Since its inception in 1996, the Dubai World Cup has been the centrepiece of international racing in the first quarter of the calendar year. Run at the exotic Meydan Racecourse in Dubai, the 2018 renewal of the race takes place on Saturday, March 31^st, as the ninth race of a long card, and has drawn 10 runners. Gates at the course open at noon, the first race is scheduled for 3:45 p.m. and the feature has been slotted in for 8:50 p.m. (all times local). This will be the richest day of racing anywhere in the world this year, with some $30 million on offer – about as much as the entire prize money disbursed in India in a whole year!

The Group 1 $10 million main event, which will be run over 2000 m. on dirt under lights, is expected to have a huge international audience watching it. Arrangements have been made with broadcasters in over 100 countries to cover the event. Even fans who happen to be on cruise ships or aircraft (11 airlines in all, including title sponsor Emirates) can grab a piece of the action. In India, live coverage has been arranged with Dsport. Including the feature, five of the nine races on the card are Gr.1 events and the supporting cast includes the Al Quoz Sprint, the Dubai Golden Shaheen, the Dubai Turf and the Dubai Sheema Classic.

Focussing on the Dubai World Cup itself – horses trained in the USA have found the winner’s circle exactly 50% of the time, with 11 victories in the 22 runnings of the race. UAE-based schoolers have accounted for another eight editions, leaving one apiece to France (with a Brazilian-bred), Great Britain and Japan. As in the past, this year the American challenge is strong, with half the field hailing from across the Atlantic. Local challengers number three while France and Japan have sent one runner each. Unfortunately none of the 10 runners has so far proved to be of the calibre of Arrogate or California Chrome, the last two winners, who were worthy wearers of the winner’s sash. Nevertheless, the level of competition is high.

A quick run-through of the form of the contenders for the night's feature, in order of card number (which is also the draw number), follows:

#1 AWARDEE  (by Jungle Pocket): Trained by Mikio Matsunaga, ridden by Yutaka Take

Partnered by his usual rider, this grandson of Tony Bin has won a boatload of money during his long career but as he is eight, his best days are behind him. While he took part inconspicuously in last year’s running, he is now the second-lowest ranked in the field when it comes to Racing Post Ratings and it will come as a shock if he does more than grace the rear of the field. British bookmakers have him pegged at 66 to 1. 

#2 NORTH AMERICA (by Dubawi): Trained by Satish Seemar, ridden by Richard Mullen

Fans of the turf are familiar with the success enjoyed by India’s Satish Seemar during over two decades of training in the Gulf. Here he has his best chance to make a big noise on the international circuit with the in-form North America. Three weeks ago this front running type trounced Thunder Snow over course and distance in track record time to set himself up for a top effort here, which has earned him a quote of 8 to 1.

#3 GUNNEVERA (by Dialed In): Trained by Antonio Sano, ridden by Joel Rosario

One of the five American-trained runners in here, the chestnut epitomises the international nature of racing as he has a Venezuelan trainer and a rider who hails from the Dominican Republic. The four-year-old, who was a Classic contender in 2017, has been banging his head against the likes of Gun Runner, but won’t find the opposition here easy, so can at best be considered for a place. 10 to 1 for the win can be had at a bookmaker’s office in England.

 #4 FURIA CRUZADA (by Newfoundland): Trained by Erwan Charpy, ridden by Antonio Fresu

Both the lowest-rated and the highest-priced contender in the line-up – at 100 to 1 – this Chilean-bred has been on the board in the UAE at each of her last three starts. Moreover she has experience of what it takes to participate in a race of this nature, having attempted it last year when she finished thirteenth. However, it will take a superhuman (superequine?) effort for the six-year-old racemare to figure in the shake-up.

#5 MUBTAAHIJ (by Dubawi): Trained by Bob Baffert and ridden by Victor Espinoza

Second in 2016 and fourth last year, he changed barns thereafter and thus represents the USA rather than South Africa. A six-year-old now, Mubtaahij has been consistent but seems to just lack that touch of late speed that might enable him to win. He does however have the services of the rider who galvanized both American Pharoah and California Chrome to many of their most memorable triumphs. Fans should be able to obtain odds of 22 to 1.

#6 FOREVER UNBRIDLED (by Unbridled’s Song). Trained by Dallas Stewart and ridden by Mike Smith

When you are (a) the highest-rated runner at the weights, (b) are steered by last year’s winning rider Mike Smith, and (c) have a Breeders Cup Trophy in your larder, it should be self-evident that you stand an excellent chance of taking the laurels. As against these factors, you have (d) been away from competitive action for 148 days, and (e) are attempting a feat no member of your sex has so far achieved. Thus any enthusiasm would be slightly tempered. Either way, she is a prime contender at 9 to 1.

#7 TALISMANIC (by Medaglia d’Oro): Trained by Andre Fabre and ridden by Mickael Barzalona

When a trainer with the standing of M. Andre Fabre switches his ward from turf to dirt, as he did with Arcangues at 133 to 1, one has to sit up and take notice. Should the runner in question, Talismanic, take to the dirt – as many of his sire’s offspring do – the five-year-old with the flashy white markings ought to be right in the thick of the action. 8 to 1 seems a fair enough price for this admirably consistent runner, who represents Godolphin. Rider Barzalona scored with Monterosso in 2012.

#8 PAVEL (by Creative Cause). Trained by Doug O’Neill and ridden by Mario Gutierrez

The white and purple silks of the Canadian-born Paul Reddam have enjoyed considerable success with runners trained by O’Neill and ridden by Gutierrez. One needs to think back only a few years to recall I’ll Have Another and Nyquist, both Kentucky Derby winners. And while either of those might have had an excellent chance in a race of this nature, Pavel simply does not have the credentials to match his “stablemates”.

#9 WEST COAST (by Flatter). Trained by Bob Baffert and ridden by Javier Castellano

Unless one is an “insider”, one cannot know how well a horse has travelled. The reason for mentioning this point is that travel would probably be the only chink in the armour of West Coast, who should otherwise be “home and hosed”. The lightly-raced colt is about a couple of lengths behind Gun Runner in ability and that should be enough to get the job done against these rivals. Also Baffert has won this race thrice before, which is probably a factor in the rather ungenerous quote of “Evens”.

#10 THUNDER SNOW (by Helmet). Trained by Saeed bin Suroor and ridden by Christophe Soumillon

If you are a “Horses for Courses” person, you need to look no further than this four-year-old. He himself has 3 wins and 2 runner-up efforts from 5 starts at Meydan, while his trainer has won the race 7 times and his owner on 6 occasions. Only his jockey has yet to sip from the cup of victory but the Belgian ace is too good a rider not to let that bother him. In fact it might spur him into filling one of the few vacant spaces on his mantelpiece! The current odds of 14 to 1 are tempting….

While West Coast should win, he is at too short a price to plunge in deeply and consideration must be given to Thunder Snow, Forever Unbridled, Talismanic and just perhaps North America.