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Dubai World Cup Carnival attracts top-flight talent

Posted: Tuesday, January 03, 2012 4:18 PM

With more than $38-million on the line and some of the world’s best horses poised to compete, including 2011 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) winner Animal Kingdom, the Dubai World Cup Carnival begins Thursday for what could be its most exciting season ever.

The first two of 16 total Carnival programs, on January 5 and 6, will feature the Meydan Masters international jockey challenge with stars such as Frankie Dettori, Ryan Moore, Andrasch Starke, Craig Williams, and Christophe Lemaire vying for top honors.

The Dubai World Cup program—eight prestigious stakes worth $27-million topped by the $10-million Emirates Airline Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1)—will be run on March 31.

Kentucky-based AmWest Entertainment will partner with the Dubai Racing Club for the third consecutive year to distribute the Dubai simulcast signal for wagering around North and South America and the Caribbean region.

“This year’s Dubai World Cup Carnival and its capstone event, the Dubai World Cup, promise the most dynamic racing and wagering in its history. AmWest Entertainment, with our growing role of providing the best of international racing to North America and beyond, is particularly enthused about delivering this year’s Carnival through our broad affiliation of track, ADW, OTB, and media partners,” said AmWest Chief Executive Officer Nelson Clemmens.

Team Valor International’s Animal Kingdom has pleased trainer H. Graham Motion in his preparation for a bid to become only the second Kentucky Derby winner to capture the Dubai World Cup, following Silver Charm’s World Cup win in 1998. Animal Kingdom has worked twice at Fair Hill Training Center in Marylalnd in his first drills since he incurred a hock injury in the Belmont Stakes (G1), most recently recording a half-mile breeze in :49 on January 2.

“He’s doing great. I couldn’t be happier with him,” Motion said. “It seems to have taken us a long time to get him back, but I’m obviously very excited to have him back. He looks like a different colt now. He’s matured a lot—he’s a big, strapping horse.”

Motion has picked out the Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap (G1) on February 11 as Animal Kingdom’s possible return to competition and prep race for the Dubai World Cup. However, he also has pinpointed a possible Dubai race in February if Team Valor opts to send the son of Leroidesanimaux (Brz) to the Middle East early, as did the connections of champion Curlin.

Motion has other possible runners for Dubai: Riverdee Stable’s distance specialist Eagle Poise for the $1-million Dubai Gold Cup (UAE-G3); Augustin Stable’s Grade 2 winner Smart Bid for either the $1-million Godolphin Mile (UAE-G2) or the $5-million Dubai Duty Free (UAE-G1), and Team Valor’s Lucky Chappy (Ire) for the $2-million United Arab Emirates Derby (UAE-G2).

Horses representing at least 14 countries are expected to compete in Dubai this year, said Martin Talty, Dubai’s international manager. Other American stars pointing for the World Cup include Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic (G1) winner Royal Delta, with Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) runner-up Game On Dude and Belmont Stakes (G1) winner Ruler On Ice possible contenders.

Emirates Airline Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) winner St Nicholas Abbey (Ire) is a potential runner in the $5-million Dubai Sheema Classic (UAE-G1), and Coolmore’s Ballydoyle trainer Aidan O’Brien also could saddle four-time Group 1 winner Fame And Glory in Dubai.

AmWest Entertainment will provide free past-performance data for all the Dubai World Cup Carnival races and also will provide live streaming video of each program at www.amwestentertainment.com.