California Chrome, Frosted and Keen Ice confirmed for $10 million Dubai World Cup race

America will provide five of the 12 runners in the Dubai World Cup next Saturday after the Dubai Racing Club released the likely fields to the world’s richest race.

California Chrome lands the Trans Gulf Electromechanical Trophy ahead of his Dubai World Cup tilt on Saturday March 26. Credit: Andrew Watkins
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America will provide five of the 12 runners in the Dubai World Cup next Saturday after the Dubai Racing Club released the likely fields to the world’s richest race.

California Chrome, who was second to Prince Bishop in the US$10 million (Dh36.7m) event 12 months ago, will line up alongside fellow US raiders Frosted, owned by Godolphin, and Keen Ice at Meydan.

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They will be joined by Bob Baffert’s Hopportunity, and Todd Pletcher’s Mshawish as America attempts to win its first World Cup on dirt since Well Armed was a runaway winner at Nad Al Sheba in 2009.

Special Fighter, who caused a huge upset in Round 3 of the Al Maktoum Challenge on Super Saturday for Musabah Al Muhairi, has been given the chance to show his win was no fluke, while Mubtaahij, last year’s UAE Derby winner, will attempt to hand Mike de Kock his first win in the race.

The field will be completed by Vadamos from France, Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid’s Intilaaq, Japan’s Hokko Tarumae, Saudi Arabia’s Teletext, Hong Kong’s Gun Pit and Doug Watson’s Candy Boy.

The total American entry at 12 is down slightly across the eight thoroughbred races from last year’s 16, but the US still have a strong presence in the Dubai Golden Shaheen, a race they traditionally farmed at Nad Al Sheba and won last season through Secret Circle.

Kiaran McLaughlin will run Confrontation in the $2 million dirt sprint over 1,200 metres, while likely pace-setter XY Jet also travels.

McLaughlin has clearly had a change of heart about Marking, who has been switched to the Godolphin Mile, also on dirt, and is America’s only representation in the $1 million race.

Sole Power is back to defend his crown in the Al Quoz Sprint, as is Solow in the $6 million Dubai Turf, despite a slight scare on the Chantilly gallops on Wednesday.

The five-time Group 1 winner knocked his leg on the gallops as he continues to gear up for the race.

Freddy Head played down the incident, however, and said no lasting damage was done.

“He gave himself a knock on his legworking this morning, but he was OK afterwards,” he said.

“He’s fine for Dubai.”

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