Regardless of his appearance, I can’t knock what I’ve actually seen of the favorite.  The media and public are not glowing about him as everyone did Curlin (obviously, his past form keeps from making those comparisons).  His detractors here are plentiful, with those against his chances believing the Donn Handicap wasn’t a great test to him, nor do they believe he can get the ten furlongs against this field.  At the same time, no one is just over the top about the son of Albert The Great.  The field assembled for the Dubai World Cup is diverse in many ways, and one thing is clear – few will be surprised by the result of the final race at Nad Al Sheba, whatever that result may be.

The biggest question about Arson Squad revolves around his ability to take to the race without the aid of Lasix.  If the son of Brahms wasn’t able to handle the rigor of the Donn and bled through that day, can he win the Dubai World Cup over a ten-furlong distance for which he has limited experience?  A workout a Gulfstream Park on February 26th appeared to be the test when Arson Squad was pushed to work six furlongs in 1:10 flat, handily.  I believe Arson Squad is here because he managed that workout successfully.  We’ll see how he handles the going Saturday evening.

Below, here is the son of Albert The Great walking the right way before breaking off for a gallop:

After breaking-off, this is Albertus Maximus completing his lap of Nad Al Sheba:

Click HERE to watch this year’s Zabeel Mile.

Archipenko (pictured below in yellow saddle towel) worked on the turf course in tandem with Godolphin Mile chance LUCKY FIND (inside horse – blue saddle towel), and one regular Nad Al Sheba clocker considered Archipenko’s move as quite strong.

The Daily Racing Form’s Marcus Hersh was one of the few that caught ASIATIC BOY working over the Tapeta from the newly-opened training track and had one word when I caught up with him later in the morning – “awesome.”  I have Asiatic Boy a very close second on a projected morning line behind Albertus Maximus.

Godolphin Mile longshots ART OF WAR (inside #9) and BRAVE TIN SOLDIER (outside #10) worked together over the main track.  Neither did anything of extreme interest and are noticably below the top choices.

Dubai Duty Free shot BANKABLE (pictured below) had a strong gallop of at least seven furlongs over the main track.  He won first up at the Carnival on February 20 when defeating notably less accomplished competition.  That being the case, Bankable has a knack for being in the mix when he recorded three close seconds in 2008, finishing a neck behind Passage of Time, a length behind eventual Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Raven’s Pass (Totesport Mile G2) and then a head behind Eagle Mountain (Nayef Joel Stakes G3) before that one was second in the Breeders’ Cup Turf. 

KING OF ROME and MACARTHUR, both entrants in the Dubai Sheema Classic, galloped along just in front of Bankable, with Macarthur seeming to move the best of the pair.

The full story as published by Dubai’s Khaleej Times can be read by clicking HERE.  Snaffy was one of the biggest surprises of the Dubai International Racing Carnival and I really believe this son of Kingmambo deserves attention.  Snaffy has reeled off three consecutive wins and there really hasn’t been much question about the performances.  It should say something that Sheikh Hamdan, as referenced in the Khaleej Times article, gave his blessing to have the extra horse in the race despite the fact that the recognized favorite, Albertus Maximus, runs in his colors as well.

The biggest upset in the history of the Dubai World Cup came when Almutawakel upset Victory Gallop, Malek, Silver Charm and Godolphin’s top entrant, Daylami, in the 1999 edition.  Almutawakel was ridden to victory by Richard Hills, who just so happens to ride Snaffy (and has been aboard him for his previous four main track wins).  This  is an incredibly interesting development and I wholeheartedly believe he has a chance.  A son of Kingmambo should have no concerns getting ten furlongs, either.

Hong Kong might have a starter in the Dubai Golden Shaheen after INSPIRATION got the job done in the Centenary Sprint Cup (G1), seven weeks after pulling a shocking 66-1 upset in the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Sprint at Sha Tin.

Inspiration winning Centenary Sprint Cup (G1) - photo courtesy Hong Kong Jockey Club

Sunday’s win was over 1000 meters and trainer John Moore, who sent Viva Pataca to a second in last year’s Dubai Sheema Classic, has the Dubai Golden Shaheen on Inspiration’s schedule following a tilt in the Chairman’s Sprint Prize.

What is dubbed as Australia’s “fastest five furlongs,” the $470,000 Coolmore Lightning Stakes (G1) marked the highlight of the racing weekend there. WEEKEND HUSSLER, Australia’s reigning Horse of the Year, made his 2009 debut against reigning Global Sprint Challenge champion APACHE CAT. Neither had their best runs, with Weekend Hussler deadheating fourth and really looking like he needed the race. Perth-based Scenic Blast won the race at a bit of a price.

Trainer Ross McDonald has the schedule set for Weekend Hussler, going in the Australia Stakes (1200 meters) at Moonee Valley on February 12, the Futurity (1600 meters) at Caulfield on February 28, and then onto Dubai for the Duty Free at 1777 meters. In 18 lifetime starts, Weekend Hussler has 12 wins and second as the Lightning Stakes marked his fifth off-the-board finish in his career.

KIP DEVILLE won Sunday’s Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap (G1) at Gulfstream in what is likely his last start before a trip to the Dubai Duty Free. He outlasted his stablemate, COURT VISION and longshot JUST AS WELL, winning by a length in what was mostly a vigorous hand ride. Trained by Rick Dutrow, Kip Deville took down the 2007 Breeders’ Cup Mile at Monmouth and was second to GOLDIKOVA in the 2008 edition.

Cigar first used the race in 1996 before tasting victory in the inaugural Dubai World Cup, Captain Steve managed the feat in 2001, and Invasor most recently completed the Donn-to-Dubai double in 2007.  Harlan’s Holiday and Medaglia d’Oro, both second in the Dubai World Cup in 2003 and 2004, respectively, won the Donn in their final starts before the desert-bound trip.  Brass Hat, the 2006 Donn champion, was second in the World Cup to Electrocutionist but later disqualified after trace amounts of a banned substance were found. 

This year, without a major player in the handicap division of American racing, and given the country’s domination of the $6,000,000 race, focusing on the Donn is natural.

A.P. ARROW and GREAT HUNTER, fourth and fifth in the 2008 Dubai World Cup, are 10-1 and 15-1, respectively, on the morning line of this year’s Donn.  Most of the attention will be paid to Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile winner ALBERTUS MAXIMUS (pictured below) and Rick Dutrow-trainee, ARSON SQUAD.  Graham Motion’s improving and lightly-raced BULLSBAY along with FINALLYMADEIT and SIR WHIMSEY round out the Dubai World Cup nominees amongst the Donn starters.

Albertus Maximus preparing for the 2008 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile

Barring a major upset, it is probable to expect that the winner of this race would assume narrow favorite status for the 2009 World Cup.