The Dubai World Cup (G1) program has no shortage of hot favorites, both literally and figuratively, but the Godolphin Mile (G2) early in the evening is a notable exception with 14 signed on and support spread well around.
In the contentious mix are Mufasa, the last horse to defeat White Abarrio; Raging Torrent, victorious in the Malibu Stakes (G1) in his last start; and France-trained all-weather specialist No Lunch.
The sun will still be shining on a day with a forecast high of more than 100 degrees Fahrenheit when the international cast enters the starting gate for the second of the day's Thoroughbred races. The competition looks to be as hot as the air.
International oddsmakers give a very cautious early edge to Raging Torrent, trained by Doug O'Neill; Mufasa, handled by top-shelf local trainer Bhupat Seemar; and No Lunch.
Two of the three have strong American credentials.
Raging Torrent, a 4-year-old Maximus Mischief colt, arrives on a roll for Doug O'Neill, a veteran invader of top Dubai stakes fields and especially the Godolphin Mile. Raging Torrent has won four of his last five starts, with the only blot on that record a seventh in the Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1). He was last seen winning the Malibu on Santa Anita Park's opening day card Dec. 26.
Raging Torrent's success has come at six and seven furlongs, so he will need to find an additional furlong. Frankie Dettori was aboard for the Malibu and gets the return call for the Godolphin Mile.
"We circled the Godolphin Mile after the Malibu," said O'Neill, who looks for his third win in the race after Two Rivers Over a year ago and Spring At Last in 2007, when racing was conducted at the old Nad Al Sheba course.
O'Neill said the mile doesn't trouble him for Raging Torrent because "he's got that six-furlong sort of speed and he can stay a mile. Having Frankie in the saddle, arguably one of the best of all time, it's a great asset."
Mufasa, a 6-year-old son of Practical Joke , was successful in his native Chile before being sent to trainer Ignacio "Nacho" Correas IV for the 2024 season. He won the Vosburgh Stakes (G3) at the Belmont at the Big A meeting in September, finished 11th in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) at Del Mar | BloodHorse.com Track Profile">Del Mar, and then won the Mr. Prospector Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream Park Dec. 28, defeating White Abarrio by 1 1/4 lengths.
Since the Mr. Prospector, White Abarrio has scored commanding victories in the Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1) and the Ghostzapper Stakes (G3). Little Vic, third in the Mr. Prospector for trainer Juan Avila, also returns for the Dubai heat.
No Lunch is a 4-year-old gray son of Dubawi, trained by Christophe Ferland. His three straight wins all came on all-weather courses, two at Cagnes-sur-Mer in the south of France and the latest at Chantilly.
All three drew relatively wide to start the race, Raging Torrent in gate 3, Mufasa 10, and No Lunch 13. The dirt mile at Meydan starts out of a short chute that empties into the long run down the back straight.
