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Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UPI) -- America's California Chrome and Dubai's African Story head a probable field of nine for the $10 million Dubai World Cup on March 28. The Dubai Racing Club Wednesday announced prospective fields for all eight Thoroughbred races on the championship card at Meydan Racecourse.
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California Chrome, the 2014 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner, heads a resurgent U.S. team on World Cup night. The American presence had lagged since the races were shifted from the old dirt track at Nad al Sheeba to an all-weather Tapeta surface at the new Meydan in 2010. That track was replaced with dirt before the current season.
Joining California Chrome in the World Cup, run at 1 1/4 mile, are fellow U.S. runners Candy Boy and Lea. The latter is trained by Bill Mott, who will be running against one of his former charges, Ron the Greek, a 9-year-old who has been racing in Saudi Arabia and finished 10th in last year's World Cup.
African Story won the 2014 edition of the world's richest race and also scored an impressive triumph in the final local prep this season. Others in the field are top Japanese stars Epiphaneia, winner of last year's Japan Cup, and Hokko Tarumae, African Story's stablemate at Godolphin Racing, Prince Bishop, and England's Side Glance.
The supporting races also are filled with star power from around the globe.
The $6 million, Group 1 Dubai Sheema Classic, contested at 1 1/2 miles on the grass, attracted perhaps the toughest field. That includes U.S. champion Main Sequence, Hong Kong star Designs On Rome, French globetrotter Flintshire, Japan's Harp Star and One and Only, Just the Judge and Sheikzayedroad from England. The local team of Sky Hunter and True Story will be up against it in this event.
The Grey Gatsby, one of England's top horses in training, will have plenty to do in the $6 million, Group 1 Dubai Turf at 9 furlongs -- formerly the Dubai Duty Free. Others here include American runner Mshawish, who has won three straight races at Gulfstream Park; England's Euro Charline, who makes her first start since winning the Grade I Beverly D. at Arlington Park last summer, plus runners from France, Germany and South Africa as well as local favorite Hunter's Light, winner of the Group 1 Jebel Hatta over the course in his last outing.
Many of the world's fastest Thoroughbreds will be put to the test in the $1 million, Group 1 Al Quoz Sprint at 5 furlongs on the turf and the $2 million, Group 1 Dubai Golden Shaheen at 6 furlongs on the dirt.
The $1 million, Group 2 Godolphin Mile attracted 15, with Godolphin's Frankyfourfingers detoured from the World Cup to take on the shorter distance.
At least two of the 10 entered for the $2 million, Group 2 UAE Derby -- Maftool and Mubtaahij, might be contenders for the Kentucky Derby if they run well in the desert. The lone American nominee in this prospective field, My Johnny Be Good, finished last in the Grade II Tampa Bay Derby in his last start.
The $1 million, Group 2 Dubai Gold Cup at 2 miles on the grass has 16 prospective runners, half of them locals. This is the only Thoroughbred race on the card with no American starter.
