The Dubai World Cup Meeting: Trainers and Jockeys

World Racing / Timeform / 25 March 2010 / Leave a comment

Dettori and Bin Suroor, a killer combination at the World Cup meeting

Timeform take a look at the trainers and jockeys worth keeping on side at the Dubai World Cup meeting...

"Saeed bin Suroor has trained seven Godolphin Mile winners, six UAE Derby winners and five World Cup winners. Though his record in the turf races is not so good, with just two Sheema Classic winners and only one Duty Free winner since it became a turf race in 2000...most yards would no doubt consider that an excellent return"

Though the meeting draws horses from just about everywhere that stages 'proper' racing, you don't need to look too far afield to find the most successful stable for Dubai World Cup night. Indeed, it should come as no shock to anyone that Godolphin dominate at what is, in effect, their 'home' fixture. The numbers speak for themselves: Saeed bin Suroor has trained seven Godolphin Mile winners, six UAE Derby winners and five World Cup winners. Though his record in the turf races is not so good, with just two Sheema Classic winners and only one Duty Free winner since it became a turf race in 2000 (he had won the preceding three on dirt), most yards would no doubt consider that an excellent return. The other master of this meeting and the Carnival that precedes it is Mike de Kock, who can always be relied upon to have his string spot-on for these valuable prizes. A record that includes two wins in the Duty Free, one Sheema Classic and no fewer than four UAE Derbies reflects very well indeed on the South African handler.

Of the corps of trainers from America, one who certainly warrants respect is Bob Baffert, who has two World Cups in his portfolio of big race wins. Though the last of those successes came in 2001 with Captain Steve, Baffert has been notably selective with the horses he sends over, having had just five runners at the meeting since 1998. He is represented in this year's World Cup by Richard's Kid, who has some work to do to reverse form with the market principals, but the very fact that his trainer has sent him here is a big positive in view of his record. Other American trainers with runners this year include Bill Mott, who won the first renewal of the World Cup with Cigar, but hasn't sent a horse to Dubai since 2003, and Todd Pletcher who, though perennially one of the top trainers in the USA, is yet to train a winner from eleven runners in the UAE.

Vision d'Etat [6.4], a multiple Group 1 winner back in Europe, is currently disputing favouritism for the World Cup. He will be a third runner at the meeting for Frenchman Eric Libaud, who has done well with both his runners in Dubai - Terre a Terre won the Duty Free in 2002 while Ange Gabriel was a close second to Sulamani in the Sheema Classic a year later.

One British-based trainer who has saddled winners at the World Cup meeting is Brian Meehan, who was victorious in the 2006 Duty Free with David Junior. Cat Junior represents the same connections this year in the Godolphin Mile, while Crowded House bids to build belatedly on the promise of his two-year-old season with a run in the World Cup itself. Marcus Tregoning has a pretty good record on World Cup night, with each one of the horses he has sent over hitting the frame at least, Nayef's win in the 2002 Sheema Classic the obvious highlight. Tregoning runs Finjaan in the Al Quoz this year. Sir Michael Stoute has not had a winner in Dubai since Fantastic Light won the Sheema Classic in 2000, though Spanish Moon ran very well in the same race last year and has another crack at it this time round.

As far as jockeys are concerned, Frankie Dettori is unsurprisingly the main man, having shared much of Godolphin's success over the years at the meeting, though he did win the Golden Shaheen in 2007 courtesy of an outside ride. Similarly, riders associated with Mike de Kock have enjoyed good success, with Kevin Shea having teamed up with him to win a couple of Group 1s on World Cup night. This year Christophe Soumillon has partnered the majority of de Kock's leading hopes. The Belgian won the Duty Free on Terre a Terre, and has a record at Meydan this year second only to Dettori. It's also worth mentioning that Ahmed Ajtebi rode what may well have been the richest double in history at the meeting last season with winners in the Duty Free and Sheema Classic. He has teamed up with Godolphin to good effect at this year's Carnival, and given the new training arrangements there, his success should only burgeon.

Racecards for Dubai World Cup night will be available from timeform.com. Remember, the first race is at 13.20 (GMT).