m) will see British-based runners Coltrane (Mastercraftsman), Eldar Eldarov (Dubawi), Giavellotto (Mastercraftsman), Trawlerman (Golden Horn), Enemy (Muhaarar), and Roberto Escobarr (Galileo) take on O’Brien’s Tower Of London (Galileo) and the Andre Fabre-trained Sober (Camelot).
Finally, Ballydoyle pair Henry Adams (No Nay Never) and Navy Seal (Dubawi) feature in the UAE Derby (Gr 2, 1900m) and Swing Vote (Shamardal) will take on US raider Saudi Crown (Always Dreaming) in the Godolphin Mile (Gr 2, 1600m) for trainers Simon and Ed Crisford.