There’s no doubt that Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile and Pegasus World Cup winner Life Is Good (Into Mischief- Beach Walk, by Distorted Humor) is the standout, but he’s just one of a galaxy of stars lining up in the 26th running of the Dubai World Cup (sponsored by Emirates Airline).
Six Group or Grade 1 winners line up in the $12 million contest, representing six different countries. With a five from six career record, Life Is Good possesses a fearsome profile, but is yet to tackle this 2000metre distance, something trainer Todd Pletcher has been working on.
“I’m very happy with him, his weight looks good, I think he handled the ship in perfectly,” said the Kentucky Derby-winning trainer. “The Pegasus was his first time at a mile and an eighth and he handled that well, so we’ve focused on just some good, stamina-building breezes and strong gallop outs. He does everything so willingly; he likes doing it, enjoys his job, and all his work has been super good.”
Drawn in one, Life Is Good and jockey Irad Ortiz will likely make the others try to chase him down. One who has no concerns about the distance is Hot Rod Charlie (Oxbow – Indian Miss by Indian Charlie), who warmed up for this assignment with a comfortable win over 1900 metres in G2 Maktoum Challenge Round 2 last month.
“He’s ready,” said Leandro Mora, assistant to trainer Doug O’Neill, who has been overseeing the colt’s preparation in Dubai for the past two months. “This horse, I really think he can run all day; he never seems to get tired. Life Is Good is a good horse, but we’re here and we know he likes the track.”
The US challenge in the race is further bolstered by Bob Baffert’s Country Grammer, an excellent second, returning from a break, in the Saudi Cup last time, and Steve Asmussen’s Midnight Bourbon, who was third in Riyadh.
Just behind those two, in fifth, was Aero Trem, who will represent Uruguay-based Brazilian trainer Antonio Cintra. The winner of South America’s biggest race, the G1 Gran Premio Latinoamericano, in October, his trainer is confident that he has him spot on for Saturday.
“He’s ready,” he said. “His run in Saudi was amazing, to finish fifth, with a strong finish – it felt like we won! We just breezed him once since then and we hope he will run another big race.”
Adding further international flair to the line-up are last year’s second and third, Chuwa Wizard, from Japan for trainer Ryuji Okubo, and Magny Cours, trained in France by Andre Fabre. Three represent home nation the UAE, including Real World, who will aim to win trainer Saeed Bin Suroor a remarkable tenth World Cup, Hypothetical, for trainer Salem Bin Ghadayer, and Remorse, for Bhupat Seemar.
Hypothetical, winner of the main local prep, G1 Maktoum Challenge Round 3, has drawn wide in 10, which his trainer feels is far from ideal.
“We would rather have drawn inside, but what can you do? That’s racing,” said the Emirati. “I’m so happy with Hypothetical. He’s always been a good horse for us, he was fourth in the race last year and I know he will run a good race.”
Multiple Group 1-winning trainer William Haggas, second in the 2014 World Cup with Mukhadram, completes the line-up with Grocer Jack, a Group 3 winner in Germany who will race on dirt for the first time here.
Post time for the $12 million Dubai World Cup is 12:30 p.m. Eastern.
In other races on the card, which begins at 8:20 a.m. (following an Arabian race), AL NEFUD (GB) by Dubawi, is favoured in the $1 million Godolphin Mile and the unbeaten MANOBO (Ire), by Sea the Stars is heavily favoured in the Dubai Gold Cup.
The Al Quoz Sprint is race 4 and the impressive MAN OF PROMISE, four for eight in his career. is a son of Into Mischief bred in Kentucky and a strong factor. Woodbine’s leading trainer MARK CASSE is the trainer of 30 to 1 chance GET SMOKIN.
The UAE Derby, Grade 2, is 1 3/16 miles for 3-year-olds and unbeaten AZURE COAST, by Street Sense, meets up with Bob Baffert-trained PINEHURST (Twirling Candy) and the Bill Mott-trained GILDED AGE.
Woodbine trainer and owner Randy Thompson is an assistant to trainer Saffie Joseph for the quick DRAIN THE CLOCK who has post three in the Golden Shaheen at 6 furlongs. Drain the Clock, by Maclean’s Music, is 5 to 1 and another US sprinter, WONDRWHERECRAIGIS, by Munnings, is 8 to 1.
The Dubai Turf is headed by last year’s winner LORD NOTHER and the Sheema Classic is led by YBIR who won the Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) last year.
$12 Million Dubai World Cup
Post Saddle Cloth Horse Jockey Trainer Odds
1 7 Life Is Good I. Ortiz T. Pletcher 5-6
2 1 Aero Trem V. Leal A. Cintra 66-1
3 2 Chuwa Wizard Y. Kawada R. Okubo 33-1
4 4 Grocer Jack T. Marquand W. Haggas 66-1
5 3 Country Grammer L. Dettori B. Baffert 12-1
6 10 Real World C. Soumillon S. bin Suroor 25-1
7 5 Hot Rod Charlie F. Prat D. O’Neill 7-2
8 9 Midnight Bourbon J. Ortiz S. Asmussen 12-1
9 8 Magny Cours W. Buick A. Fabre 25-1
10 6 Hypothetical M. Barzalona S. bin Ghadayer 25-1
11 11 Remorse T. O’Shea B. Seemar 50-1
Race schedule:
Post Time Race Purse Race Name
7:45 a.m. ET 1 $1 Million Dubai Kahayla Classic (Arabians)
8:20 a.m. ET2 $1 Million Godolphin Mile
8:55 a.m. ET3 $1 Million Dubai Gold Cup (T)
9:35 a.m. ET4 $1.5 Million Al Quoz Sprint (T)
10:10 a.m. ET5 $1 Millio nUAE Derby
10:45 a.m. ET6 $2 Million Dubai Golden Shaheen
11:20 a.m. ET7 $5 Million Dubai Turf (T)
11:55 p.m. ET8 $6 Million Dubai Sheema Classic (T)
12:30 p.m. ET9 $12 Million Dubai World Cup
Wonderwherecraigis – Vanessa Ng- horse-races.net
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