Heart’s Cry heads a strong list of Japanese nominations for the US$21,250,000 Dubai World Cup (Gr.1) day – the world’s richest racemeeting at Nad Al Sheba Racecourse on Saturday, 25th March 2006.

Trained by Kojiro Hashiguchi, Heart’s Cry, a four-year-old son of Sunday Silence finished a nose second to Alkaased in the Japan Cup (Gr.1) before beating the talented Deep Impact by half a length in the Arima Kinen (Gr.1) on 25th December 2005.

Mr. Saeed H. Al-Tayer, Chairman of the Dubai Racing Club, said “Once again the Dubai World Cup meeting has received nominations from all of the major racing nations around the world. On behalf of the Dubai Racing Club I would like to thank our 25 partners, without their support and sponsorship this meeting would not be the success that it is.”

Mr. Frank Gabriel Jr, CEO of the Dubai Racing Club said, “The nominations for all seven races on Dubai World Cup day look extremely strong. With 27 countries represented it shows just how important to global racing the Dubai World Cup and the Dubai International Racing Carnival have become, and will continue to be.”

Both Heart’s Cry and Deep Impact, who has only been beaten once in eight outings, hold nominations for the eleventh running of the US$6,000,000 Dubai World Cup (Gr.1), the world’s richest race, sponsored by Emirates Airline. Run over 2,000 metres on dirt the Dubai World Cup (Gr.1) has attracted 159 nominations from 13 countries.

Among the nominations is the Japanese dirt champion and winner of the Japan Cup Dirt (Gr.1), Kane Hekili, trained by Katsuhiko Sumii.

Richard Mandella, winner of the 2004 Dubai World Cup (Gr.1) with Pleasantly Perfect, has nominated Congrats, Ulistnintome and Grade Two winners Minister Eric and Unbridled Energy.

Breeders’ Cup Classic runner-up Flower Alley, trained by Todd Pletcher, could also fly the flag for the United States in March.

Grey Swallow, winner of the Irish Derby (Gr.1) in 2004 and the 2005 Tattersalls Gold Cup (Gr.1), has been nominated by trainer Dermot Weld.

Dubai Champion Stakes (Gr.1) winner David Junior and the multiple Group One winning mare Alexander Goldrun head the nominations for the US$5,000,000 Dubai Duty Free (Gr.1), sponsored by Dubai Duty Free, over 1,777 metres on the turf.

The Dubai Duty Free (Gr.1) and the Dubai Sheema Classic (Gr.1), sponsored by NAKHEEL, will this year share the honour of being the richest races ever run on turf in the world, with total prize money of US$5,000,000 each.

Three Japanese stars have been nominated for the Dubai Duty Free (Gr.1), Asakusa Den’en, winner of the Keio Hai Spring Cup (Gr.1) and the Yasuda Kinen (Gr.1) and the talented filly Cesario, who won both the American Oaks (Gr.1) at Hollywood Park and the Japanese Oaks (Gr.1). The pair could be joined by Hat Trick, winner of the Mile Championship (Gr.1) at Kyoto at the Hong Kong Mile (Gr.1) in December.

The Dubai Duty Free is the second leg of the 2006 Asian Mile Challenge, a four race series run in four different countries. The Asian Mile Challenge begins in Australia with the Futurity Stakes (Gr.I) run on March 4th at Caulfield Racecourse, followed by the Dubai Duty Free on March 25th. The Challenge then takes in the Champions Mile in Hong Kong on May 7th before Japan hosts the final leg – the Yasuda Kinen on June 4th.

Ed Dunlop’s super filly Ouija Board is the star nomination for the US$5,000,000 Dubai Sheema Classic (Gr.1), sponsored by NAKHEEL over 2,400 metres on the Nad Al Sheba Racecourse’s turf course.

In 2004 Ouija Board recorded wins in the English and Irish Oaks (Gr1) and the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (Gr.1). In 2005 she finished runner-up in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (Gr.1) before ending her season with a win in the Hong Kong Vase (Gr.1) at Sha Tin Racecourse.

Breeders’ Cup Turf (Gr.1) hero Shirocco, trained by Andre Fabre, has been nominated for the Dubai Sheema Classic (Gr.1) along with last year’s winner Phoenix Reach, who will be looking to defend his title

New Zealand could be represented in the Dubai Sheema Classic (Gr.1) with the multiple Group One winner and Melbourne Cup (Gr.1) third Xcellent.

Some of the fastest horses in racing will be lining up on March 25th in the US$2,000,000 Dubai Golden Shaheen (Gr.1), sponsored by GULF NEWS, over the straight 1,200 metres on dirt.

Cape of Good Hope, winner of the Golden Jubilee Stakes (Gr.1) at Royal Ascot, has been nominated along with Attila’s Storm who finished fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (Gr.1) and local sprint star Estimraar.

Grand Emporium, winner of the 2005 Godolphin Mile (Gr.2) has been nominated for the 2006 renewal of the US$1,000,000, 1,600 metre race sponsored by JEBEL ALI INTERNATIONAL HOTELS.

Well Armed, an impressive winner for Clive Brittain on the first night of the Dubai International Racing Carnival has been nominated for the US$2,000,000 UAE Derby (Gr.2), over 1,800 metres, sponsored by SAEED & MOHAMMED ALNABOODAH GROUP.

Racing on Dubai World Cup day begins with the US$250,000 Dubai Kahayla Classic (Gr.1), for Purebred Arabians over 2,000 metres, sponsored by EMAAR. Among the entries are the last two winners of the race, Kaolino (2004) and Madjani (2005).

Source: Dubai Racing Club press release