SAHorseracing.com
SAHorseracing.com
Keen Ice features among Dubai World Cup possibles

 Keen Ice, who lowered the colours of US Triple Crown winner American Pharoah in the Travers Stakes last year, heads a strong list of American nominations for the $10million Dubai World Cup on March 26.

The son of 2008 World Cup winner Curlin, Keen Ice will be bidding for a second victory in the world's richest race for trainer Dale Romans who struck in 2005 with Roses In May.

Also nominated is 2014 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner, California Chrome. Art Sherman's charge is already stabled in the Dubai Racing Club's quarantine facility ahead of his prep run in the Dubai World Cup Carnival.

Another US-based raider already in Dubai is Godolphin's Wood Memorial winner, Frosted, trained by Kiaran McLaughlin while Bob Baffert's Dortmund, the 2015 Santa Anita Derby winner, has been nominated for the World Cup.

Also in the mix is the Mike de Kock-trained Mubtaahij, who will be out to create history by becoming the first UAE Derby winner to return the following year and win the Dubai World Cup.

Ireland has a live contender in 2015 Champion Stakes hero Fascinating Rock, trained by Dermot Weld.

Freddy Head's Solow heads the nominations for the $6m Dubai Turf which he won last year for the first of his five successive Group One triumphs.

Among his possible rivals are Japanese champion Maurice, who claimed the Hong Kong Mile for trainer Noriyuki Hori last month, and Kevin Ryan's The Grey Gatsby, who was runner-up to Solow in 2015.

Among nominations for the Dubai Sheema Classic are the Roger Varian-trained King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes winner Postponed and Prix Saint Alary victor Queen's Jewel from the Head stable.

Ireland's sprint ace Sole Power is likely to defend his Al Quoz Sprint crown against Hong Kong speedball Peniaphobia who he beat by a half-length last season. Peniaphobia had his revenge in the Hong Kong Sprint in December.

Malih Al Basti, chairman of the Meydan Racing Committee, said: "It is gratifying that alongside the evolution of the Dubai World Cup as a global spectacle is the deepening appeal of our races to all jurisdictions and we annually attract nominations from the highest-rated horses in the world.

"The strength of the USA challenge is evident with marquee names such as Keen Ice, California Chrome and Dortmund. We have a nomination from Argentina's best horse while from Europe we have attracted the highest-rated horse in training in Solow."

[www.attheraces.com]

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