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Dubai: A record-equalling field of 13, led by US Horse of the Year, Curlin, could go to post for the $6million 2008 Dubai World Cup, sponsored by Emirates airline, on March 29.
The Dubai Racing Club yesterday reveals the likely fields for the seven races at the $21.25million race meeting, the world's richest raceday, which could see horses representing trainers from as many as 16 countries.
The final fields will be declared on March 24 and then released at the Post Position Draw ceremony on March 26. The 2000 running of the world's richest race, won by Dubai Millennium, attracted 13 runners too, and this year's renewal should also live long in the memory.
Top rivals
The top-rated horse in the world, Curlin, is set to face tough competition from Godolphin's duo of Happy Boy and Jalil, winners of the Maktoum Challenge Rounds 1 and 3.
The 2007 Dubai World Cup runner-up and fourth, Premium Tap and Vermilion, are also earmarked for the 2,000metre showpiece on dirt, as well as last year's UAE Derby winner Asiatic Boy.
There are three other Group 1 races on the card, headlined by the Dubai Sheema Classic, sponsored by Nakheel.
The $5million contest is sure to have a maximum field of 16 runners, in which Hong Kong champion Viva Pataca will bid to emulate Vengeance Of Rain, who won the race last year.
The $5million Dubai Duty Free, sponsored by Dubai Duty Free, also looks likely to have 16 runners, headed by the top-class fillies, Darjina, Finsceal Beo, Vodka, Seachange, West Wind and Majestic Roi.
The other Group 1 race, the $2 million Dubai Golden Shaheen, sponsored by Gulf News, sees the usual strong American challenge, led by Idiot Proof and Benny The Bull, as well as Godolphin's Diabolical.
Runners
- World Cup likely runners:
- Horse Trainer
- A P Arrow T Pletcher
- Asiatic Boy M De Kock
- Curlin S Asmussen
- Gloria De Campeao P Bary
- Great Hunter D O'Neill
- Happy Boy S Bin Surour
- Jalil S Bin Surour
- Kocab A Fabre
- Lucky Find M De Kock
- Premium Tap J Gardel
- Sway Yed S Al Kahtani
- Vermillion S Ishazaka
- Well Armed E Harty
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