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Godolphin, Dettori Rank Atop Carnival Standings at Midway Point

    Bin Suroor will send out two of the top three morning-line choices in the featured Al Maktoum Challenge Round II (G2) on February 9, and both he and Zarooni have runners in the classic UAE 2000 Guineas (G3) and the Firebreak Stakes (G3).

Unexpected Names Among Carnival Leaders

   Yet Godolphin is not alone. Tied with the Boys in Blue is Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed al Maktoum.

Dubai World Cup Nominations Loaded with Top American Runners

    The $10-million Dubai World Cup, the richest race on the globe, has drawn 36 nominations of American-based runners, including entries for all of America’s 2011 classic winners—Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Animal Kingdom, Preakness Stakes (G1) conqueror Shackleford and Belmont Stakes (G1) hero Ruler On Ice.

    Last year, Baffert traveled to Dubai to saddle Euroears to finish a good second to Rocket Man in the $2-million Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1), and his first trip to the Middle East in several years must have whetted his appetite to collect more Dubai gold.

Maktoum Challenge launched Gloria de Campeao to Cup

     The most famous winning graduate of the Al Maktoum Challenge Round I to date is Gloria de Campeao, who won in 2010 prior to making history as the first horse to ever win a $10-million event when he captured the initial Dubai World Cup at Meydan Racecourse. The Brazilian-bred owned by Stefan Friborg also had finished second by a neck in the Maktoum Challenge Round III.

Champion of hope, Japan’s Victoire Pisa rules the World

    Tears streamed down the faces of jockey Mirco Demuro and the family of owner Yoshimi Ichikawa after Victoire Pisa led another Japanese champion, Transcend, by a half-length across the finish line at Meydan about two weeks after a devastating earthquake and tsunami ravaged Japan.

Following his half sister’s feat, Rewilding wins Sheema Classic

     With Frankie Dettori in the irons, Rewilding rallied from off the pace set by Japan’s Rulership to draw away in the stretch by 3 ¼ lengths over Prince Khalid Abdullah’s Canadian Grade 1 winner Redwood. Rewilding’s stablemate Calvados Blues, a multiple French group stakes winner, finished third, another quarter-length back in the field of 14.

Unpredictable Presvis brilliant in Dubai Duty Free win

     Rallying from last with jockey Ryan Moore aboard, Presvis caught South African Group 1 winner River Jetez, a mare who holds the Meydan course record for the Duty Free's 1,800-meter (about 1 1/8-mile) distance, to prevail by three-quarters of a length.

Rocket Man powers to Golden Shaheen victory

      The KrisFlyer International Sprint (G1) at Kranji Racecourse in Singapore could be next for Rocket Man, an Australian-bred who boosted his earnings past the $3-million mark with the win and who ultimately may be sent to battle Australian superstar sprinter Black Caviar.

Khawlah edges Coolmore colt in history-making UAE Derby

     Ridden by French teenage jockey sensation Mickael Barzalona, Khawlah emerged from the middle of the 14-horse field to challenge Master of Hounds in the final 200 meters of the 1,900-meter (about 1 3/16-mile) race. The filly by Cape Cross, bred in Ireland by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum’s Darley organization, pushed ahead in the final strides after a breathtaking stretch duel.

Skysurfers capitalizes on relish for Meydan in Godolphin Mile

     Making the most of his strong preference for the all-weather track at Meydan, Godolphin’s Skysurfers engaged Mufarrh in a desperate battle to the finish before prevailing by a half-length in the $1-million Godolphin Mile (G2).

     The win marked the most significant in the brief ten-race career of Skysurfers, a five-year-old son of E Dubai who has notched three of his four lifetime wins on Meydan’s synthetic surface. 

‘J J’ soars to dramatic Al Quoz Sprint victory

     The victory will catapult the seven-year-old Jet Master gelding on to the KrisFlyer International Sprint (G1) in Singapore on May 22 at Kranji Racecourse as he continues a global campaign that also featured a rallying triumph in the Hong Kong Sprint (G1) in December.

Horses to Watch on Dubai World Cup Day: Dubai Sheema Classic

$5-million Dubai Sheema Classic (G1) at 2,410 meters (about 1 ½ miles), turf

Champ Pegasus defeated all challengers but Dangerous Midge in the Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1), and while that rival is back in this field, the result might be different this time. Although Dar Re Mi won the Sheema Classic last year after shipping in from Europe, often European-based runners like Dangerous Midge who don’t spend the winter in Dubai and are making their first runs of the season find themselves at something of a disadvantage. Meanwhile, Champ Pegasus is in sparkling form, training energetically and looking like the millionaire he is following his win in the San Luis Obispo Stakes (G2) on February 19 at Santa Anita Park. His trainer, Hall of Famer Richard Mandella, needs no introduction anywhere, including Dubai, as he already has trained a Dubai World Cup (G1) winner in Pleasantly Perfect and several others who have been runners-up in rich World Cup program races. Champ Pegasus rallied to catch Bourbon Bay at the wire by a nose in the San Luis Obispo, and Bourbon Bay also gives every sign of being ready for a good race in the Sheema Classic. Both American-based runners are trying to score a first-ever victory for the USA in one of Dubai’s two $5-million turf races.

Rulership can expected to be a rising star this year in Japan; whether the magnificently-bred four-year-old colt is ready to rule over seasoned international runners at this point in his career is questionable, but it will be intriguing to see how he performs. Leading Dubai International Racing Carnival jockey Christophe Soumillon will be in the saddle on Rulership for the first time and his ability and knowledge of the Meydan course will give the colt a boost. By top 2010 Japanese sire King Kamehameha, a classic-winning son of Kingmambo, and out of Japanese Horse of the Year Air Groove, Rulership was bred by Katsumi Yoshida’s Northern Farm and is owned by farm affiliate Sunday Racing Co. Rulership is a Group 2 winner in Japan and while he has not won at the top level, he finished within three lengths of Japanese champions and Dubai World Cup (G1) contenders Victoire Pisa and Buena Vista in Japan’s championship event, the Arima Kinen (G1) in December.

Horses to Watch on Dubai World Cup Day: Dubai Duty Free

Presvis is one of the most talented runners in the world at this distance on turf and has proven it by earning nearly $3.5-million and making himself the 3-1 morning line favorite. Yet the seven-year-old gelded son of European champion Sakhee also has proven to be temperamental and unpredictable. Even trainer Luca Cumani says Presvis only does what he wants to do at any given time. Known for breaking tardily, Presvis has a trademark late charge to the wire, which can be spectacular but also can result in failure if he can’t find room to run. The 16-runner Duty Free could be problematic, but if Presvis can find an opening—and jockey Ryan Moore, who has ridden him often and knows him well, can be relied on to give him every chance—he is expected to be a factor at the end, as is American-based Grade 1 winner Victor’s Cry.

Beauty Flash convinced the international world that he is no Asian flash in the pan when he won the Hong Kong Mile (G1) last December at Sha Tin. He has won twice since then, including the Group 1 Stewards Cup and another stakes, both over Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1) starter Sunny King, and thus brings a three-race win streak into the Duty Free. This is a wide-open affair, particularly with 16 runners that will be jostling for advantage during the entire trip. Bankable, who finished second in last year’s Duty Free; Royal Bench, who was second in the Hong Kong Mile, and Wigmore Hall, who won the Jebel Hatta (G2) here on Super Thursday and finished second in last year’s Secretariat Stakes (G1) at Arlington Park, all must be considered. Top Dubai trainer Mike de Kock of South Africa has a powerful female entry of Raihana, who is the chosen mount of champion Carnival jockey Christophe Soumillon, and River Jetez, impressive winner of the Balanchine (G2) on February 18 over fillies and mares. With five millionaires in the field, Beauty Flash is the top earner with $3,594,335.

Horses to Watch on Dubai World Cup Day: Dubai Golden Shaheen

$2-million Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1) at 1,200 meters (about six furlongs), all-weather track

Rocket Man was the most talked about horse leading up to last year’s race and once again the newly crowned Singapore Horse of the Year is getting a lot of hype, along with Hong Kong-based Dynamic Blitz, who won the Al Shindagha Sprint (G3) during the Dubai International Racing Carnival. Rocket Man is a top-class horse who has never finished worse than second in 17 career starts, yet he has to date not been lucky in getting to the wire first in an international Group 1 race. He was second by a half-length last year to Kinsale King in the Golden Shaheen; just missed catching another Golden Shaheen entrant, Green Birdie, in the KrisFlyer International Sprint (G1) last May in Sinagapore, and was caught at the wire in the Hong Kong Sprint (G1) last December by J J the Jet Plane, who is racing on turf today in the Al Quoz Sprint (G2). An Australian-bred by Viscount, Rocket Man easily won his prep in Singapore and should be sharp.

Euroears—The big chestnut son of Langfuhr showed he is a bona fide speedster when he set the pace to win the Palos Verdes Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita in 1:07.23, although that new dirt track admittedly seems to transform any horse into a temporary speed demon. Since arriving in Dubai, Euroears has been a picture of power and yet tranquility; he is a “laid back dude,” according to trainer Bob Baffert, who has let his charge have a few light days of jogging in the stable area as he prepares for the toughest test of his career. Baffert’s main concern is whether Euroears can handle the all-weather track. The trainer said he decided to take Euroears to Dubai partly because he has so much regard for Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, and he has joked that he made the trip himself because his staff was not able to get wins out of his recent runners Indian Blessing (who was third in the Golden Shaheen) and Richard’s Kid (unplaced in last year’s Dubai World Cup [G1]). Baffert said he was very disappointed for fellow trainer Carl O’Callaghan, who had to scratch defending champion Kinsale King. The Golden Shaheen has been dominated by American-based horses, with ten US runners winning since 2000.

Horses to Watch on Dubai World Cup Day: UAE Derby

$2-million UAE Derby (G2) at 1,900 meters (about 1 3/16 miles), all weather track

Mahbooba has been getting rave reviews from trainer Mike de Kock throughout her stay in Dubai, and although she hasn’t dazzled as much as the advance billing would indicate, the Australian-bred daughter of Galileo has been good enough to win once (the UAE 1000 Guineas) and finish second twice. The two runners who beat her, stablemate Reem in an allowance and Godolphin’s Khawlah in the UAE Oaks (G3), are back in this competitive event as are 11 colts, including two trained in Ireland by Aidan O’Brien (Master of Hounds and Alexander Pope) and three from Europe who ran in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G2) (Master of Hounds, Utley and Mantoba). In the 11 runnings of the Derby, de Kock has won five while Godolphin’s Saeed bin Suroor has won the other six. Both trainers have said they like their fillies in this race better than the chances of their colts. “The fillies’ form is stronger than that of the colts and I prefer Mahbooba to Reem,” de Kock said. “But this is a very competitive race and it’s going to be tough to win with the likes of Aidan O’Brien’s Master Of Hounds and John Gosden’s Utley.”

Sweet Ducky has been asked a lot in traveling all the way to Dubai and then racing a little less than two weeks after he arrived, not to mention the facts that he has never gone 1,900 meters or raced on an all-weather surface. He has not indicated that the distance will be to his liking as speed has been more his game, but new trainer Herman Brown Jr. said he advised jockey Tom Queally to let the Pulpit colt settle and handle him cautiously. This is as much a learning experience for the colt, Brown and Sweet Ducky’s new owner, Ramzan Kadyrov, as anything else, but it still will give fans a small view of how an American three-year-old stacks up in this race, which has the same purse value as the Kentucky Derby (G1). Former trainer Kelly Breen has said Sweet Ducky is an extremely talented colt and Brown believes his UAE Derby runner will improve with age. If that is the case, look for him in next year’s Dubai International Racing Carnival.

Horses to Watch on Dubai World Cup Day: Godolphin Mile

I Want Revenge had been targeted to the $10-million Dubai World Cup (G1) by trainer Rick Dutrow Jr. but when a fourth-place finish in the Donn Handicap (G1), his first start in about 5 ½ months, didn’t merit an invitation to the world’s richest race, he wound up in this spot. The early Kentucky Derby (G1) favorite in 2009 who was scratched on the day of the race due to injury, I Want Revenge has not won since capturing the ’09 Wood Memorial Stakes (G1) but Dutrow said recently the five-year-old by Stephen Got Even is ready to run a monster race. The horse has filled out and has made a lasting impression on anyone who has seen him train in Dubai, usually way before sunrise. Dutrow knows how to win in Dubai, having sent out Diamond Stripes to win this race and Benny the Bull to take the $2-million Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1) in 2008. Ramon Dominguez will be back in the saddle after riding I Want Revenge in the Donn and they will break from the ten post.

As de Trebol is listed at 20-1 on the morning line but it wouldn’t be a shock to see yet another offspring of Tapit make the frame in a big race. This striking five-year-old horse out of the Danzig mare Aldelphi, bred in Kentucky by Jose de Camargo’s Santa Escolastica, has been around the world, having been sent as a weanling to Argentina and then later to Spain, where he was champion two-year-old in 2008. He won a Group 3 race in France in 2009 but was disqualified, and while his 3-for-15 record isn’t superlative by any means, his close third in the Burj Nahaar (G3) on Super Thursday at Meydan showed he is worth a look. His appearance alone justifies a glance. Top French jockey Olivier Peslier will be in the irons for trainer Mauricio Delcher and they will break from post four.

Horses to Watch on Dubai World Cup Day: Al Quoz Sprint

J J the Jet Plane is the early 2-1 choice and with good reason, despite his failure when 11^th in a Dubai International Racing Carnival handicap on February 17 over an all-weather track he clearly did not relish. Of his other four most recent races, he won all four, with each being run at 1,200 meters (about six furlongs). Trainer and co-owner Michael “Lucky” Houdalakis has the seven-year-old Jet Master gelding ready to explode, although J J’s last run, when he veered across the turf course from the inside to the outside while still winning by 1 ¾ lengths in 1:10.18 perhaps raises a few concerns. He carried 132 pounds that day and will shoulder 126 in the Al Quoz. His trainer worries the five-furlong distance may be a bit too short for him at his age, but the three-time South African champion certainly has the class. He has won 13 of 25 career starts, including six Group 1 races, and $1,751,053. J J tends to either win or not hit the board; he has only placed three times in his career.

Mr Gruff is an interesting entrant in that he hasn’t raced since May 31, 2010, when he finished third to Dubai Duty Free (G1) contender Victor's Cry after setting the pace in the Shoemaker Mile Stakes (G1) at Hollywood Park. Trainer Ron Ellis says Mr Gruff tends to have back problems after he races several times in succession. Thus, Ellis is trying to space out some rich and high-profile international events this year for the seven-year-old Mr. Greeley gelding and make those efforts count. Before the Shoemaker Mile, Mr Gruff had won four consecutive races dating back to March 2009, including a wire-to-wire romp in the San Simeon Handicap (G3) over Victor's Cry at Santa Anita in which he scorched 6 ½ furlongs in 1:11.53. He can be expected to break sharply from the outside post in the 16-horse field under Joel Rosario and could be dangerous; Ellis says he runs well when fresh. Mr Gruff has won five of nine starts and placed three times.

Twice Over better this year, has ‘great chance’ in World Cup

    “He’s definitely better than he was last year,” Cecil said after watching Twice Over’s easy gallop under jockey Tom Queally at Meydan on March 25. “He’s definitely in great form. He’s got a great chance; I’m very hopeful.”

Castleton Lyons team to cheer on future stallion Gio Ponti

    “I’m very happy. He moved well from the beginning,” trainer Christophe Clement declared after Gio Ponti galloped easily past him, owner Shane Ryan of Castleton Lyons farm in Lexington, Kentucky, and farm Commercial Manager Stuart Fitzgibbon. Clement joked that he should call his assistant, Christophe Lorieul, who rides Gio Ponti in the mornings, and ask him to come back around the track so the group could watch the horse float past them again.

J J the Jet Plane flying for more international glory

      He's a rightful headline act: A six-time Group 1 winner, three-time South African champion and the second highest-ranked turf sprinter in the world.

     Deeds and titles add significant expectations of a runner, but the connections of $1-million Al Quoz Sprint (G2) favorite J J the Jet Plane remain notably upbeat ahead of the March 26 race.

     Arriving in Dubai in mid-December following his victory in the Hong Kong Sprint (G1), the seven-year-old Jet Master gelding had just two runs during the Dubai International Racing Carnival, an unplaced start over 1,200 meters on the all-weather track on February 17 before a dominant win on turf in a $175,000 handicap on March 10.

     “He has super talent and is an absolute natural. He's very well, and my only concern is the distance; maybe 1,000 meters is a little on the short side for him these days,” trainer Michael “Lucky” Houdalakis said this week.

     Houdalakis has a long history with J J the Jet Plane. Having trained the horse with success in South Africa as a juvenile, he decided to relinquish his duties when the owners opted to campaign the horse overseas and he felt he didn’t have the experience required. So, he handed his star over to globetrotting South African trainer Mike de Kock.

Confident Clement says Gio Ponti ready for Cup

   Trainer Christophe Clement pronounced three-time American champion Gio Ponti ready for the $10-million Dubai World Cup (G1) after observing the six-year-old gallop an easy mile and then school in the starting gate at Meydan on March 24.

    Clement said Gio Ponti never had a problem in the starting gate until after the 2009 Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1), when rival Quality Road “freaked out” and caused many anxious moments that Gio Ponti seemed to recall later whenever he approached a gate. Gio Ponti finished second to Zenyatta in that Classic on Santa Anita Park’s all-weather track and was second to Goldikova in the 2010 Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) on turf at Churchill Downs. Overall, he has won six Grade 1 races and $5,037,800.

Trainer Harty’s life keeps returning to Dubai

     Although Godolphin changed course and cut back on young horses racing in America in 2003, Harty returned to Dubai triumphant in 2009 when he saddled WinStar Farm’s Well Armed to win the Dubai World Cup by a record-smashing 14 lengths.

Mandella sends Champ Pegasus to school at Meydan

     Trying to teach his Grade 1 winner Champ Pegasus what he can expect before he competes in the $5-million Dubai Sheema Classic (G1), Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella took him to the Meydan saddling area on the afternoon of March 24 for a schooling session.

Bourbon Bay has quiet gallop, inspires confidence

     Rather than chattering and commotion, only birdsong was in the air as Bourbon Bay galloped under exercise rider Humberto Gomez.

Owners of the equine version of Brad Pitt hopeful

    The six-year-old son of Street Cry has dazzled onlookers ever since he arrived in Dubai, and his owners said his striking appearance and attitude give them more reasons to be optimistic about his performance in the $5-million Dubai Duty Free (G1).

Quirky Presvis still up to tricks while Dubai Duty Free looms

     While out for a routine gallop on March 24, Presvis suddenly ducked in the stretch and veered to the outside rail. Fortunately, his exercise rider stayed aboard and no problem was caused for other horses.

Victoire Pisa, Rulership miss their buddy system when separated

     After spending much of the last week going out for training together, Japanese stars Victoire Pisa and Rulership were split up on March 24, with the former being sent to exercise on Meydan’s all-weather track while the latter was dispatched to the turf course.

    Both four-year-olds came down the respective stretch areas at about the same time and they begin to whinny to one another while their riders attempted to keep them focused on their exercise.

·         South African champion J J the Jet Plane, who will run in the $1-million Al Quoz Sprint (G2), breezed three furlongs in :35.15 while working in the center of the track under jockey Bernard Fayd’Herbe. Winner of six Group 1 races, J J the Jet Plane is the 2-1 morning line favorite in the  1,000-meter (about five-furlong) dash on turf.

Fly Down may stay in Middle East after World Cup

    Purchased last year by the family of Saudi Arabian King Abdullah, Fly Down may remain in the Middle East to continue his racing career and, ultimately, go to stud at the king’s Janadria Farm near Riyadh.

Buena Vista flashes her speed in morning work

     After starting slowly and maintaining a steady gallop rhythm for five furlongs, the five-year-old mare leveled out down the stretch, extending her stride past the finish line for a final furlong in :10.27, believed to be the fastest final furlong clocking of the week.

Gio Ponti earns top marks for World Cup workout

    “I was very happy with him today. As soon as I brought him over to the rail, he was always on the bridle and did it very well within himself,” said Lorieul, who has ridden Gio Ponti for his morning exercise for several years.

Meehan optimistic about Dangerous Midge in Sheema Classic

    Trainer Brian Meehan said he is looking forward to the $5-million Dubai Sheema Classic (G1) in which Dangerous Midge could be one of the favorites following the withdrawal of filly superstar Snow Fairy when she sustained an injury.

Champ Pegasus in outstanding form for Sheema Classic

    “I wish I felt as good as he does,” Mandella quipped. “He shipped much better than I did. …. He couldn’t be doing any better.”

Al Quoz Sprint contender Quick Enough sparks memories

     “He reminds me of Big Jag,” Mora said, referring to the 2000 Dubai Golden Shaheen winner he worked with while an assistant to trainer Tim Pinfield. “I call him Big Jag Jr. and I like him very, very much. I have a great feeling about him in the race and I even got a few chills watching him this morning and thinking about it.”

Special sprinter brings Baffert back to Dubai

     When Baffert returned on March 22, he found that so much had changed in Dubai he didn’t recognize the city and he got lost in the sprawling grandstand at Meydan. But Baffert’s trademark silver hair and his equally silver tongue, in the figurative sense, saved him.

Sweet Ducky breezes in fog for UAE Derby

    Sweet Ducky’s work could not be timed due to a blanket of heavy fog that covered much of Meydan.

Baffert calls audible and sends Euroears for workout

     Connected by a walkie-talkie system, Baffert gave Gruss a steady stream of instructions and the big chestnut horse quickened boldly in the latter part of the move, stopping the clock in :35.26 before visiting the starting gate for a brief schooling session.

Kadyrov acquires Gitano Hernando for World Cup

     Winner of the 2009 Goodwood Stakes (G1) at Santa Anita Park, Gitano Hernando will continue to be trained by Marco Botti through the World Cup. However, plans call for the five-year-old son of Hernando to eventually be transferred to Herman Brown Jr., Kadyrov’s primary conditioner.

Xin Xu Lin, Khawlah could be Godolphin’s best chances

    Brazilian-bred Xin Xu Lin, a multiple Group 1 winner in South America where he landed the Gran Premio Carlos Pellegrini (G1) at San Isidro in Buenos Aires as well as the classic Grande Premio Derby Paulista (Brazilian Derby) (G1) and the Grande Premio Ipiranga (Brazilian Two Thousand Guineas (G1) was tabbed by Al Zarooni as a favorite. Xin Xu Lin will seek his third classic victory while making his first start for Godolphin in the $2-million UAE Derby (G2)

Make Music For Me is ‘perfect’ in workout

    “He looked good, he looked good,” she said after the four-year-old son of Bernstein worked an easy 800 meters (about a half-mile) with exercise rider Andy Durnin aboard. While walking home following the breeze Durnin had one word for Barba to describe the workout: “perfect.”

Victoire Pisa, other Japanese horses running for hope

     Trainer Katsuhiko Sumii, who had just arrived at Meydan before the pair took to the track, watched his horses exercise and later said he hopes they can elevate morale in earthquake and tsunami-stricken Japan.

Kentucky Derby not ruled out for Sweet Ducky

      The son of Pulpit is handling the new environment and all-weather surface at Meydan well but still is “babyish and immature,” according to new trainer Herman Brown Jr., who would like to rest the colt after the UAE Derby and let him grow.