Racing: World's richest race night

Renowned international performer Jay Peg runs in tomorrow's star-studded Dubai Duty Free. Photo / Getty Images

Some people fall in love with horse racing early in life.

Keita Tanaka, the international racing manager in Japan, has most beaten.

Tanaka is currently in Dubai, managing Vodka, widely considered Japan's best racehorse, who lines up in tomorrow morning's US$5 million ($8.69 million) Dubai Duty Free on the richest night of horse racing in the world.

At the Dubai World Cup barrier draw mid-week, Tanaka declared: "My parents took me to the racetrack when my mother was expecting me."

That's early.

Australasian horses have proved they are worthy of a place in the star-studded Dubai fields.

The mighty Sunline would have won the Dubai Duty Free in her year instead of a close third had she not been hammered away at in front by the local Godolphin horses in a blatant team riding exhibition clearly aimed at bringing Sunline undone.

It was a tragedy two outstanding horses in Jim and Tonic and Fairy King Prawn just got the better of Sunline who showed her true international class to the Northern Hemisphere.

And Haradsun showed what he was worth by winning in Dubai.

In one of the hottest fields imaginable, Seachange covered herself with glory in Dubai last year without winning.

Which makes it mystifying why English bookmakers have declared Australian runners Tuesday Joy and Niconero virtual no-hopers in the Dubai Duty Free.

Niconero, who won the Australian Cup, is rated at $21 and Tuesday Joy at $26.

Tuesday Joy has won four Australian group one events and is right at the top of her form.

Her trainer Gai Waterhouse says bookies have got it very wrong.

"She's the best middle distance mare in Australia.

"And Darren Beadman is the best Australian jockey in 20 years - he's got an automatic speed map in his head."

Niconero's trainer David Hayes declared the bookies' assessment "incredible".

"I know Niconero was beaten here last year, but he's in much better shape this time.

"He's not fretting like he did last year and he's eating and drinking well. I think he and Tuesday Joy are right in the race."

The favourite is English miler Paco Boy at $5.50. Jay Peg, who narrowly got past Seachange in this race last year, is rated at $11 fourth favourite behind Archipenko and Vodka on $6 and $8.

Archipenko finished third in this last year and Vodka ran fourth.

Emirati trainer, Musabah al Muhairi, who saddles surprise runner Snaafy in the US$6 million Dubai World Cup, knows what to do if one of his charges is under the weather - he uses his grandmother's herbal remedies.

Al Muhairi won't reveal the secret recipe, but says he has different remedies for different ailments.

"All horse people in this land use herbal remedies," he said. "My grandmother, she told me about some medicines for humans but I tried with horses and its working - much better than chemical medicines."

Assistant trainer to Al Muhairi, Australian John Nicholls, says Arabian horsemen are talented in treating equine ailments the natural way.

"He's Emirati and its something they've been brought up on; he's been with horses all his life. He's a genius with Arabian medicine and cures and has rehabilitated quite a few European horses with problems."

The 5-year-old son of Kingmambo earned a place in the world's richest horse race after scoring two good wins in Dubai and then beating the now-injured Dubai World Cup contender and 2008 UAE Derby winner Honour Devil in the Burj Nahar.

"He's got to jump in class, definitely," said Nicholls. "But I don't think the distance will be a worry."

Sunday's meeting offers prizemoney of US$23 million.