Run for racing's richest prize
Wide-open field competing for $10M Dubai World Cup
March 25, 2011 Updated: March 25, 2011 12:56 a.m.
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates -- The Dubai World Cup boasts 14 horses from five countries in what looks to be a wide-open field competing in the world's richest race.
The showcase event Saturday at Meydan Racecourse tops an eight-race program with $26.25 million in prize money. The World Cup carries a $10 million purse.
The race has several intriguing story lines, with three horses from disaster-ravaged Japan, and three from Dubai ruler Sheik Mohammed's Godolphin stables, which hasn't won the race since 2006.
Then there's Gitano Hernando, owned by Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov, who has been accused of running the mostly Muslim republic in southern Russia like his personal fiefdom.
1of15Racing horse Fly Down from U.S. practices during a morning session two days ahead of the Dubai World Cup, the world's richest horse race at the Meydan in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Thursday March 24, 2011. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili)
2of15Racing horse Victorie Pisa from Japan practices during a morning session two days ahead of the Dubai World Cup, the world's richest horse race at the Meydan in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Thursday March 24, 2011. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili)
3of15Racing horse Gitano Hernando from France practices during a morning session two days ahead of the Dubai World Cup, the world's richest horse race at the Meydan in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Thursday March 24, 2011. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili)
4of15Racing horse Buena Vista from Japan practices during a morning session two days ahead of the Dubai World Cup, the world's richest horse race at the Meydan in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Thursday March 24, 2011. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili)
5of15Racing horse Presvis from Britain practices during a morning session two days ahead of the Dubai World Cup, the world's richest horse race at the Meydan in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Thursday March 24, 2011. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili)
6of15Dubai's police chief Lt. Gen. Dahi Khalfan Tamim, during a press conference, after a shipment of thousands of small arms bound for Yemen were seized, at the police headquarters, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Thursday March 24, 2011. Dubai police said Thursday the Gulf emirate has seized thousands of small arms being smuggled in a sea cargo shipment bound for Yemen. Authorities said the guns were headed to Yemen's restive Saada region, where Shiite rebels have fought government forces for years. Dubai's government described the find as the largest arms shipment of its kind discovered in the region. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili)
7of15Dubai's police employees watch footage of a seized shipment during a press conference, at the police headquarters in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Thursday March 24, 2011. Dubai police said Thursday the Gulf emirate has seized thousands of small arms being smuggled in a sea cargo shipment bound for Yemen. Authorities said the guns were headed to Yemen's restive Saada region, where Shiite rebels have fought government forces for years. Dubai's government described the find as the largest arms shipment of its kind discovered in the region. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili)
9of15Dubai's police chief Lt. Gen. Dahi Khalfan Tamim, during a press conference, after a shipment of thousands of small arms bound for Yemen were seized, at the police headquarter in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Thursday March 24, 2011. Dubai police said Thursday the Gulf emirate has seized thousands of small arms being smuggled in a sea cargo shipment bound for Yemen. Authorities said the guns were headed to Yemen's restive Saada region, where Shiite rebels have fought government forces for years. Dubai's government described the find as the largest arms shipment of its kind discovered in the region. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili)
10of15Emirati jockey Ahmad Ajtebi talks to a journalist during a morning session, three days ahead of the Dubai World Cup, the world's richest horse race at the Godolphin club in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Wednesday March 23, 2011. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili)
11of15Emirati jockey Ahmad Ajtebi, left, talks to a journalist during a morning session, three days ahead of the Dubai World Cup, the world's richest horse race at the Godolphin Club in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Wednesday March 23, 2011. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili)
12of15Emirati jockey Ahmad Ajtebi, left, and Frankie Dettori from Italy pose during a morning session three days ahead of Dubai World Cup, the world's richest horse race at Godolphin club in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Wednesday March 23, 2011. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili)
13of15Prince Bishop from Ireland practices during a morning session three days ahead of the Dubai World Cup, the world's richest horse race at the Godolphin club in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Wednesday March 23, 2011. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili)
14of15A racehorse trains during a morning session, three days ahead of the Dubai World Cup, the world's richest horse race, at the Godolphin Club in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Wednesday March 23, 2011. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili)
Three U.S.-based horses are in the field, led by three-time Eclipse Award winner Gio Ponti, who finished fourth in last year's World Cup and has earned more than $5 million. The others are Fly Down and Richard's Kid.
But it's England-based Twice Over who is listed as the 2-1 favorite by the Daily Racing Form. A disappointing 10th in last year's World Cup, the 6-year-old horse was brought to Dubai much earlier this year and won the $300,000 Al Maktoum Challenge this month.
"We thought he had a really great chance last year but things didn't go his way," said Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager for Saudi Prince Khalid Abdullah's Juddmonte Racing, which owns Twice Over.
Gio Ponti is the 6-1 second choice. He won the Shadwell Turf Mile at Keeneland last year and finished second to Goldikova in the Breeders' Cup Mile in November, but is making his first start of 2011.
Gio Ponti's assistant trainer Christoph Lorieul said the horse has looked much stronger than he did last year during the final series of workouts this week.
"It's a big challenge this year because he hasn't had a run," Lorieul said. "Last year, we came into this race with one run under his belt, whereas he wasn't ready for it this time around. We've just brought him to the race with works only and I hope it works."
Of the Japan-based horses, Buena Vista -- with Ryan Moore aboard -- could have the best chance. Chosen horse of the year in Japan in 2010, the 5-year-old mare remains a fans favorite and has the credentials after finishing second in Dubai last year in the Sheema Classic.
She has eight wins in 17 career starts as well as six second-place finishes and three thirds -- meaning she has never finished out of the money.
Katsumi Yoshida, a trustee of Sunday Racing Co. which owns Buena Vista, said the horse was adapting well to Dubai.
"She looks fit, she has thrived since she arrived in Dubai, and if we did not think she had a chance we would not be here," Yoshida said in an email message. "I know it's a top-quality field, but I believe in Buena Vista's ability."
Other contenders include the Mike de Kock-trained Golden Sword, a late replacement for Bold Silvano, who is out with an injury. De Kock has come close in the World Cup before with both Lizard's Desire and Asiatic Boy finishing second and Victory Moon third.
Fly Down, trained by Hall of Famer Nick Zito, comes in with a pair of runner-up finishes last year in the Belmont Stakes and the Travers.
Zito's assistant Tim Poole said the 4-year-old colt could pull a surprise in his first race outside the United States.
"I've had a few people say to me that they passed this horse around as the sleeper in this race," Poole said. "This horse's races have been strong. He's a late developing horse for us. ... We're looking for him to step up now that he has matured. He has trained very well for us so we are expecting a good performance."