A Most International Dubai World Cup for WinStar Farm

WinStar Farm, which captured the 2009 Dubai World Cup Sponsored by Emirates Airline (G1) with Well Armed in the final year the race was offered at Nad Al Sheba, is contributing much to the international spirit of this year's event with Yoshida and Audible. 

In going for its second Dubai World Cup win, Kenny Troutt's WinStar Farm will send out Yoshida, a grade 1 winner on turf and dirt, as well as last year's Xpressbet Florida Derby (G1) winner, Audible, in the 1 1/4-mile race March 30 at Meydan Racecourse.

It's a most assuredly international effort. China Horse Club, Starlight Racing, and Head of Plains Partners are co-owners of both WinStar horses—the same ownership group that swept last year's U.S. Triple Crown with Justify . Those owners will send out a New York-bred in Audible and a Japanese-bred in Yoshida, nearly 8,000 miles away from the South Florida base of the two accomplished runners.

Yoshida was bred by Japan's powerhouse Northern Farm and was named after the brothers who own that farm.

Elliott Walden, president and CEO of racing operations for Versailles, Ky.-based WinStar, said he enjoys competing with the world's best.

"It's a lot of fun. Horse racing is becoming more international. For years, I think it was insular to wherever you were," Walden said. "Now things have changed and there's so much more opportunity to run internationally. It's easier to ship, and everybody's so accommodating. The horses adapt a whole lot better than the people do most of the time. It's amazing."

From his experience on the Breeders' Cup board, Walden knows what it's like to bring runners from all corners of the planet to race. He said it's an honor to race in the Dubai World Cup.

With China Horse Club as a partner, Walden said WinStar might be looking at more international racing opportunities, noting it has also partnered with them on some horses in Australia.

"They are really great for the business—to do what they've done in a short amount of time is incredible," Walden said, noting their Triple Crown win, Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) win with Abel Tasman, and a number of top-level wins in Australia.

Looking ahead, Walden noted that being bred in Japan could draw added interest for Yoshida. Walden said WinStar was searching for Sunday Silence bloodlines when it landed Yoshida at the 2015 Japan Racing Horse Association Sale of Yearlings and Weanlings for about $765,000. 

"I think he'll be received well," Walden said. "I think that he brings something back to the breed, and with all that's going on in America right now with Lasix and all that, bringing back some international bloodlines—after they've been going away for 30 years—I think makes some sense."