Dubai World Cup

What's New at Dubai World Cup 2005

The richest race meeting in the world takes place at Nad Al Sheba on Saturday March 26, 2005

The evening features the Dubai World Cup, the world's richest horse race, supported by the UAE Derby and the Dubai Kahayla Classic for Purebred Arabians. The Dubai Duty Free, Dubai Sheema Classic, Dubai Golden Shaheen and Godolphin Mile will complete a night of history

Grand Hombre out of Dubai World Cup

Godolphin Racing Manager Simon Crisford reported on Friday morning that even though Dubai World Cup (Gr.I) hopeful Grand Hombre’s bruised foot condition has improved, the decision was made to scratch the five-year-old gelding.

“He’s much better, we just decided it wouldn’t be the right thing to run,” Crisford said.

Grand Hombre suffered the bruise on Tuesday during a workout. A pulse was detected in his right front foot and Crisford said a day later that he was only “50-50” to compete in the World Cup.

His withdrawal leaves Godolphin without a starter in the world’s richest race, the US$6,000,000 Dubai World Cup (Gr.I), sponsored by Emirates Airline. The Maktoum family, which owns the Godolphin runners, has won five of the first nine runnings of the Dubai World Cup, with Godolphin entries Moon Ballad, Street Cry, and Dubai Millennium winning in 2003, ’02, and ’00. Almutawakel won in the silks of Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid al Maktoum in 1999 and Singspiel carried Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum’s colours to victory in 1997.

Crisford said Grand Hombre probably will be sent to compete in the United States later this year. The son of Grand Slam won his first four career starts in the U.S., including the 2003 Pennsylvania Derby (G3), before being acquired by Godolphin. He finished fourth in last year’s Dubai World Cup and third in his only race of 2005, the Maktoum Challenge Round III (Gr.II) on Super Saturday on March 5th at Nad al Sheba during the Dubai International Racing Carnival.

Visit Dubai World Cup 2005 - The World's Richest Race Meeting Official Website at http://www.dubaiworldcup.com/