AN EARLY LOOK AT THE DUBAI WORLD CUP

A cast of 14 Grade/Group 1 winners with a combined 23 victories at the highest level are set to line up for the 25th running of Dubai World Cup night at Meydan Racecourse on Saturday, March 27.

A total of 117 horses from 11 countries, including 17 from the U.S., will compete across a day of racing worth $26.5 million with six Group 1s and three Group 2s.

Notably, Saudi Derby runner-up Cowan has been diverted off the dirt and the Kentucky Derby trail to the featured turf sprint.

Dubai World Cup (G1)

The US$12 million race held over 1 1/4 miles has a 14-strong lineup headed by highest-rated Mystic Guide, trained by American Mike Stidham. Mystic Guide is one of three Godolphin-owned runners in the field, with the Saeed Bin Suroor-trained Gifts of Gold also representing the home team. The third Godolphin runner comes in the shape of Magny Course, the charge of French maestro Andre Fabre that is making his dirt debut in the Dubai World Cup.

Yet the Godolphin runners face stiff competition from a three-strong team of American raiders, including Pegasus World Cup runner-up Jesus’ Team for trainer Jose D’Angelo and the Miguel Angel Silva-prepared Grade 2 winner Sleepy Eyes Todd. Title Ready, winner of January’s Louisiana Stakes (G3) trained by Dallas Stewart, completes the U.S. lineup.

Japan is represented by Grade 1 winner Chuwa Wizard, who claimed the Champions Cup at Chukyo Racecourse in December for trainer Ryuji Okubo. Uruguay’s Ajuste Fiscal lines up for trainer Antonio Cintra. Bahraini handler Fawzi Nass saddles a first Dubai World Cup runner with Salute The Soldier, whose route to the Dubai World Cup included victories in 2 of 3 traditional prep races — the Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2 (G2) over 1 3/16 miles and the Al Maktoum Challenge Round 3 (G1) over the same 1 1/4 miles as the Dubai World Cup. Great Scot, third in the Saudi Cup last month, flies the flag for Saudi Arabia and trainer Abdullah Mishriff.

Local hopes will be pinned on the 2020 Firebreak Stakes (G3) winner Capezzano and this season’s Al Maktoum Challenge Round 3 runner-up Hypothetical from the yard of Salem Bin Ghadayer. Musabbah Al Mheiri saddles the Al Maktoum Challenge Round 1 winner Military Law, and Dubai-based American Doug Watson is represented by Thegreatcollection.