DRC.....
Fourteen American runners on way to Dubai
With no last-minute changes reported, the 14 American-based runners who were scheduled to fly to the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday for races on the US$21,250,000 Dubai World Cup (Gr.1) program proceeded as planned, according to shipping company Mersant International Ltd.
Flights that departed from Los Angeles International Airport in California and Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport in Florida carrying seven horses each were due to arrive in Dubai on Wednesday evening after a refueling stop in England. Once in Dubai, the 14 American horses were to join Horse of the Year Curlin, who has been based at Nad Al Sheba Racecourse for almost a month.
Overall, the powerful American contingent has earned just shy of $16 million and has amassed 30 graded stakes wins.
Curlin not only leads the group in his titles as best horse in the United States and 2007 champion three-year-old male, he also is the top earner with $5,207,800, or an astounding average of $520,780 in each of his ten career starts, which include victories in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (Gr.1), Preakness Stakes (Gr.1) and Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes (Gr.1).
Expected to be a strong favorite in the $6 million Dubai World Cup, sponsored by Emirates Airline, Curlin is owned by Jess Jackson’s Stonestreet Stables in partnership with Midnight Cry Stable. Regular rider Robby Albarado will be back aboard for trainer Steve Asmussen.
Better Talk Now, winner of the 2004 Breeders’ Cup Turf (Gr.1) and four other Grade 1 races, has made the most starts of the group during his remarkable eight-season career. The nine-year-old gelding has raced 42 times, winning 14 events and placing another nine times while earning $4,054,288 for Bushwood Stables and trainer Graham Motion.
The other runners that have earned more than $500,000 each include Dubai World Cup contenders A. P. Arrow, with $1,128,290, and Great Hunter, with $790,500; Grade 1 winners Benny the Bull, with $633,550, and Idiot Proof, with $863,204, before their starts in the $2 million Dubai Golden Shaheen (Gr.1), sponsored by Gulf News; Grade 2 winner Diamond Stripes, with $875,645 prior to contesting the Etisalat-sponsored $1 million Godolphin Mile (Gr.2); Grade 2 winner Spring House, with $544,284 before running in the $5 million Dubai Sheema Classic (Gr.1), sponsored by Nakheel; and Grade 2 winner Notional, with $515,740 before his potential start in the Godolphin Mile.
Trainer Doug O’Neill has said he would prefer to start Notional in the $5 million Dubai Duty Free (Gr.1), but a slot in that race has not opened up to date for the four-year-old colt by In Excess who is owned by J. Paul Reddam. Last year, Reddam and O’Neill combined to win the Godolphin Mile with Spring At Last.
Other American-based runners that are slated to run on the March 29 Dubai World Cup program are Well Armed, who will race in the evening’s main event; Massive Drama, who will try to make history as the first American-based horse to win the $2 million UAE Derby (Gr.2); Barcola, another Reddam-owned runner for the Godolphin Mile; Dubai Golden Shaheen entrant Esperamos, who holds a five-race win streak; and California-based sprinters Barbecue Eddie and Bushwacker, both also set for the Dubai Golden Shaheen.
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