World's richest meeting set for expansion

The winner of the Dubai World Cup gets £2.4m

BBC One will be televising this year's Dubai World Cup.
Grandstand, Saturday 24 March. 17.15 GMT

Organisers of the Dubai World Cup are considering adding an extra day's racing to the sport's richest event.

The race is currently staged as part of a one-day meeting in March.

  2001 World Cup runners

Aptitude
Trained by RJ Frankel

Aristotle
M Thwaites

Best of Bests
Saeed bin Suroor

Broche
Saeed bin Suroor

Captain Steve
B Baffert

Early Warning
S Al Shaibani

Ekraar
Saeed bin Suroor

Hightori
P Demercastel

Regular Member
S Yamamoto

Sei Mi
J Barton

State Shinto
JD Sadler

To the Victory
Y Ikee

Dubai's race committee chairman, Les Benton, says there may be scope to make it a two-day event.

"I don't think we will be changing the format of the day's racing on World Cup day," said Benton.

"All the races in their own right form the best race meeting in the world.

"But I believe there may be room for a two day-carnival. We would have to create a second day of racing if that is the decision of Sheikh Mohammed."

The Sheikh, the driving force behind Dubai racing, suggested the idea last year.

Benton said his committee will re-assess the position after this year's World Cup, which takes place at the Nad Al Sheba track on Saturday.

The race boasts £4m in prize money, with £2.4m for the winner.

2000 World Cup winner, Dubai Millennium, is now retired

Europe has only one contender in the race following the late withdrawal of French trainer Andre Fabre's horse, Kingsalsa.

Hightori, the 7-1 fourth favourite and trained in France by Philippe Demercastel, will be the continent's sole challenger.

There are no English runners but the Godolphin trio of Best of the Bests (7-4 joint favourite) and 16-1 chances Ekraar and Broche all raced in Britain last year and were trained at Newmarket.

But, as usual with the Godolphin operation, the three horses have been stabled and trained in Dubai during the English winter.

Godolphin racing manager Simon Crisford said: "It's a shame there isn't an English runner because England is a great racing country."

America's Captain Steve and Best of Bests are the current joint favourites.

There are also six other races at Dubai on Saturday with approximately £6.15m on offer between them.