Honour Devil scratched for Dubai World Cup March 25th, 2009
Honour Devil, one of two South African-trained entries in the Dubai World Cup, was scratched Tuesday with an throat injury that will require surgery.
Race officials say the 4-year-old horse has an entrapped epiglottis. That leaves trainer Mike De Kock with last years runner-up Asiatic Boy in the 14-horse field for Saturdays $6 million race, the worlds richest.
Honour Devil, the winner of the 2008 UAE Derby, was having respiratory problems because of the trapped epiglottis.
Asiatic Boy, who finished last year behind Curlinthe U.S. Horse of the Yearwent through paces on the training track at Nad Al Sheba in preparation for his third Dubai World Cup.
That was a big run last year and Curlin was exceptional, so we had to be happy with second, De Kock said. His preparation has gone well this time and all been based around Saturday night. We have to hope he will go very close.