Entries for Dubai’s famous World Cup meeting have been released with only a handful of Australian horses amongst the nominations.
Four individual Australian-trained horses have been nominated for the Dubai World Cup meeting on March 26.
This figure is well down on previous years, when a large number of horses were nominated for races like the US$5m Dubai Duty Free (1800m, turf) and the US$2m Golden Shaheen (1200m, all weather).
This year, David Hayes leads the way with import Rebel Soldier and sprinter Eagle Falls entered for the meeting.
Rebel Soldier is entered for the US$10m Dubai World Cup (2000m, all weather), the US$5m Sheema Classic (2400m, turf) and the Dubai Duty Free.
A tilt at Dubai will be decided after he runs in the Group 1 Australian Cup (2000m) on March 12.
Click here to read about Rebel Soldier and David Hayes’ other imports
Eagle Falls, who ran well in Dubai last year but had a poor spring, has been entered for both the Golden Shaheen and the US$1m Al Quoz Sprint (1000m).
Australia’s most likely representative is star sprinter Hay List.
Although he suffered a setback after an exhibition gallop last Saturday, trainer John McNair indicated that Dubai is still on the agenda for the gelding after he runs in the Group 2 Expressway Stakes (1200m) and/or the Group 1 Lightning Stakes (1000m).
Hay List has also been entered for both the Golden Shaheen and the Al Quoz Sprint.
The Tony Noonan-trained Ortensia, who resumes in the Group 2 Australia Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley tomorrow night, is entered for the Golden Shaheen.
Star Macau galloper Luen Yat Forever is among the nominations for the Dubai Duty Free and the US$1m Godolphin Mile (1600m), but it is unclear who is his trainer.
He was entered for the Group 1 Doncaster Mile (1600m) last week with Peter Moody as his trainer, but he is entered under his original trainer’s name for Dubai.
While Australian-trained horses are thin in numbers, there are a number of Australian-bred horses among the nominations.
Singapore superstars Rocket Man and Better Than Ever, top Hong Kong sprinter One World and Godolphin recruits Caymans, Kidnapped and Imvula will fly the flag for Australian breeders.
Twenty two countries were represented in the initial nominations for the meeting.
Click here to access the full list of nominations.
Written by Andrew Hawkins
