Meydan Group has released the list of horses accepted for the 2018 Dubai World Cup Carnival, which gets underway at Meydan Racecourse on Jan.11, 2018.

The list features 132 accepted horses with the intention to ship from 15 countries, including 14 Group 1 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 $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.

One of the world’s top stayers, Alain de Royer Dupre-trained Vazirabad returns for the Carnival and will attempt to pull off an unprecedented hat trick in the Dubai Gold Cup (G1) after a likely return again in the 2810m Nad Al Sheba Trophy (G3) on March 1.

Brett Crawford-trained champion Whisky Baron spikes the class level with his presence, having won South Africa’s most prestigious event, The Sun Met (G1), to culminate a five-race winning streak last January.

Additional influence from South Africa on the Carnival will, as often is the case, come from the always-adept yard of Mike de Kock. His top charges include 2017 South African Derby (G1) winner Al Sahem, Group I-winning warrior Sanshaawes and Group I-winning 2017 Zabeel Mile (G2) runner-up Noah From Goa.