Ron the Greek to Miss Dubai World Cup
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Ron the Greek, a multiple grade I winner in the U.S. who now races in Saudi Arabia, will miss the $10 million Dubai World Cup (UAE-I) March 28 because of an unspecified injury.
Gulf News reports the 8-year-old son of Full Mandate will not be among the expected field for Saturday's race at Meydan and that a late invitation has been extended to Sheikh Hamdan's U.S. stakes winner Long River.
Headlining the probable starters are U.S. Horse of the Year California Chrome and last year's Dubai World Cup winner African Story. Others likely to start are grade I winner Lea, grade II winner Candy Boy, 2014 Japan Cup (Jpn-I) victor Epiphaneia, Japan's champion dirt horse of 2014 Hokko Tarumae, UAE group I winner Prince Bishop, and Australian group I winner Side Glance, who is grade I-placed in the U.S.
Racing under the name Wattani, Ron the Greek has won his four most recent starts in Saudi Arabia, including the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Cup Feb. 14 and Crown Prince Cup Jan. 3, both at Al Janadriah Racecourse in Riyadh, for trainer Nicholas Bachalard and the sons of late Saudi King Abdullah.
His North American career includes victories in the 2013 Jockey Club Gold Cup Invitational (gr. I), 2012 Santa Anita Handicap (gr. I), and 2012 Stephen Foster Handicap (gr. I). He was set to run in the 2013 Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I), but missed that race with a quarter crack and subsequently was sold.