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World's richest race held Saturday Posted: Thursday March 23, 2000 11:00 AM
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) -- Trainer Richard Mandella will take a double-barreled shot at winning the $6 million Dubai World Cup. He has Malek, second in the race last year, and Puerto Madera, who was impressive in a workout for Saturday's race, the richest in the world. Malek and Puerto Madera were among six U.S.-based horses in the 14-horse field entered Wednesday. The horse to beat is Dubai Millennium, owned by the Godolphin Racing stable of Sheiks Mohammed, Maktoum and Hamdam al Maktoum of Dubai. Godolphin won the race last year with Almutawakel. Dubai Millennium was made the 4-6 favorite by Ladbrokes to take first money of $3.6 million, but betting is not allowed in Dubai. The winner of the Maktoum Challenge on March 2 will be ridden by Frankie Dettori and start from the No. 11 post. Malek and Puerto Madera, both Chilean bred, were co-third choices at 10-1. The second choice at 4-1 was Behrens, winner of the Gulfstream Park Handicap on Feb. 26. The James Bond-trained horse, ridden by Jorge Chavez, will start from the No. 5 post. Malek also was fourth in the 1998 Dubai World Cup and fourth in the Santa Anita Handicap in his last start March 4. He will start from the outside post under Alex Solis. Puerto Madera, third in the Santa Anita Handicap, worked a half-mile in 49 seconds Tuesday. He will be ridden from the No. 6 post by Laffit Pincay Jr., the winningest jockey in history. The other U.S.-based starters will be Ecton Park (20-1), post No. 4; Public Purse (25-1), No. 10; and Saint's Honor, 33-1, No. 7. Ecton Park, trained by Elliott Walden and ridden by Chris McCarron, won the Jim Dandy at Saratoga last year and finished third in the New Orleans Handicap at the Fair Grounds in his last start March 4. Corey Nakatani will ride Public Purse, trained by Bobby Frankel. Saint's Honor will be ridden by Kent Desormeaux. Godolphin Racing also will be represented by Worldly Manner, fifth in last year's Kentucky Derby. Jerry Bailey will ride him from the No. 3 post. Completing the field are Gracioso, Indigenous, Lear Speak, Running Stag, Strudel Fitz and World Cleek. Also on the card will be the Dubai Sheema Classic and Dubai Duty Free, each worth $2 million and the $1 million Dubai Golden Shaheen.
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