ETHICAL Diamond will head a small but select Irish team at next Saturday’s Dubai World Cup meeting in Meydan.

The $30 million raceday looks likely to go ahead despite the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. The sea distance between the United Arab Emirates and Iran is between 50-100km.

The UAE, and Dubai in particular, has been targeted by Iranian missiles in recent weeks. Although almost all of the missiles have been shot down by the UAE’s defence systems, there has been some damage to hotels and some disruption at the airport and at Meydan where racing has continued weekly.

Some high-profile European, American and Japanese racehorses are expected to miss next Saturday’s World Cup card due to the uncertainty caused by the military actions. However, both Willie Mullins and Joseph O’Brien are set to be represented there.

Rested since winning the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Del Mar in November, Ethical Diamond is set to take on world champion Calandagan in the 12-furlong Sheema Classic. Rebel’s Romance, winner of 21 races for Godolphin including this race in 2024, is a certain runner, as is Marco Botti’s globetrotter Giavellotto.

Mullins told The Irish Field on Friday: “Ethical Diamond is leaving here at 4am on Saturday morning to go to Dubai. My staff are happy to go and I may travel myself. Obviously we have concerns but I’ve spoken to a lot of people in Dubai and they are giving me more confidence that it is safe.

“All is well with the horse. He had a great break after the Breeders’ Cup before being prepared for this race. Dylan Browne McMonagle will travel from Hong Kong to ride him again, as Joseph O’Brien does not have a runner in our race.”

O’Brien will run recent Saudi Arabia winner Sons And Lovers in the Group 2 Gold Cup over two miles. Stable companion Al Riffa will also run in this race and the pair will be ridden by Dylan Browne McMonagle and Ryan Moore.

Another big name heading to Meydan is Ombudsman. The multiple Group 1 winner runs in the nine-furlong Dubai Turf. The $12 million Dubai World Cup on dirt will feature last year’s winner Forever Young. The Japanese runner won the Breeders’ Cup Classic last November and recently won the Saudi Cup. His main rivals at Meydan look to be the Crisfords-trained Meydaan and the Steve Asmussen-trained Magnitude.

Sales threat

Meanwhile, Goffs CEO Henry Beeby says the escalating conflict in the Middle East poses a threat to trade at this year’s bloodstock sales.

Speaking to The Times this week, Beeby said he was concerned that political instability could deter buyers from travelling and spending at key sales this year.

“The biggest enemy of our market is uncertainty. If people know what’s going to happen, that’s fine. But anything destabilising – it’s not helpful,” he said.

“[The Middle Eastern buyers] may still come but if the conflict continues, you’d have to imagine we certainly wouldn’t get the same numbers,” Beeby said.

Simon Kerins of Tattersalls Ireland told The Irish Field: “We understandably see everything through the prism of what could potentially affect our sales, and a hugely important market being prevented in any way from pursuing their passion for horse racing, would be concerning.”