Its status as the world's best horse race is open to question, but the $10 million prize money on offer ensures that the Dubai World Cup at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai, U.A.E., retains its status as the world's richest horse race. Arguably its latest renewal on Saturday, March 30^th, has drawn a better field in 2013 than that which faced the starter last year.

Created in 1996, the 2000 metres event has had a profound impact on the global racing scene, more so as it forms the centrepiece of a carnival which has something for everyone in horse terms. There are sprints and staying events, some run on turf and others on all-weather, for different age groups, enabling a wide range of runners to participate. Amongst the notable names on the feature's scroll of honour are Cigar, Curlin, Dubai Millennium and Street Cry.

As many as 105 of the world's best Thoroughbreds have been assembled to display their wares on the wide canvas of Meydan racecourse in eight races restricted to the breed. Thirteen of those go in the evening's feature, sponsored by Emirates Airline – the Dubai World Cup is the ninth event of a card that commences at 6:00 p.m. IST with a race for Purebred Arabians.

American-trained runners, dominant in the 14 years that the Dubai World Cup was contested at Nad Al Sheba with 8 victories, have been quiet in the last three runnings, after the race was switched to the amazing new track at Meydan. Whether this is due to the Tapeta all-weather surface on which they have to race, or simply an inability on the part of individual runners to adapt to the travel, quarantine, environment, etc., is not clear at this time. A sample of three results is simply too small for meaningful conclusions to be drawn.

However, in 2013 US-trainees have strong representation through arguably the best entire male in Animal Kingdom, the best older female in Royal Delta (who was here last year as well, but failed to fire) and the highly-rated Dullahan. The only other runners in the field that can boast of comparable ratings are last year's one-two, Monterosso and Capponi, both back for a repeat attempt.  

For this raceday, the card number and draw number are the same (higher numbers are drawn wider). Going through the runners one by one:

1. Treasure Beach (by Galileo) – seems to have lost his winning ways. Once an Epsom Derby runner-up, he has not scored since August 2011, and most likely will not be troubling the scorer here. Formerly trained by Aidan O'Brien, the Coolmore castoff is now with Mike de Kock and Belgian ace Christophe Soumillon will try and rouse his mount to display something resembling his best form.

2. Red Cadeaux (by Cadeaux Genereux) – is coming off a victory in the Longines Hong Kong Vase last December but has so far been purely a turf horse. Undoubtedly his trainer, Ed Dunlop, can produce him fit on the day – as he has done in a different context with Snow Fairy – but it is doubtful if the seven-year-old has the ability to defeat all his rivals. Gerald Mosse, the man for the big occasion, is in the saddle.

3. Dullahan (by Even The Score) – ran about 40 points below his best when making his U.A.E. debut 3 weeks ago. At his best, such as when he annexed the Pacific Turf Classic last August, he can stretch them all. One has necessarily to harbour doubts as to whether he can make up the leeway in the short period since then. Retired jockey Gary Stevens, who triumphed aboard Silver Charm in 1998, has returned to race riding and has the call on the four-year-old, who represents the Dale Romans team.

4. Hunter's Light (by Dubawi) – is perhaps this year's version of Monterosso! The world traveller has nine wins to his credit and is probably the only horse ever to have won in England, Italy, Turkey and the U.A.E. He loves the Meydan track and is in rousing form, coming off a hat trick. The emerging Brazilian star, Silvestre De Sousa – well known to racegoers in India – will try and bring Godolphin Racing and Saeed bin Suroor their sixth win in this rich prize.

5. Capponi (by Medicean) – found only Monterosso  too good for him last year, but has not been seen out in public since. The same team of professionals who nearly brought him victory in 2012 are associated with him, namely trainer Mahmood Al Zarooni and local rider Ahmed Ajtebi. The long absence is suggestive of training issues and while a win will not be a total surprise, it seems unlikely.

6. Side Glance (by Passing Glance) – is an admirably tough customer, but a notch below the best. It would be defying the form book if a runner whose two highest-rated efforts have come in Listed races (both wins under high weights) suddenly jumps up to take the richest race in the world, and a Group 1 to boot! Interestingly, Jamie Spencer will be aboard Andrew Balding's ward, even though Jimmy Fortune, who has teamed up with the gelding for five of his seven wins, will be present at the meeting.

7. Planteur (by Danehill Dancer) – is an Irish-born former French-trained runner who now races for Qatari interests from the English yard of Italian-born Marco Botti! Even though he comes in here off a recent win on the all-weather at Lingfield, the six-year-old looks to have something to find. Former champion jockey Ryan Moore has yet to notch a win in this event and Planteur does not look the one to help him break his duck.

8. Royal Delta (by Empire Maker) – hails from the stable of Bill Mott, whose ward, Cigar, took the inaugural Dubai World Cup. She was tipped to win by this column last year but disappointed, a loss attributed in some circles to a dislike for the track. Mott is too shrewd a trainer to have brought her back had this been the case. She has been working smartly and, if reproducing her best form, is certain to be a factor at the business end. Regular pilot Mike Smith is at the controls.

9. Meandre (by Slickly) – represents veteran Andre Fabre, whose illustrious record in major events around the globe shows only a handful of gaping omissions – one of these being the Dubai World Cup. His nominee here, to be steered by Maxim Guyon, is talented but not quite as consistent as desired. The five-year-old's strike rate is just over 25%, a figure that in all likelihood will be inadequate to get the job done.

10. Monterosso (by Dubawi) – is trying to do what no other horse has done, and that is to repeat in the Dubai World Cup. Not helping his cause is his poor form in his only two starts since he rolled to glory last year. A rating of 91 last out does not hint at the possibility of victory in this field. That said, trainer Mahmood Al Zarooni and rider Mickael Barzalona remain upbeat about his chances.

11. African Story (by Pivotal) – is a horse for the course. He is practically unbeaten at Meydan, having secured four of his five local starts, with a narrow loss (in a photo-finish) completing his U.A.E. portfolio. Last year's Godolphin Mile winner will be trying a new distance for Saeed bin Suroor, and Kieren Fallon has been entrusted with the task of stretching him out.

12. Animal Kingdom (by Leroidesanimaux) – is consistency personified, with 4 wins and 5 seconds from 10 starts. His only unplaced effort came when he was injured in the Belmont Stakes. Having shown his versatility with top efforts on dirt (winner of the Kentucky Derby) and turf (runner-up in the Breeders Cup Mile), he now tackles the all-weather, which trainer Graham Motion thinks will suit him, given that Tapeta is the surface on which the chestnut trains all year round. Joel Rosario is an interesting choice in the irons. Team Valor principal Barry Irwin was not too perturbed by the wide draw.

13. Kassiano (by Soldier Hollow) – is a German-bred who will be familiar to the racing public in India as the horse who trounced In The Spotlight on the second of her three starts in Dubai. That remains his highest-rated effort, albeit inadequate to win an event like this. A caveat – as he has won 7 of  his 10 starts, he is capable of showing significant improvement and perhaps ought to be the each-way choice of those searching for an outsider. William Buick has been booked for Saeed bin Suroor's charge.

All the supporting events have well-matched fields. Trainer Aidan O'Brien is believed to be quite sweet over the chances of St. Nicholas Abbey and Imperial Monarch in their respective events while not quite so sanguine about Reply, Lines Of Battle and Starspangled Banner. It may pay to follow Soft Falling Rain (Godolphin Mile), Now Spun (UAE Derby) and French Fifteen (Dubai Duty Free) in their respective events. The two sprints are too close to call – Eagle Regiment (Al Quoz Sprint) and Dr. Cyrus Poonawalla's Gordon Lord Byron (Dubai Golden Shaheen), named after the famous animal-loving poet of the early nineteenth century, should go well. Finally, one of the certainties to finish on the board in the Dubai Sheema Classic is the Japanese star filly Gentildonna (by Deep Impact), who shapes as the best bet of the meeting.

The full card follows:

Godolphin Mile sponsored by Etisalat
Total Prize Money: $1,000,000; 1600m., AW; Time: 6:40 p.m. IST

Dubai Gold Cup sponsored by Al Tayer Motors
Total Prize Money: $1,000,000; 3200m., turf;  Time: 7:15 p.m. IST

UAE Derby sponsored by Saeed & Mohammed Al Naboodah Group
Total Prize Money: $2,000,000; 1900m., AW; Time: 7:55 p.m. IST

Al Quoz Sprint sponsored by Emirates NBD
Total Prize Money: $1,000,000; 1000m., turf; Time:  8:35 p.m. IST

Dubai Golden Shaheen sponsored by Gulf News
Total Prize Money: $2,000,000; 1200m., AW, Time: 9:15 p.m. IST

Dubai Duty Free sponsored by Dubai Duty Free
Total Prize Money: $5,000,000; 1800m., turf; Time: 10:10 p.m. IST

Dubai Sheema Classic presented by Longines
Total Prize Money: $5,000,000; 2400m., turf; Time: 10:50 p.m. IST

Dubai World Cup sponsored by Emirates Airline
Total Prize Money: $10,000,000; 2000m. AW, Time: 11:35 pm IST