13 FOR DUBAI WORLD CUP A field of 13 is set to go to post for the world`s richest race on Saturday week. The line-up for the $15.25 million Emirates-sponsored Dubai World Cup was finalised today with the withdrawal of sole British challenger Endless Hall. Luca Cumani`s charge is instead set to switch to the Dubai Sheema Classic on the same Nad Al Sheba card. The 13 runners for the World Cup will include three Godolphin representatives - namely Best Of The Bests, Ekraar and Broche. And Best Of The Bests has attracted support, being cut to 2-1 from 5-2 with Coral. There are also two French runners (Hightori and Kingsalsa), two Americans (Aptitude and Captain Steve) and two Japanese (Regular Member and To The Victory). Coral bet: 6-4 Captain Steve, 2-1 (from 5-2) Best Of The Bests, 11-2 Aptitude, 6-1 Hightori, 16-1 Kingsalsa, Ekraar, 20-1 Broche, To The Victory, 25-1 State Shinto, 33-1 Aristotle, Early Warning, 40-1 Regular Member, 100-1 Sei Mi. Joining Endless Hall in the Sheema Classic are fellow British challengers Island House, Miletrian and Murghem. Godolphin are set to run a quartet; Fantastic Light, Give The Slip, Kutub and Mutafaweq. Cumani is hoping for the best with Arkadian Hero in the Group Three Dubai Duty Free. 'We just hope he`s gonna run well,' the trainer said. 'You wouldn`t be a trainer if you weren`t hopeful, you have to hope. So we just hope he`s going to run well. 'They`re in good form and all we need is a bit of luck in running. Jamie (Spencer) has a lot of confidence and is very cool in the saddle. So hopefully things will work out well for us.' A total of 16 horses are set to run in the race with Arkadian Hero being joined by compatriots Golden City, Shamrock City and Swallow Flight. New Zealand-trained 'super-mare' Sunline looks to have a great chance of landing the spoils for the southern hemisphere. Celtic Silence and Atlantis Prince are set to make their debuts for Godolphin in the UAE Derby. But the pair, each bought privately after big-race wins in Britain last year, are rated lesser lights among Sheikh Mohammed`s operation`s team for the Group Three event. Kentucky Derby hopes Street Cry - the mount of Frankie Dettori - and Express Tour top Saeed bin Suroor`s six runners in the nine-furlong dirt race, which the trainer won with China Visit last year. Qawaqeb and Aslaf will also run but Champagne Stakes winner Noverre has been ruled out and will be aimed at Godolphin`s turf trial early next month before a tilt at the French 2000 Guineas. Also in a field of 15 is the William Haggas-trained Count Dubois, third behind Nayef at Ascot last October before winning a Group One race in Italy, and Sir Michael Stoute`s No Excuse Needed. Last year`s inaugural running proved a significant Classic trial, with runner-up Bachir, sixth-placed Crimplene and ninth home Pacino all winning a 'Guineas' in Europe subsequently. In all a total of 74 international horses have been enteredfor the seven races - a record for a single meeting. The BBC is to screen four races on the card live (including the feature event at 5.15pm) with recordings of the other three.
