A return trip to Dubai has been confirmed for the top class American racehorse Behrens after his brilliant victory in the Grade I Gulfstream Park Handicap in Florida last weekend.
Behrens was winning the Gulfstream Park Handicap for the second successive year and his trainer, H James Bond, confirmed immediately after the race that Behrens would ship to Dubai to run in the US$6million Group I Dubai World Cup, sponsored by Emirates, at Nad Al Sheba on March 25th.
This will be Behrens' second attempt on the Dubai World Cup, the horse finishing fifth to Silver Charm in 1998.
'Behrens has matured into a truly top class racehorse and his confirmed presence in the Dubai World Cup is very good news,' said Racing Secretary to the Dubai World Cup, Mr Kevin Greely.
'His performance to win the Gulfstream Park by five lengths is one of obvious class and he is obviously in peak form for his Dubai trip.'
On the other side of the world, Skoozi PLease, rounded off his preparation for the US$2million Group III Dubai Duty Free in fine style by winning the Group II Carlyon Cup at Caulfield last Saturday.
Skoozi Please, trained by Graeme Rogerson, is now owned by Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Mualla and the Carlyon Cup was the first event where the horse carried his red and white colours.
Champion Australian jockey Jim Cassidy has confirmed his intentions to ride Skoozi Please in the Dubai Duty Free and it is likely he will also team up with the sprinter Dantelah in the Listed Dubai Golden Shaheen, sponsored by Gulf News.
The champion Saudi Arabian filly Ma Tahaab remains on course to be the first Dubai World Cup entrant from the Kingdom after her second in last Friday's Prince Abdul Aziz Cup in Riyadh.
Trainer Joe Hennessy also hopes to run Markhan in the US$500,000 UAE Derby (Prestige) and has entered the Grade I Chilean winner Sidon for the US$250,000 Listed Godolphin Mile, sponsored by Jebel Ali Hotel & Golf Resort.
The countdown to the Dubai World Cup continues this week at Nad Al Sheba with the third and final round of the Maktoum Challenge and the 2000 reappearance of Dubai Millennium and Lear Spear.
