An extravaganza of equine and human racing talent is on the menu for this Saturday's (26 March) Dubai World Cup meeting at Meydan. It consists of five G1s and three G2s with the highlight being the G1 Dubai World Cup itself in which the brilliant US-trained Life Is Good will start favourite.
The four-year-old bay colt's potential for being the star of the show intensified when the front-running speed machine drew gate one, considered ideal for jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. to grab a favourable early position in the 2000m dirt championship.
Life Is Good is trained by New York-based Todd Pletcher whose huge achievements do not yet include a Dubai World Cup victory and the 54-year-old has spoken of his appetite to join ten fellow US trainers who have lifted the Dubai World Cup in the race's 25-year history.
Life Is Good followed up on November's G1 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (1600m) win at Del Mar by slamming Knicks Go, last year's top-rated horse in the world, by three and a quarter lengths in the G1 Pegasus World Cup (1800m, dirt) at Gulfstream Park in January.
Recalling that Florida masterpiece Pletcher says: "He showed then his unique ability to go fast and just keep going. It was fun to watch."
Of this first adventure up to 2000m Pletcher says: "Everything he has shown us indicates that it won't be a problem, but that's what we've got to answer on the big night."
Life Is Good faces some serious fellow US-trained opposition in the shape of Hot Rod Charlie (Flavien Prat), Country Grammer (Frankie Dettori) and Midnight Bourbon (Jose Ortiz), while Real World will attempt to give Godolphin trainer Saeed Bin Suroor a remarkable tenth win in one of the world's richest races.
General astonishment was the prevailing sentiment when Real World was announced a runner for this dirt event rather than Saturday's G1 Dubai Turf (1800m) with the evidence so far apparently showing six-time winner Real World excellent on grass but nothing special at all on dirt.
Bin Suroor begs to differ and, with his wonderful Dubai World Cup record, we should probably listen: "In the Saudi Cup (1800m, dirt) at Riyadh last time he was slowly away and didn't face the kick-back. He worked really well on dirt last week and if he breaks quickly (from gate six) he's got a real chance," insists the trainer.
Christophe Soumillon will attempt to put the record straight on Real World while the legendary French rider will also be partnering - for the first time - dual G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Vase (2400m) winner Glory Vase in the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic (2410m).
This will be the seven-year-old's first start since that memorable wide surge up the Sha Tin straight in December's 2400m G1, but he has produced some big exploits after a break and must have a respectable chance in a contest in which Shahryar (Cristian Demuro) and Authority (Christophe Lemaire) are other significant Japanese contenders.
Charlie Appleby has an outstanding Meydan record and the Newmarket-based Godolphin trainer has first-rate prospects of winning the G1 Al Quoz Sprint (1200m) for the third time in the last four years with either Man Of Promise (William Buick) or Creative Force (James Doyle). Both speedsters posted career-best performances on their latest start.
