U.S. Dubai World Cup Team Taking Shape

[Wandering Eyes]

With less than five weeks remaining to Dubai World Cup night at the sprawling Meydan Racecourse Apr. 5, the American challenge for the $12-million main event is coming together, with at least two U.S.-based middle-distance gallopers targeting the 2000-meter contest.

Wathnan Racing's Hit Show (Candy Ride {Arg}) has come out of his distant third-place effort to 'TDN Rising Star' Locked (Gun Runner) in Saturday's GI Santa Anita Handicap in good order and connections have accepted an invitation to the World Cup, Case Clay, Wathnan's U.S. advisor, confirmed Sunday.

“Will pow-wow with [trainer] Brad [Cox] again, but Hit Show is doing well and he ships well,” Clay commented.

In his only other appearance this season, the 5-year-old ran home strongly from the back of the field for an impressive victory in a sloppy renewal of the GIII Louisiana Stakes at the Fair Grounds Jan. 18.

Wathnan is also set to be represented in the G2 Godolphin Mile by Cagliostro (Upstart), who finished well to just lose a photo for third in the G3 Burj Nahaar on Super Saturday at Meydan, having finished third in his first local appearance, the G3 Firebreak Stakes Jan. 24.

“We were proud of Cagliostro coming on at the end of the Burj Nahaar just like he did at the end of the Firebreak,” Clay said, adding that longer trips might be in Cagliostro's future as he gets on in age.

Rattle N Roll (Connect) remains in Riyadh following his running-on fifth behind the World Cup-bound Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}) and likely G1 Dubai Turf favorite Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) in the Feb. 22 G1 Saudi Cup. Trainer Ken McPeek confirmed that the World Cup is squarely the plan, pending an official invitation from the Dubai Racing Club.

“He came out of the race super, we haven't been officially invited,” the conditioner said. “This horse has never had the chance to run 10 furlongs. He was going to get excluded from the Kentucky Derby, so didn't get to run there, and then got excluded in the Classic and that race would have set up for him.

“I thought his run in Riyadh was a good run,” McPeek continued. “He didn't get beat far for third and three or four jumps past the wire, he collared those, so we're anxious and hopeful we get the invite and we're preparing to take a shot at it.”

McPeek said that Rattle N Roll ships to Dubai one way or the other this coming Friday.

“They've given us clearance to come to Dubai and train, but no invitation yet,” he said.

Locked is unlikely to proceed to Dubai, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners' Aron Wellman said via text on Sunday morning.

“Not ruling anything out, but likely to stick to our guns and focus on a domestic campaign,” Wellman said.

A pair of Dubai-bound runners breezed on either side of the continent Sunday morning. At Santa Anita, GI Malibu Stakes hero Raging Torrent (Maximus Mischief) went five furlongs in 1:00.60 (7/66) in preparation for an appearance in the G2 Godolphin Mile. Trainer Chief Stipe O'Neill has twice saddled the winner of that event, including Two Rivers Over (Tamarkuz) last March. Fergus Galvin, a U.S. advisor to Sheikh Fahad's Qatar Racing, confirmed that Nakatomi (Firing Line) will return to the desert for a second try at the G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen. The 6-year-old, a troubled third to Tuz (Oxbow) in the 2024 running, breezed a half-mile in a bullet :47.20 (1/47) for trainer Wesley Ward at Payson Park Sunday morning. Also awaiting Nakatomi in the Golden Shaheen is G2 Riyadh Dirt Sprint winner and 2024 champion sprinter Straight No Chaser (Speightster).

 

Raging Torrent this morning at Santa Anita. pic.twitter.com/bRXg6AHJ4H

— Chief Stipe O'Neill (@DougONeill1) March 2, 2025

The post U.S. Dubai World Cup Team Taking Shape appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

View the full article