The Brett Crawford-trained Gr1 Sun Met winner Whisky Baron is amongst the thirteen South African horses accepted for the 2018 Dubai World Cup Carnival, which gets underway at Meydan Racecourse on Thursday January 11, 2018.
Whisky Baron wins inaugural Sun Met
The major influence from South Africa on the Carnival will, as often is the case, come from the yard of Mike de Kock. His twelve strong string includes 2017 Gr1 South African Derby winner Al Sahem, Gr1 winning warrior Sanshaawes and Gr1 winning 2017 Gr2 Zabeel Mile runner-up Noah From Goa.
Al Sahem – champion stayer
The list features 132 accepted horses with the intention to ship from 15 countries, including 14 Gr1 winners from many points of the globe.
Several international stars are set to travel to Dubai this winter to compete for a share of the US$10,870,000 prize money across 10 race cards, 61 Thoroughbred races and 4 Group Purebred Arabian races held prior to the Dubai World Cup card on March 31, 2018.
Australia will likely make its presence known, spearheaded by conditioner David Hayes early in the Carnival with the likes of multiple Gr2-winning sprinter Faatinah and Bjorn Baker’s highly rated GrI-winning speedster Music Magnate targeting the latter half, including a possible Super Saturday run. Said sprinters further highlight a global amalgam of talented newcomers and familiar faces, including classy Roger Varian trainees Connecticut and Barsanti, Gr1 Singapore Gold Cup winner Gilt Complex, Gr2 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2 winner Furia Cruzada and 2017 Gr2 Godolphin Mile runner-up Ross.
2018 DUBAI WORLD CUP CARNIVAL ACCEPTANCES
| Trainer | Country | Horse | Sex | YOB |
| Baker, Bjorn | Australia | Music Magnate (NZ) | G | 2011 |
| Hayes, David | Australia | Faatinah (AUS) | G | 2012 |
| Hayes, David | Australia | Mutamayel (AUS) | G | 2014 |
| Hayes, David | Australia | Shaf (AUS) | G | 2011 |
| Kent, Michael | Australia | Supido (AUS) | C | 2011 |
| Kent, Michael | Australia | Wyndspelle (NZ) | C | 2013 |
| Al Dailami, Hussain | Bahrain | The Grape Escape (IRE) | C | 2014 |
| Al Abed, Bader | Bahrain | Fils Anges (IRE) | C | 2010 |
| Al Abed, Bader | Bahrain | Hototo (GB) | G | 2010 |
| Al Abed, Bader | Bahrain | Predilection (USA) | C | 2013 |
| Al Abed, Bader | Bahrain | Roi De Vitesse (IRE) | C | 2007 |
| Nass, Fawzi | Bahrain | El Chapo (GB) | G | 2015 |
| Nass, Fawzi | Bahrain | Jordan Sport (GB) | G | 2013 |
| Nass, Fawzi | Bahrain | Krypton Factor (GB) | G | 2008 |
| Nass, Fawzi | Bahrain | Los Barbados (IRE) | G | 2012 |
| Ramadhan, Jaber | Bahrain | Dutch Masterpiece (GB) | G | 2010 |
| Ramadhan, Jaber | Bahrain | GM Hopkins (GB) | G | 2011 |
| Ramadhan, Jaber | Bahrain | Proposed (GB) | C | 2012 |
| Olsen, Bent | Denmark | Efesos (DEN) | C | 2013 |
| Olsen, Bent | Denmark | Jubilance (IRE) | G | 2009 |
| Olsen, Bent | Denmark | Queen Estoril (IRE) | F | 2015 |
| Brandt, Pia | France | Called To The Bar (IRE) | G | 2014 |
| Brandt, Pia | France | In The Lope (IRE) | G | 2014 |
| Caullery, Nicolas | France | Golden Wood (FR) | G | 2010 |
| De Royer Dupre, Alain | France | Canndera (FR) | F | 2014 |
| De Royer Dupre, Alain | France | Vazirbad (FR) | G | 2012 |
| Fabre, Andre | France | Cloth Of Stars (IRE) | C | 2013 |
| Fabre, Andre | France | Franz Schubert (GB) | C | 2014 |
| Fabre, Andre | France | Rosa Imperial (IRE) | F | 2013 |
| Fabre, Andre | France | Talismanic (GB) | C | 2013 |
| Fabre, Andre | France | Trais Fluors (GB) | C | 2014 |
| Rulec, Miroslav | Germany | Mata Utu (IRE) | G | 2011 |
| Schiergen, Peter | Germany | Ross (IRE) | C | 2012 |
| Woehler, Andreas | Germany | Va Bank (IRE) | C | 2012 |
| Bunyan, Darren | Ireland | Hit The Bid (GB) | C | 2014 |
| Halford, Michael | Ireland | Rehana (IRE) | F | 2014 |
| Halford, Michael | Ireland | Riyazan (IRE) | C | 2015 |
| Marnane, David | Ireland | Freescape (GB) | G | 2015 |
| Marnane, David | Ireland | Havana Go (GB) | C | 2015 |
| Takahashi, Yoshitada | Japan | Dios Corrida (JPN) | C | 2014 |
| Al Mandeel, Nawaf | KSA | Footbridge (GB) | C | 2013 |
| Petersen Niels | Norway | Icecapada (IRE) | F | 2012 |
| Petersen Niels | Norway | Mikklus Makklus (SWE) | G | 2014 |
| Petersen Niels | Norway | Nordic Defense (FR) | C | 2015 |
| Petersen Niels | Norway | Our Last Summer (IRE) | C | 2013 |
| Petersen Niels | Norway | Silver Ocean (USA) | G | 2008 |
| Petersen Niels | Norway | Spitzbergen (FR) | G | 2014 |
| Petersen Niels | Norway | Tertian (SWE) | G | 2012 |
| Petersen Niels | Norway | Tinnitus (IRE) | G | 2013 |
| Petersen Niels | Norway | Trouble Of Course (FR) | G | 2014 |
| Petersen Niels | Norway | Two Shots Of Happy (IRE) | F | 2015 |
| Petersen Niels | Norway | Viscount Barfield (IRE) | G | 2013 |
| Brown, Cliff | Singapore | Gilt Complex (NZ) | G | 2011 |
| Brown, Cliff | Singapore | Sir Isaac (AUS) | G | 2013 |
| Gray, Stephen | Singapore | Bahana (NZ) | G | 2011 |
| Gray, Stephen | Singapore | Newlands (AUS) | G | 2011 |
| Crawford, Brett | South Africa | Whisky Baron (AUS) | G | 2012 |
| de Kock, Mike | South Africa | Al Sahem (SAF) | C | 2013 |
| de Kock, Mike | South Africa | Belle Rose (SAF) | F | 2013 |
| de Kock, Mike | South Africa | Bold Rex (SAF) | G | 2014 |
| de Kock, Mike | South Africa | Dream Dubai (GB) | G | 2013 |
| de Kock, Mike | South Africa | Icy Trail (SAF) | G | 2012 |
| de Kock, Mike | South Africa | Janoobi (SAF) | C | 2013 |
| de Kock, Mike | South Africa | Light The Lights (SAF) | G | 2011 |
| de Kock, Mike | South Africa | Liquid Mercury (SAF) | G | 2011 |
| de Kock, Mike | South Africa | Noah From Goa (SAF) | G | 2012 |
| de Kock, Mike | South Africa | Sanshaawes (SAF) | G | 2009 |
| de Kock, Mike | South Africa | Smiling Blue Eyes (SAF) | F | 2013 |
| de Kock, Mike | South Africa | Suyoof (AUS) | G | 2012 |
| Castro, Francisco | Sweden | Land’s End (DEN) | C | 2012 |
| Castro, Francisco | Sweden | Only Bacan (CHI) | C | 2013 |
| Charpy, Erwan | UAE | El Rey Brillante (CHI) | C | 2014 |
| Charpy, Erwan | UAE | Furia Cruzada (CHI) | F | 2011 |
| Charpy, Erwan | UAE | Silver Look (ARG) | F | 2013 |
| Watson, Douglas | UAE | Blue Laureate (GB) | G | 2015 |
| Watson, Douglas | UAE | El Loco (GER) | C | 2013 |
| Watson, Douglas | UAE | Kimbear (USA) | C | 2014 |
| Watson, Douglas | UAE | Picture No Sound (IRE) | C | 2015 |
| Appleby, Michael | UK | Danzeno (GB) | G | 2011 |
| Botti, Marco | UK | Red Label (IRE) | C | 2014 |
| Burke, Karl | UK | Born To Be Alive (IRE) | G | 2014 |
| Burke, Karl | UK | Line House (GB) | F | 2015 |
| Burke, Karl | UK | London Protocol (FR) | G | 2013 |
| Channon, Mick | UK | Opal Tiara (IRE) | F | 2013 |
| Coakley, Denis | UK | Hors de Combat (GB) | G | 2011 |
| Cowell, Robert | UK | Encore D’Or (GB) | G | 2012 |
| Cox, Clive | UK | Khalidi (GB) | C | 2014 |
| Cox, Clive | UK | Tis Marvellous (GB) | G | 2014 |
| Crisford, Simon | UK | Dark Liberty (IRE) | F | 2015 |
| Crisford, Simon | UK | Rodaini (USA) | G | 2014 |
| Dunlop, Harry | UK | Robin Of Navan (FR) | C | 2013 |
| Fahey, Richard | UK | Another Touch (GB) | G | 2013 |
| Fellowes, Charlie | UK | Prince Of Arran (GB) | G | 2013 |
| Griffiths, David | UK | Duke Of Firenze (GB) | G | 2009 |
| Haggas, William | UK | Dal Harraild (GB) | G | 2013 |
| Haggas, William | UK | Mubtasim (IRE) | G | 2014 |
| Hannon, Richard | UK | Danehill Kodiac (IRE) | C | 2013 |
| Hannon, Richard | UK | George William (GB) | G | 2013 |
| Hannon, Richard | UK | Khafoo Shememi (IRE) | C | 2014 |
| Hannon, Richard | UK | Oh This Is Us (IRE) | C | 2013 |
| Hannon, Richard | UK | Tangled (IRE) | C | 2015 |
| Hannon, Richard | UK | Tupi (IRE) | G | 2012 |
| Hannon, Richard | UK | Across The Stars | G | 2013 |
| Hills, Charles | UK | Jallota (GB) | G | 2011 |
| Midgley, Paul | UK | Final Venture (GB) | G | 2012 |
| Midgley, Paul | UK | Line Of Reason (IRE) | G | 2010 |
| Noseda, Jeremy | UK | Gronkowski (USA) | C | 2015 |
| Noseda, Jeremy | UK | Keystroke (GB) | C | 2012 |
| O’Meara, David | UK | Out Do (GB) | G | 2009 |
| O’Meara, David | UK | Primero (FR) | G | 2013 |
| O’Meara, David | UK | Salateen (GB) | C | 2012 |
| Osborne, James | UK | Cliffs Of Capri (GB) | G | 2014 |
| Osborne, James | UK | Qassem (IRE) | G | 2013 |
| Osborne, James | UK | Raising Sand (GB) | G | 2012 |
| Osborne, James | UK | Reckless Endeavour (IRE) | G | 2013 |
| Palmer, Hugo | UK | Thunderbolt Rocks (GB) | C | 2015 |
| Powell, Brendan | UK | De Bruyne Horse (GB) | C | 2015 |
| Ryan, John | UK | Roland Rocks (IRE) | C | 2015 |
| Simcock, David | UK | Arod (IRE) | C | 2011 |
| Simcock, David | UK | Desert Encounter (IRE) | G | 2012 |
| Simcock, David | UK | Intern (IRE) | G | 2014 |
| Simcock, David | UK | Lightning Spear (GB) | C | 2011 |
| Simcock, David | UK | Majeed (GB) | G | 2010 |
| Simcock, David | UK | Mr Owen (USA) | C | 2012 |
| Simcock, David | UK | Polybius (GB) | G | 2011 |
| Simcock, David | UK | Sheikhzayedroad (GB) | G | 2009 |
| Simcock, David | UK | Singyoursong (IRE) | F | 2013 |
| Varian, Roger | UK | Barsanti (IRE) | G | 2012 |
| Varian, Roger | UK | Cape Byron (GB) | C | 2014 |
| Varian, Roger | UK | Connecticut (GB) | G | 2011 |
| Watson, Archie | UK | Absolute Blast (IRE) | F | 2012 |
| Williams, Ian | UK | Sir Maximilian (IRE) | G | 2009 |
