With all of the international success that Aidan O’Brien has encountered through his career, it comes as a surprise that he has never won a race on Dubai World Cup night.  In fact, in the 15-year history of the event, O’Brien has saddled just one horse, Powerscourt, to a fifth-place finish in the 2005 Dubai Sheema Classic.  With this preface, it makes his three starters on Saturday look quite interesting on many levels.  Master of Hounds is still a very unproven commodity in the UAE Derby, a race that has never been won by any trainer without the surname Suroor or de Kock.  Alexander Pope is proven over a synthetic race course, although he has yet to step into group company, but must be ready considering Aidan’s choice to face these.

Cape Blanco is a tough nut to crack in the Dubai World Cup.  He hasn’t been seen since October, when finishing 14th in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at odds of 3-1.  But if you forget about that disappointment, his form from last year makes him look a monster against this group.  While everyone makes Twice Over the top contender, as he should be based on his win in the Maktoum Challenge Rd. 3, let’s not overlook the G.I Irish Champions Stakes, where Cape Blanco defeated Twice Over by over 5 ½ lengths.  That Group One victory came over a good listed turf course at Leopardstown, and the inventor of Tapeta, Michael Dickenson, describes this main course at Meydan to be similar to a good-to-firm listed turf course.  Questions will be raised about his lack of synthetic course experience and recent races, but let’s not forget that not only are the Boys from Ballydoyle in this game to win on the biggest stages, they are also very much into creating marketable stallions.  Can you think of a better prospect than a son of Galileo whose resume includes Group One wins in the Irish Derby, Irish Champion Stakes and Dubai World Cup? Attractive is an understatement.

I have had the great pleasure of being given the opportunity to experience Dubai for the past four years.  But never have I experienced the side of Dubai that was presented to me today, a view that you must experience if you are ever fortunate to visit this great city.

I was given the opportunity to visit the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding – a cultural center with the motto, “Open Doors. Open Minds.”  This center is focused on breaking down the misunderstandings that exist between Emiratis and other cultures.  Individuals such as the Queen of England and President George W. Bush have visited the Sheikh Mohammed Centre in order to experience true Dubai.  I experienced a point of view that truly opened my eyes to what this culture is about.

A gentleman by the name of Nasif Kayed is in charge of the proceedings at the center.  It first started with a traditional Emirati meal — in my case breakfast — and he explained in great detail the customs of the meal and its importance in bringing the family together.  He then went on to explain why the traditional attire is the way it is for men and women, and also why the roles are the way they are for a man and a woman — all things that are little known for the most part in our western lives.

I was then able to experience the inside of a Mosque and what the feeling is like being in such a sacred place.  I could sit here and try to recreate the feelings I had during this afternoon, but it would do it no justice.  I feel as though my eyes are open for the first time in Dubai by understanding what individuals in this culture are really about.  Please check out their website for more information, www.cultures.ae.