McKinzie, Roy H Among Dubai World Cup Day Nominations

A host of global Thoroughbred racing stars have been nominated for the Dubai World Cup card at Meydan Racecourse, including a group of U.S.-based standouts like McKinzie and Roy H, among others.

The nine-race meeting is scheduled for March 30.

Nominations include last year's Dubai World Cup Sponsored by Emirates Airline (G1) winner Thunder Snow, and international luminaries Almond Eye, Beauty Generation, Magical, and Santa Ana Lane headline the nominations for the $35 million day, the world's richest day in racing featuring the world's richest race, the $12 million Dubai World Cup. 

Defending champion Thunder Snow and his local group 1-winning rival North America lead the UAE-based nominations for the world's richest race, while American grade 1 winners McKinzie, Leofric, Seeking the Soul, Audible, Yoshida, and star mare Elate are also among the nominations to the 2,000-meter (about 1 1/4-mile) affair. Outstanding Japanese dirt runners like Champions Cup (G1) runner-up Westerlund and 2017 February Stakes (G1) winner Gold Dream add serious intrigue.

The 1,200-meter (six-furlong), $2.5 million Dubai Golden Shaheen sponsored by Gulf News (G1), the richest dirt sprint in the world, has attracted nominations from the likes of American two-time champion sprinter Roy H and other top U.S.-based sprinters Imperial Hint, X Y Jet, and Promises Fulfilled, as well as Japanese sprint star Matera Sky and improving local rivals Raven's Corner and Drafted.

The Golden Shaheen's turf equivalent, the Al Quoz Sprint sponsored by Azizi Developments (G1), has been doubled in purse to $2 million and attracted nominations from some of the top turf sprinters in the world. Among those interested are multiple group 1-winning Australian sprinter Santa Ana Lane, King's Stand (G1) winner Blue Point, dual Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1) winner Stormy Liberal, and British Champions Sprint (G1) winner Sands of Mali.

For the complete list of nominations, click here.

The three group 2 events on the day have all received purse increases of $500,000: the $2.5 million UAE Derby sponsored by The Saeed & Mohammed Al Naboodah Group, $1.5 million Godolphin Mile sponsored by Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum City—District One, and $1.5 million Dubai Gold Cup sponsored by Al Tayer Motors. 

Over 1,900 meters (about 1 3/16 miles) on dirt, the UAE Derby has attracted upstarts such as local star Walking Thunder, Argentine group 1 winner Grecko, Bob Baffert-trained Improbable, and Mucho Gusto and seven from the Ballydoyle yard of last year's winning trainer Aidan O'Brien.

The 1,600-meter Godolphin Mile nomination list is led by its last three winners—Heavy Metal, Second Summer, and One Man Band—as well as Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) winner Battle of Midway.

Dubai Racing Club received 1,440 nominations for 739 horses from 20 countries for the 2019 Dubai World Cup day. The first supplementary stage for all races on Dubai World Cup day will close Feb. 13, when connections can nominate their horse for 0.1% of the prize money of their chosen race. The second supplementary stage is March 11, when horses can be supplemented for 1% of the prize money. The third and final supplementary stage takes place March 24, when horses can be supplemented into the race for 10% of the prize money. Entry/declaration takes place March 25.

Malih Al Basti, Meydan vice chairman and chairman of the Meydan Racing Committee said: "The 2019 Dubai World Cup, with a world-leading $35 million in purses and the world's richest race, promises a brilliant global race day, offering the very best racing in the world on both turf and dirt, including the exceptional international champion horses, trainers, jockeys, and owners."