By Alan Carasso
DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES — The 28th running of the $12-million G1 Dubai World Cup is set for Saturday at sprawling Meydan Racecourse and has attracted an internationally flavored field of 12, a third of which are based in various parts of the U.S.
Senor Buscador (Mineshaft) will attempt to make history as the first to sweep the 'Desert Double,' having caused a surprise when just touching off the re-opposing World Cup champion Ushba Tesoro (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}) 600 miles to the west of here in the G1 Saudi Cup five weeks ago.
Newgate (Into Mischief), one of two in the race for his all-conquering sire alongside Juddmonte's stretching-out Laurel River, exits a victory in the GI Santa Anita H. and goes out for the team of trainer Bob Baffert and jockey Frankie Dettori, successful with Country Grammer (Tonalist) in 2022. The progressive Crupi, a son of 2008 World Cup hero Curlin, and Grade II winner Clapton (Brethren) round out the quartet.
American horses have won 13 of the 27 previous runnings of the World Cup.
Sibelius (Not This Time) will look to join Caller One and Mind Your Biscuits as back-to-back winners of the G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen, a 1200-meter dash that has also attracted GI Breeders' Cup Sprint third Nakatomi (Firing Line); Bold Journey (Hard Spun), the GIII Fall Highweight H. winner and third in the G3 Riyadh Dirt Sprint; Run Classic (Runhappy); and Hopkins (Quality Road), third after setting the pace last year.
Saudi Cup third Saudi Crown (Always Dreaming) is down in trip and should jump as the favorite for the G2 Godolphin Mile, where he is joined by his compatriots Two Rivers Over–whose sire Tamarkuz took the 2015 Mile–and Caramel Chip (Midshipman).
There is a single American representative in each of three of the remaining five Thoroughbred races Saturday evening. Casa Creed (Jimmy Creed) will look to improve on a troubled fifth in the G1 Al Quoz Sprint in 2022, while the striking Catnip (Kitten's Joy) takes on some of the world's best in the G1 Dubai Turf. New York-bred Pandagate (Arrogate), whose sire was spectacular in winning the 2017 World Cup, will try to earn points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby in the G2 UAE Derby.
Previews for all eight races will appear in TDN Europe.
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