With $21m on offer on Saturday night, it’s little wonder that the Dubai World Cup meeting has become one of the most prestigious fixtures of the year. But it’s not simply about money, the equine athletes, assembled from all corners of the racing world, ensure that the fields for the six Group races provide an evening of top-class international action.
Godolphin have been at the forefront of the action during Dubai’s International Racing Carnival this spring with a glut of winners which will have pleased Sheikh Mohammed, who is the driving force behind the Dubai World Cup meeting.
Among their Darley-sired runners engaged on Saturday are the Prix de Diane (French Oaks) heroine West Wind (Machiavellian) and Creachadoir, who was last seen in action in December when missing out on the Hong Kong Mile by a short head to Good Ba Ba, who has since added another two G1 victories to his impressive CV.
Creachadoir, by King's Best, made a superb start to his three-year-old season last year when winning the G3 Leopardstown Guineas Trial before adding to his Classic preparation with victory in the G3 Tetrarch Stakes at the Curragh. He missed out on Classic glory when half a length second to Astronomer Royal in the Poule d’Essai des Poulains (French 2,000 Guineas) and filled the same slot in the Irish Guineas when runner-up to Cockney Rebel.
Creachadoir will make his reappearance for Godolphin in the G1 Dubai Duty Free over 1777m (approximately nine furlongs) in which he will face Cape Cross' seven-time G1-winning daughter Seachange, who was bred and is trained in New Zealand. Also in the line-up is Majestic Roi, by Street Cry, who closed out a successful 2007 with victory in the G1 Sun Chariot Stakes at Newmarket. Like Creachadoir, this is her first run of the year but the rangey filly will doubtless arrive primed to the minute by trainer Mick Channon, who has been a keen supporter of the Carnival.
Fellow British-trained filly Gower Song (Singspiel) will certainly not lack desert experience as she has already had four runs at Nad Al Sheba this spring, culminating in her win in the G3 Dubai City Of Gold on 6 March. She has earned prize-money from each of her races this year and her owner Kevin Mercer of Usk Valley Stud will be eagerly awaiting her start in the mile-and-a-half G1 Sheema Classic. In opposition will be the aforementioned West Wind and Gravitas, by Mark Of Esteem.
Green Desert five-year-old Mutamarres has been based with Doug Watson in Dubai since leaving Sir Michael Stoute’s yard in 2006. His hat-trick of wins in February this year was highlighted by Listed success in the Al Quoz Sprint which sets him up for his attempt at the six-furlong G1 Golden Shaheen for owner/breeder Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum.
Green Desert and Doug Watson are also represented in the G2 Godolphin Mile by Green Coast, a beautifully bred individual, whose granddam Wijdan is a half-sister to Unfuwain, Nashwan and Nayef. Two sons of Darley America stallion Elusive Quality also hold entries. Elusive Warning was a last start winner when claiming the G3 Burj Nahaar from Godolphin’s Blackat Blackitten while Gerard Butler runs dual winner and Listed place-getter Baharah.
Another Darley America stallion Kafwain will be represented by a Stakes-winning member of his first crop, Massive Drama, who is set to run in the G2 UAE Derby. The three-year-old colt has been running well on America’s west coast all winter with a G3 victory in the Hollywood Prevue Stakes in November followed up by three placed efforts at Graded level over seven, eight and nine furlongs at Hollywood Park and Santa Anita.
