Likely runners announced for $10m Dubai World Cup

Exciting Al Maktoum Challenge (G1) winner Capponi heads a five-strong team of horses who will fly the UAE's colours in the $10 million (Dh36.7 million) Dubai World Cup (G1). Capponi is one of two horses trained by Godolphin's Mahmoud Al Zarouni named among the list of 14 likely runners released by Dubai Racing Club yesterday for the March 31 race. Al Zarouni is also preparing Monterosso, third in the race last season, for another shot at history. Godolphin's long-time handler Saeed Bin Surour, a five-time winner of the Dubai World Cup, will be represented by Prince Bishop and Mendip, Former UAE champion trainer Doug Watson will saddle his first runner in the 2,000m contest with Silver Pond, who was a battling runner-up to Capponi in the Al Maktoum Challenge. Silver Pond comes into the race with a big reputation, having run a good eighth to Danedream in last year's Prix De l'Arc De Triomphe at Londchamp, France. The only notable defection was Mike de Kock's Bold Silvano, who has been switched to the $5 million Dubai Sheema Classic (G1) on the same night. However, De Kock, who is looking for his first success in the Dubai World Cup, will be represented by Master of Hounds, winner of the Jebel Hatta (G2) on Super Thursday. Ireland's So You Think, the standout ante-post favourite with leading British bookmakers, remains on course to give Aidan O'Brien a first win in the world's richest race. He is expected to arrive in Dubai next week together with a strong team of other Ballydoyle hopefuls.