SURPRISE STABLE THE LONE INVITE TO DUBAI

Will Clarken runners selected for the Dubai World Cup

With the likes of training powerhouses like Chris Waller, Peter Moody and Gai Waterhouse down under it seems strange that only Morphetville trainer Will Clarken has received the sole invite to attend the Dubai World Cup.

There are a list of horse 215 deep from around the world including the likes of thoroughbreds from the UK, Denmark, Greece and Turkey attending the middle east’s New Years event with Clarken stable listed as a participant.

South Australian, Clarken is set to fly the flag for Australia with three runners nominated to line up in Dubai including Second Slip, Parasifal and He’s A Balter.

All three of the Clarken runners are set to run this weekend with all of them nominated to run in the Listed Christmas Handicap over 1200m at Morphetville on Saturday. 

Parasifal is a dual acceptor and could potentially and more realistically be heading the way of the Listed Kensington Stakes at Flemington on Saturday over the shorter 1000m distance.

It had been an open discussion that Australia’s current best sprinter Nature Strip could be on the list of invitees for the riches of the Dubai meeting however there was no room for the Waller runner on the list.

This in turn scuppers any potential trip to the UK and a run at Royal Ascot in the summer which had been touted as a potential route for The Everest winner. 

Elsewhere Cox Plate winner State Of Rest is one of 7 runners from Melbourne Cup winning trainer Joseph O’Brien set to attend. 

Fellow English trainer and conditioner of the popular Prince Of Arran, Charlie Fellowes is set to send two horses to the middle east with Ejtilaab and Dubious Affair set to attend. 

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