Dubai World Cup: Meydan, 27 March 2010, 1745 GMT
**William Hill Lincoln: **Doncaster, 27 March 2010, 1510 GMT
Coverage: Updates on BBC Radio 5 live
**Vision d’Etat, the 4-1 favourite for the Dubai World Cup, has been passed fit for Saturday’s race.**The nature of the 2008 French Derby winner’s problem was unknown but officials had called for the horse to be examined on Saturday morning.
A subsequent Emirates Racing Authority statement said: “The horse has been passed fit by the veterinary officer and is deemed suitable to race.”
Olivier Peslier is due to ride Vision d’Etat in the $10m £6.73m] race.
Saturday also marks the British Flat season’s opening day, with the Lincoln Handicap (1510 GMT) the feature race at Doncaster.
Penitent, a lightly-raced four-year-old is a short-priced favourite for the valuable handicap, even though it has its usual competitive look.
Trainer William Haggas said: "He seems in good form but it won’t make him run any faster if the bookmakers have shortened him up.
“Let’s hope he can run well. It certainly would be nice to win the race again.”
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Haggas has two Lincoln wins to his credit with High Low in 1992 and Very Wise 15 years later.
French-trained Vision d’Etat has enjoyed four victories to date, the most recent being the five-year-old’s win the Hong Kong Cup last December.
English horse Twice Over is second favourite for the world’s richest race, but has not run since his third place in the Breeders’ Cup Classic last year.
The Henry Cecil trained thoroughbred has been drawn in stall 11 of 14, while Vision d’Etat is set to race from stall six.
The Dubai World Cup, established in 1996, takes place at the new and luxurious 60,000-capacity Meydan Racecourse, and is one of eight races at the one-day meet.*