UAE: The first five horses home in the Saudi Cup led by Japanese-trained winner Panthalassa have all touched down in Dubai ready for the Dubai World Cup meeting at Meydan on March 25.
The Yoshito Yahagi-trained six-year-old, one of three winners on the card in Riyadh for Japan, is joined by Saudi Cup runner-up Country Grammer plus four of his compatriots in Cafe Pharoah (third), Geoglyph (fourth), Crown Pride (fifth) and Jun Light Bolt (seventh).
Panthalassa, who also dead-heated with Lord North in last year’s Dubai Turf, became the third-highest-earning Japanese-trained horse of all time after his front-running victory in Riyadh. He has been nominated for the Dubai World Cup and the Dubai Turf, with trainer Yahagi expected to announce a decision closer to raceday.
Reigning Dubai World Cup winner Country Grammer also flew in from Saudi Arabia on Tuesday and he will attempt to become only the second dual winner of the $12m contest at Meydan.
Country Grammer was joined on the short flight by the Steve Asmussen-trained Gunite, who is nominated for the Dubai Golden Shaheen. Winner of the G2 Amsterdam Stakes at Saratoga last summer, the four-year-old finished second to Breeders’ Cup winner Elite Power in the Riyadh Dirt Sprint on Sunday.
Third in the same race was Japanese four-year-old Remake,who has also travelled on to the UAE where he will be joined in the Golden Shaheen by compatriot Justin.
In total, 13 Japanese-trained horses made the onward journey to Dubai from Saudi. They also include last year’s Godolphin Mile winner Bathrat Leon, who landed the 1351 Turf Sprint in Riyadh but is now likely to switch back to dirt for a defence of his Meydan title.
Vin De Garde, placed in the last two editions of the Dubai Turf for trainer Hideaki Fujiwara, is also back for another attempt, while Lauda Sion will attempt to better last year’s ninth in the Al Quoz Sprint.
UAE Derby winner Crown Pride will form part of a strong Japanese challenge in the Dubai World Cup. Alongside the other horses coming in from Saudi, the nation’s challenge will also feature Japan Cup winner Vela Azul switching to dirt plus Ushba Tesoro and T O Keynes. They will all fly straight to Dubai from Japan.
The Japanese will have a strong hand in the G2 UAE Derby with Saudi Derby third Derma Sotogake – now set to be ridden by Christophe Lemaire – and fifth-placed Continuar.
The recently landed team is completed by the Hideyuki Mori-trained Echt, seventh in the Red Sea Turf Handicap, who is likely to head to the G2 Dubai Gold Cup.
“It was gratifying to see our 2022 Dubai World Cup winners do so well in Saudi, with Panthalassa and Bathrat Leon winning and Country Grammer running an honorable second,” said Dubai Racing Club international manager Stephanie Cooley.
“We are delighted that so many top-class horses have travelled on from Saudi and they will now have plenty of settling in time ahead of the big day. The Japanese look likely to have their strongest Dubai World Cup team ever, with several more arriving over the next few weeks.”
The Japanese team on the big night will be bolstered by Arima Kinen winner Equinox, the reigning Horse of the Year who runs in the Longines Dubai Sheema Classic alongside defending champion Shahryar.
Serifos and Do Deuce have accepted invitations to the G1 Dubai Turf. Earlier this week there was another early arrival when Breeders’ Cup Mile runner-up Shirl’s Speight, trained by Roger Attfield, settled into the international stables ahead of his run in the Dubai Turf. The G1 winner was unplaced on dirt last time out switched to dirt in Tokyo in the February Stakes behind Lemon Pop.
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