world

In its short history, the Dubai World Cup has quickly established itself as one of the world's most important races. With its huge purse of $6 million, the largest offered in all of racing, top horses from around the world have shipped in to the ancestral home of the Thoroughbred in hopes of capturing the winner's share and the unofficial title of Horse of the World.
For the inaugural running in 1996, America's champion Cigar bested California invader Soul of the Matter to continue his winning streak which had begun in November of 1994. Jerry Bailey returned in 1997 to win again, this time aboard Sheikh Mohammed's Singspiel, the 1996 Japan Cup winner and the runner up in the Breeders' Cup Turf. In 1998, Kentucky Derby winner Silver Charm, owned by Bob and Beverly Lewis, nosed out Swain for the payoff. In 1999 Silver Charm returned to defend his title and for the first time in history a Kentucky Derby winner faced an Epsom Derby winner, High-Rise. However, the big longshot Almutawakel shocked everyone and gave the home team its second win. Finally, in 2000, Godolphin sent out Dubai Millennium, so named because they fully expected him to win that year's running. He did not disappoint, beating top U.S. handicap horse Behrens by a widening eight lengths.
This year twelve horses will go to the post on Saturday March 24th to try and take home the $2.4 million prize for the winner, going 2000 meters (about 1 1/4 miles) over the dirt track at Nad al Sheba racecourse in Dubai. Unfortunately due to the foot-in-mouth disease epidemic in the U.K., no British horses were able to make the trip. Representing the United States are Captain Steve, trained by Bob Baffert, and Aptitude, trained by Bobby Frankel. Last year, Aptitude finished second in both the Kentucky Derby and the Belmont Stakes, while in his last start, Captain Steve won the Donn Handicap at Gulfstream Park on February 3rd.
The home team is represented by Broche, Ekraar, State Shinto, and Best of the Bests. Like Dubai Millennium, Best of the Bests was so named because the Sheikh expects him to win this race. In his last start he won the listed Maktoum Challenge Round 2, going about 1 1/8 miles in a respectible 1:47.85 over the same track as the World Cup.
Past performances will be available online from Daily Racing Form and many US tracks will be taking the race as a simulcast via Arlington Park. It will also be shown live on TVG and on ESPN on March 29th via tape delay. Below is the field with odds from William Hill Bookmakers in England plus each horse's name links to his current form from Racing Post.