Austrian-born Canadian Frank Stronach is a remarkable man. Starting his working career as an apprentice tool maker, he built up an industrial empire whose crown jewel is auto parts manufacturer Magna International. He indulged his passion for horse racing by setting up racing stables and stud farms under the Adena Springs banner, with breeding operations in Kentucky and Florida in the USA and in Ontario in Canada. He also acquired existing race tracks such as Gulfstream Park, Pimlico and Santa Anita.

One of the most fascinating recent initiatives from his group has been the proposed Pegasus World Cup, whose first running is scheduled for 5:40 p.m. Eastern time on Saturday, January 28th (4:10 a.m. on Sunday, January 29th, in India). To be run over 9 furlongs on dirt at Gulfstream Park in Florida, the race is worth $12,000,000 (about Rs. 82 crores), thus making it the richest race in the world!

Amongst the unique features of this event, which has surpassed the Dubai World Cup in gross value, is the fact that owners have had to "buy" their entry spots for $1,000,000 apiece, several months in advance. They can then choose which horse to nominate – or sell their nominations. After much anticipation as to who would run and who would not, a full field was drawn on Monday, January 23rd, night at Gulfstream Park. It includes the two highest-rated horses in the world as listed in the latest World Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings published in London, England, on Tuesday, January 24th.

And a twist in the tale was added when this pair of top rated runners, Arrogate (by Unbridled's Song) and California Chrome (by Lucky Pulpit) happened to be drawn 1 and 12 respectively, thus sandwiching all the remaining ten in between. The pair last met in the Breeders' Cup Classic at Santa Anita in November last year, when a tactical ride by Mike Smith on the former saw him clawing out a narrow victory over Victor Espinoza on the latter.

The draw has once again focussed minds on strategy, more so as there is only one furlong for the widest drawn runner, California Chrome, to attempt to cross over to a more ground-saving inside path. Apparently only one runner has scored at Gulfstream from draw # 12 in 18 dirt races at 9 furlongs – and that was Big Brown. The statistics say that draw # 1 has a much higher success rate, but Arrogate could well be trapped behind a wall of rivals, should he not break alertly.

Art Sherman, trainer of California Chrome, who is headed for a stud career at Taylor Made Farm in Nicholasville, Kentucky, after this race, was quite bullish when offering the following comments: "I know it's going to be a tough race, but I'll tell you I've never seen a horse train like him in a long time. It seems like each time I work him, he gets a little bit stronger. I would have loved to have one more year with him. This year would have been a fabulous year for this horse. He amazes me on the way he's just getting better. At six years old, you look at him and you say, 'Wow, he hasn't reached his peak yet'."

In all, including the above pair there are six Gr.1 runners in the field but the remaining four are not of the same exalted class and both the principals would have to run below their ability for anything else to be crowned in glory.

As in the Kentucky Derby, there are a few horses on the "also eligible" list which might get a chance to run if something already in the field was withdrawn. However, they are not ranked in order of merit but linked instead to particular runners: should Arrogate pull out, Stanford (by Malibu Moon) would take his place; in the case of California Chrome it would be Madefromlucky (by Lookin At Lucky) who would get in; and were it to be Breaking Lucky who defected, Sea Raven (by Mineshaft) would come in.

Here is the field with expected odds. Pen pictures of each contestant follow.

Pegasus World Cup (with jockeys and morning-line odds)

Here are notes on the contenders:

1/Arrogate gr/ro c 4 by Unbridled’s Song–Bubbler (Distorted Humor)

Inbred to the pre-eminent dirt influence in North America (Mr. Prospector), Arrogate has proved a huge money spinner for Prince Khalid Abdullah, earning $4,084,600 from just six starts. Unlike most of the runners sporting the Juddmonte Farms silks, he is not a home-bred but was acquired instead via public auction. Lightly raced by Bob Baffert, he has but six starts under his belt, five of which were attended by victory, notably the Gr.1 Breeders Cup Classic and the Gr.1 Travers Stakes – by 13-1/2 lengths! Those efforts gained him the title of champion 3-y-o colt in 2016. He is a worthy contender and with normal racing luck should take the $7,000,000 prize or run second.

2/Prayer For Relief dk b/br h 9 by Jump Start–Sparklin Lil (Mr. Sparkles)

The oldest performer in the field, he seems a strange choice on which to pony up a million dollars as entry fee! This is almost half his lifetime earnings of $2,027,948 earned from 45 visits to the starting gate, 8 of which also involved a photo-op in the winner's circle. It is almost four years since his picture was clicked – in the Tenacious Handicap at Fair Grounds – and he is most unlikely to play a major part.

3/Neolithic dk b/br c 4 by Harlan’s Holiday–Swinglet (Victory Gallop)

Having won just a couple of his seven starts, earning a mere $109,028, this colt is – as they say – up against it. Even as a representative of the powerful Todd Pletcher/John Velazquez combine, he makes little appeal. His owners would obviously be hoping for significant improvement in the level of ability shown by their property, with both his victories coming at Gulfstream. Four-year-olds can improve – but the gap seems too wide.

4/Noble Bird ch h 6 by Birdstone – Anyhow (Tiznow)

The earner of $1,069,945 is a fairly decent performer, his resume including a win in the prestigious Grade 1 contest, the Stephen Foster Handicap at Churchill Downs. Trained by Mark Casse and ridden by Julien Leparoux, the winner of 7 of his 20 starts is certainly worth his place in the field even if victory could prove elusive.

5/War Story ch g 5 by Northern Afleet – Belle Watling (Pulpit)

The earner of $559,395 from 4 wins and 5 placings, he has been all over the country racing at ten different tracks from coast to coast. Sporting the colours of Loooch (sic) Racing Stables, Inc. and partners, he is now with schooler Jorge Navarro. War Story is in fine fettle, with a runaway romp in the Queens County Stakes at Aqueduct last month – when tutored by Mario Serrey Jr. – to his credit, but this is quite another cup of tea.

6/War Envoy b h 5 by War Front – La Conseillante (Elusive Quality)

This former inmate of Ballydoyle Stables in Co. Tipperary, Ireland, had his moment in the sun when he won the Britannia Stakes at Royal Ascot in 2015. Sold to America after a dismal effort in the Breeders Cup Dirt at Keeneland, he now runs for Ruis Racing LLC and is trained by Shelbe Ruis. It's hard to see him bridge the chasm between decent turf performer in Europe and top class dirt racer in North America.

7/Shaman Ghost b h 5 by Ghostzapper–Getback Time (Gilded Time)

On another day, one might debate the question of whether a sponsor running a contender in a sponsored race is indulging in some sort of "insider trading". Whether that query has even a grain of truth or not, promoter of the race Frank Stronach has dipped into his bank balance to run his Canadian-bred winner of the Queen's Plate, Shaman Ghost, here. Stronach also campaigned his sire, Ghostzapper, and paternal grandsire Awesome Again. Even though he is a Gr.1 winner in the USA, a top two finish is unlikely for Shaman Ghost.

8/Semper Fortis dk b/br c 4 Distorted Humor–Rebridled Dreams (Unbridled´s Song)

Reddam Racing's winner of 2 races from 12 starts, with earnings of $179,405, is trained by usual trainer Doug O'Neill but has a new pilot. Tyler Gafflione replaces Mario Gutierrez in the saddle. Either way, this is no Nyquist or I'll Have Another, to name a couple that have sported the same silks and one can't see Semper Fortis as being in with a chance.

9/Keen Ice b h 5 Curlin–Medomak (Awesome Again)

The third-highest earner in the field, with a tally of $2,387,245, Keen Ice shot to fame when dethroning Triple Crown hero American Pharoah (Pioneerof The Nile) in the Gr.1 Travers Stakes at Saratoga in August 2015. That appears to have been something of a fluke result as he has not scored subsequently. However, given that he was a place-getter in the 2016 Breeders’ Cup Classic, he could make a play for the minor placings here.

10/Breaking Lucky ch h 5 by Lookin At Lucky–Shooting Party (Sky Classic)

Virtually the equal of arch-rival Shaman Ghost, this Canadian-bred grabbed the Prince Of Wales Stakes at Fort Erie in his native country in 2015. His pedigree shows inbreeding to the broodmare No Class, who – like former Equus Stud resident No Louder – was by Nodouble. Reasonably consistent, he can aspire to the minor placings.

11/Eragon b h 6 by Offlee Wild–Express Time (Shy Tom)

One of the top racers in the USA in 2015 was Runhappy, owned by mattress king Jim McIngvale. After that runner retired, the owner searched far and wide for a campaigner  that could run without Lasix, as he does not believe in raceday medication. What's more the Pegasus World Cup boasts an incentive to stay off Lasix – horses running in it without Lasix are given a weight concession of 5 pounds.

The search ended with Eragon, a triple Gr.1 winner in Argentina. It remains to be seen how Laura Wohlers' charge adapts to his new environment though with only 119 pounds to carry he could well pose problems with his finishing speed.

12/California Chrome ch h 6 by Lucky Pulpit–Love The Chase (Not For Love)

Despite his loss at the hands of Arrogate last November, the Eclipse Awards voters selected him earlier this month as Horse Of The Year in the USA (for a second time). After a poor season in 2015, when he was plagued by injury, California Chrome enjoyed a terrific year in 2016, winning 7 out of 8 starts, his sole defeat being the one referred to above. He bounced back after that loss to annex the Winter Challenge Stakes at his home base of Los Alamitos (by 12 long lengths!) as his final prep.