Many more international stars are poised for the expanded eight-race Dubai World Cup program on March 31, when champions from around the world—led by Animal Kingdom and Royal Delta from the United States—are expected to run at Dubai’s spectacular Meydan Racecourse.

“We have many of the best from America, high-class Europeans and top horses from Australia and Asia. There are not many we have missed,” said Martin Talty, manager of the Dubai Racing Club’s international department, in reviewing probable runners for Super Saturday and Dubai World Cup day.

Super Saturday’s preps, topped by the $400,000 Al Maktoum Challenge Round III (G1) and the $300,000 Jebel Hatta (G1), typically have yielded many World Cup program winners and place-getters. The program thus is a must-see event for Dubai World Cup handicappers and will feature the full fields and robust payoffs for which Dubai racing is known.

Following are lists of the Super Saturday races, with just a few of the likely participants in each.

$400,000 Al Maktoum Challenge Round III (G1), 2000 meters (about 1 ¼ miles) on Meydan’s all-weather track, a prep over course and distance for the $10-million Dubai World Cup (G1):
Fly Down (Mineshaft), earnings $1,210,862—Kentucky-bred $80,000 Keeneland yearling, winner 2010 Dwyer S. (G2), 2nd Belmont S. (G1), Travers S. (G1); 3rd Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1), Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1), 2nd 2012 King’s Cup;
Bold Silvano (Silvano), earnings $460,298—winner 2010 Durban July (G1), Greyville S. (G2), 2011 Maktoum Challenge Round II (G3), 2009 Champion Juvenile Cup (G3);
Biondetti (Bernardini), earnings $358,891—Kentucky-bred $350,000 Fasig-Tipton July yearling, winner 2010 Grand Criterium (G1);
Mendip (Harlan’s Holiday), earnings $888,461—Kentucky-bred $375,000 Fasig-Tipton Florida two-year-old, winner 2012 Maktoum Challenge Round II (G2), 2011 Maktoum Challenge Round I (G3), 2011 Burj Nahaar (G3);
Monterosso (Dubawi), earnings $1,383,790—winner 2011 Dubai City of Gold (G2), King Edward VII (G2), 3rd 2011 Dubai World Cup (G1).


$300,000 Jebel Hatta (G1), 1800 meters (about 1 1/8 miles) on turf, a prep over course and distance for the $5-million Dubai Duty Free (G1):
Presvis (Sakhee), earnings $6,524,194—winner 2011 Dubai Duty Free (G1), 2009 Queen Elizabeth II Cup (G1), 2010 Jebel Hatta (G2), 2011 Al Rashidiya (G2), etc.;
Wigmore Hall (High Chaparral), earnings $1,343,761—winner 2011 Northern Dancer Turf S. (G1), 2011 Jebel Hatta (G2), 2nd 2010 Secretariat S. (G1), 3rd 2011 Dubai Duty Free (G1);
Musir (Redoute’s Choice), earnings $2,337,481—2009 champion South African juvenile male, winner 2009 Golden Horseshoe (G1), 2010 UAE Derby (G2), 2012 Al Rashidiya (G2), 2011 International Topkapi Trophy (G2), 2010 UAE 2000 Guineas (G3), 2012 Al Maktoum Challenge Round I (G3);
Dubawi Gold (Dubawi), earnings $675,959—winner 2011 Celebration Mile (G2), 2nd English (G1) and Irish (G1) 2000 Guineas [also possible for Burj Nahaar (G3), see below].


$250,000 Dubai City of Gold (G2), 2410 meters (about 1 ½ miles) on turf, a prep over course and distance for the $5-million Dubai Sheema Classic (G1):
Al Shemali (Medicean), earnings $3,501,252—winner 2010 Dubai Duty Free (G1), 3rd Singapore Airlines International Cup (G1), etc.;
Campanologist (Kingmambo), earnings $1,676,145—winner 2011 Gran Premio Jockey Club (G1), Preis von Europa (G1), 2010 Grosser-Hansa-Preis (G1), Rheinland-Pokal (G1), 2010 Dubai City of Gold (G2), 2nd 2011 Tattersalls Gold Cup (G1), 3rd Gran Premio di Milano (G1), etc.;
Cavalryman (Halling), earnings $1,678,652—winner 2009 Grand Prix de Paris (G1), Prix Niel (G2), 3rd 2009 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (G1), 2010 Gran Premio Jockey Club (G1), etc.;
Joshua Tree (Montjeu), earnings $1,864,763—winner 2010 Canadian International S. (G1), 2009 Royal Lodge S. (G2), 2nd 2011 Canadian International S. (G1), 3rd 2011 Grosser Preis von Baden (G1), etc. [also possible for Maktoum Challenge Round III (G1)];
Rio de La Plata (Rahy), earnings $1,701,827—Kentucky-bred $75,000 Keeneland yearling, winner 2010 Premio Vittorio di Capua (G1), 2007 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere (G1), 2nd 2008 Poule d’Essai des Poulains (French 2000 Guineas) (G1), 2nd 2010 & ’11 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp (G1) etc.;
Mahbooba (Galileo), earnings $755,805—2010 champion South African juvenile filly, winner 2010 Golden Slipper (G1), Debutante (G2), 2012 Balanchine (G2), 2011 UAE 1000 Guineas, etc.;
Irish Flame (Dynasty), earnings $393,500—2010 South African Horse of the Year, champion stayer, champion three-year-old, winner South African Derby (G1), Daily News 2000 (G1), 2nd Durban July (G1), 3rd South African Classic (G1), etc.


$200,000 Burj Nahaar (G3), 1600 meters (about one mile) on all-weather, a prep leading to the $1-million Godolphin Mile (G2), the Dubai World Cup (G1) or the Dubai Duty Free (G1):
Gitano Hernando (Hernando), earnings $2,018,837—winner 2011 Singapore Airlines International Cup (G1), 2009 Goodwood S. (G1), 3rd 2011 Maktoum Challenge Round III (G2);
River Jetez (Jet Master), earnings $2,117,292—winner 2010 J & B Met (G1), 2011 Balanchine (G2), 2nd 2011 Dubai Duty Free (G1), Singapore Airlines International Cup (G1), 3rd Beverly D. S. (G1);
Richard’s Kid (Lemon Drop Kid), earnings $1,721,370—winner 2009 & ’10 Pacific Classic S. (G1), 2010 Goodwood S.(G1), San Antonio H. (G2), 3rd 2009 Goodwood S. (G1), etc.;
Le Drakkar (Anabaa), earnings $187,771—winner 2008 Cape Guineas (G1), Selangor Cup (G2), 3rd 2009 Cape Derby (G1), 2011 Al Fahidi Fort (G2), etc.


$200,000 Mahab Al Shimaal (G3), 1200 meters (about six furlongs) on all-weather, a prep over course and distance for the $2-million Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1):
August Rush (Var), earnings $102,409—winner 2011 Mercury Sprint (G1), 2nd 2011 Golden Horse Casino Sprint (G1) (also possible for Meydan Sprint);
Hitchens (Acclamation), earnings $901,248—winner 2012 Al Shindagha Sprint (G3), 2011 Greenlands Stakes (G3), 3rd Darley July Cup (G1).


$250,000 Al Bastikiya, 1900 meters (about 1 3/16 miles) on all-weather, the middle jewel of the UAE Triple Crown and a course and distance stepping stone to the $2-million UAE Derby (G2):
Boby di Job (Job di Caroline), earnings $154,720—2011 champion Uruguayan juvenile colt, winner Uruguayan Gran Premio Jockey Club, Gran Premio Polla de Potrillos (Uruguayan 2000 Guineas), etc.;
Kinglet (Kingmambo), earnings $172,531—winner 2012 UAE 2000 Guineas (G3);
Matusalen (Caradak), earnings $100,379—2011 Spanish champion juvenile colt.


$175,000 Meydan Sprint, 1000 meters (about five furlongs) on turf, a prep over course and distance for the $1-million Al Quoz Sprint (G1):
Regally Ready (More Than Ready), earnings $1,219,684—winner 2011 Nearctic S. (G1), Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G2), Turf Sprint S. (G3), San Simeon H. (G3);
War Artist (Orpen), earnings $1,090,416—2007 Mercury Sprint (G1), 2010 Al Shindagha Sprint (G3), Prix de Ris-Orangis (G3), 2nd 2011 Al Quoz Sprint (G2), 2008 Golden Jubilee (G1), 3rd 2009 Prix de l’Abbaye de Longchamp (G1), 2008 Darley July Cup (G1) [also possible for Mahab Al Shimaal (G3)].
Prohibit (Oasis Dream), earnings $813,265—winner 2011 King’s Stand S. (G1), 3rd Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes (G1);
Sole Power (Kyllachy), earnings $454,134—winner 2010 Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes (G1), 2011 Temple Stakes (G2), 3rd 2011 Prix de l’Abbaye de Longchamp (G1);
Margot Did (Exceed and Excel), earnings $425,664—winner 2011 Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes (G1).


For more information, contact AmWest Chief Executive Officer Nelson Clemmens at 502-292-1075.

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