AUSRACING
RACING AND BREEDING ON THE INTERNET SINCE 1996

20th November, 2001

Quality and quantity headline impressive Dubai World Cup first entry

An increase in the number of horses and the quality of those nominated at the first entry stage has guaranteed that the standard of excellence for which the Dubai World Cup has become internationally renowned will continue in 2002.

The Group I US$6million Dubai World Cup, sponsored by Emirates, will be run at Nad Al Sheba on March 23, 2002, and first entries for the race and all events on the programme were announced at Nad Al Sheba last night by Dubai World Cup Committee Chairman, Mr Les Benton.

The Dubai World Cup highlights a seven race programme worth US$15.25million, the world¹s richest day of racing, and is one of four Group I events on the programme, joined at that level by the Dubai Duty Free, sponsored by Dubai Duty Free, the Dubai Sheema Classic, sponsored by Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation, and the Dubai Golden Shaheen, sponsored by Gulf News.

The UAE Derby and Godolphin Mile, sponsored by the Jebel Ali Hotel and Golf Resort, have also been promoted, both events rising from their 2001 Group III status to Group II for 2002.

A combined total of 720 entries were received from 22 individual countries, the highest representation arriving from the United States with 300 followed by the United Arab Emirates with 157 and Great Britain with 62.

³With what has occurred throughout the world over the last few months we are absolutely thrilled at what we have received and proud of the way the international racing community has unified to ensure the sport continues to expand in the Emirates and around the world,² said Dubai World Cup Committee Chairman, Mr Les Benton.

³Comparing this year and last, there is a rise of 8% in total entries while, perhaps, the most pleasing figure is the rise of 17% from the United States.²

³Another satisfying aspect is the continuing growth of the Dubai World Cup and this is again evident with nominations received from all parts of the world including one from the Czech Republic and nine from Turkey.²

³Obviously the promotions to Group I of the Dubai Duty Free, Dubai Sheema Classic and the Dubai Golden Shaheen and to Group II of the Godolphin Mile and the UAE Derby have been welcomed around the world and the entries for these races justify their international rating.²

³The quality of the first entry is also evident with the very best that
remain in training for 2002 and we will be doing our utmost to ensure that those that are able to compete do so at Nad Al Sheba on March 23, 2002.²

The Prix de l¹Arc de Triomphe winner SAKHEE, the Dubai Champion Stakes winner NAYEF, the multiple Group I winner LIDO PALACE, the Caulfield and Melbourne Cup winner ETHEREAL, the W.S. Cox Plate winner NORTHERLY and the champion mare SUNLINE highlight the strong entry for the Dubai World Cup while all other events are as equally powerful.

Aidan O¹Brien has nominated 13 individual horses for the six thoroughbred events, this group highlighted by the world¹s champion two-year-old for 2001 JOHANNESBURG in the UAE Derby, a race that also sees the Brazilian champion ROXINHO also entered along with the champion three-year-old of Australasia, the filly HA HA as well as America¹s top class two-year-old of 2001 OFFICER.

³The strength of nomination from Ballydoyle is appreciated and we hope to be able to host them in March at Nad Al Sheba,² said Mr Benton.

SQUIRTLE SQUIRT, XTRA HEAT and defending champion CALLER ONE are all entered for the Group I Dubai Golden Shaheen, those three horses filling the placings in the Grade I Breeders¹ Cup Sprint at Belmont Park last month while another Breeders¹ Cup winner VAL ROYAL has been entered for the Group I Dubai Duty Free and the Dubai Sheema Classic.

³These first entries illustrate the position of the Dubai World Cup
programme in international racing and its standing amongst horsemen around the world and justify the reason for why this event was created.²

³The upgrades of those events to Group I and Group II level and the strength of first entry continues our drive to ensure that the world¹s premier race meeting is held here at Nad Al Sheba racecourse in Dubai.²

³I would also like to pay tribute to all of our agents around the world who have worked tirelessly to secure these first nominations and the quality of the horses entered is a tribute and reward to their efforts,² said Mr Benton.

The 2001 Dubai World Cup set a standard of excellence for the international racing scene and I believe that 2002 will be even better.²

A full list of entries for all races on Dubai World Cup Day can be found at the Dubai World Cup website, www.dubaiworldcup.com