147 Horses Nominated To The Dubai World Cup Carnival

A total of 147 horses from 16 countries have been entered in the upcoming Dubai World Cup Carnival that begins at Meydan Racecourse on Friday, Jan. 6, 2023. The nine-week Carnival is a preview for the Dubai World Cup night festivities on Mar. 25 next year.

Among the horses that have accepted their Carnival engagements are an 11-strong team from American-based trainer Doug O'Neill, who saddled four winners from just 19 runners in 2022. Grade II scorer Slow Down Andy (Nyquist), third in the GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile, is set for the desert, as is Oud Metha S. winner Get Back Goldie (Goldencents) and GI Pennsylvania Derby sixth B Dawk (Gormley).

Fellow American Dallas Stewart sends Long Range Toddy (Take Charge Indy), hero of the GII Rebel S. Equilateral (GB) (Equiano {Fr}), from the Charlie Hills barn, is back for a third time and he is joined by stablemate Khaadem (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}). Richard Hannon will send group winners Chindit (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) and Happy Romance (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}), the latter second in the G1 Al Quoz Sprint on Dubai World Cup night in 2022.

South American is also well represented by Group 1 winners La Validada (Arg) (Valid Stripes {Arg}), Nino Guapo (Arg) (Catcher In The Rye {Ire}) and El Musical (Arg) (Il Campione {Chi), all three from the yard of Juan Saldivia. Uruguayan Group 1 winner Loreley (Brz) (Kentuckian) is also set to participate for trainer Ricardo Colombo.

Stephanie Cooley, International Liaison for Dubai Racing Club, said, “We are delighted with the strength of nominations which we have received from across the world for the Carnival.

“To have nations such as South Korea, who have suffered from Covid restrictions in recent years, returning is gratifying, and it's also superb to welcome back many returning equine stars as well as some new faces from the UK, Ireland and the USA.”

To view the full list of accepted horses, please click here.

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Equilateral to Remain in Dubai

Trainer Charlie Hills was very pleased with the recent performance of G1SP Equilateral (GB) (Equiano {Fr}) in the Listed Dubai Dash last Thursday, and the 6-year-old gelding will remain in Dubai for another tilt at the G2 Meydan Sprint on Feb. 18. In 2020, Equilateral ran second in the Sprint.

“I was really delighted with him,” said Hills. “Frankie [Dettori] gave him a great ride and it looked like he was always going to win the race. It's nice to have won the race twice now and he was 5lb worse off than last year. He seems to have come out of the race in great order and we'll train him for the Group 2.”

Another of Hills's pupils, the evergreen stable star Battaash (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), is wintering well and currently enjoying a holiday. The MG1SW is likely to make his first start in the G1 King's Stand S. at Royal Ascot in June. Last term, the bay landed the King's Stand with Equilateral second.

“Battaash is still on his winter break,” he said. “He doesn't normally come in until the beginning of March. They all seem very happy with him. He's enjoying his hols at the moment.

“Last year he would probably have gone to Haydock [for the Temple S.] had that race been on. He's won first time out every year, so I think we'll just save him for Royal Ascot.”

Group 3 winner Tilsit (First Defence) is also being aimed at a Middle Eastern target, in his case the $20-million Saudi Cup on dirt and the Middle Distance Turf Cup both in Riyadh on Feb. 20.

“He's in those two races and we're looking at it,” he said. “Hopefully we'll run him. We'll see how he is in a couple of weeks.”

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