by Mike Curry

Winning the $6-million Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1) with Well Armed on Saturday at Nad al Sheba Racecourse was a dream come true for trainer Eoin Harty.

On Sunday, Harty was already looking ahead to next year and a possible World Cup sequel at the new multibillion-dollar Meydan Racecouse.

"Meydan is my number one goal,” said Harty, who started training on his own in 2000 with two-year-olds sent to him by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum. “I owe his highness Sheikh Mohammed so much, and I would love to bring back Well Armed or Colonel John and attempt to pull off the big one again.

"I will take home a lot of special memories from Nad al Sheba, but let us hope we can carry on where we left off at Meydan next year."

Harty, 46, said Well Armed will receive a nice break after his 14-length World Cup runaway victory for owner-breeder WinStar Farm. The six-year-old Tiznow gelding will then be prepared for a schedule similar to the one Harty scripted last year, beginning with the San Diego Handicap (G2) and Pacific Classic Stakes (G1) this summer at Del Mar. However, the long-range goal for Well Armed will be the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) rather than the TVG Breeders Cup Dirt Mile.

Oliver Costello, assistant to Harty, said Well Armed came out of the race in good order.

"He had about 20 minutes of walking this morning and then about ten minutes of picking at grass and everything was good," Costello said from Dubai on Sunday. "It was just such an amazing night."

While the connections of Well Armed celebrated the World Cup victory, the mood at trainer Kiaran McLaughlin’s barn was more somber.

Donn Handicap (G1) winner Albertus Maximus came out of a sixth-place finish in the World Cup with an inflamed right front tendon. McLaughlin said he believes the injury affected the five-year-old Albert the Great horse’s performance in the World Cup.

Albertus Maximus will be shipped back to New York and then to Lexington for a complete veterinary examination.

"This is a tough one to take," McLaughlin said. "He was not the same horse we have learned to love and to train. He was trying to get out with [jockey] Alan [Garcia] the whole time in the race. He was just not himself last night."

Two-time champion Indian Blessing came out of a runner-up finish against males in the $2-million Gulf News Dubai Golden Shaheen (UAE-G1) a bit tired but none the worse for wear, according to exercise rider Janell Gruss.

"She came out of the race real well," Gruss said. "But it's hard to see her run so well and get beat."

Mike Curry is a Thoroughbred Times TODAY editor