Spencer hopeful Cape Blanco can rule in Dubai

OWNER Jim Hay will be the bridge between racing’s two superpowers as Aidan O’Brien and the Coolmore partnership have a rare Dubai World Cup runner in the shape of Cape Blanco.

Hay, who is Scottish but lives and works in the UAE, purchased a majority share in last year’s Irish Derby and Champion Stakes winner, who will be ridden by his retained jockey Jamie Spencer.

Coolmore and the Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed have had what is generally acknowledged to be a strained relationship for some time, with their last competitor at the Sheikh’s keynote meeting being Powerscourt in 2005.