DUBAI, March 28: Dubai’s $15.25 million World Cup meeting lost one of its big names on Friday when top U.S. sprinter Xtra Heat injured an ankle while in her stable and had to be withdrawn from Saturday’s big sprint race, the Golden Shaheen.

But a significant line-up remained in place for the seven-race spectacular, especially for the World Cup itself with the Godolphin camp bullish about its duo of Moon Ballad and Grandera.

Xtra Heat’s defection was a big blow to U.S. hopes although a dozen American entries remain across the card, including Harlan’s Holiday in the World Cup.

Disappointed John Salzman, trainer of Xtra Heat, said: “Initial indications are that the injury is only a sprain. She has some heat in the ankle but no filling. She’s got a problem and I’m not going to run her.”

Xtra Heat boasts a fine career record of 25 wins and seven placings from her 34 starts. She also holds the U.S. record for her sex for number of race wins.

She had been installed as 7-4 favourite for the Golden Shaheen, a race in which she finished a good third last year.

U.S. hopes in the eighth running of the World Cup are pinned on lone challenger Harlan’s Holiday, winner of a Group One race in Florida last month and a 7-1 chance in London betting.

But spirits are high in the Godolphin camp of Dubai’s Sheikh Mohammed as it bids to add to the victories of Dubai Millennium in 2000 and Street Cry last year.

But Godolphin racing manager Simon Crisford said: “Frankie had a very good partnership with Grandera who did look a little bit of a tricky ride earlier in his career but he seems to be growing and maturing a lot.

Nayef, trained by England’s Marcus Tregoning for Sheikh Hamdan al Maktoum, remains the firm favourite at 11-8 after a pleasing final work-out on Thursday for jockey Richard Hills, World Cup winner in 1999 on Almutawakel.

Runners & riders (tabulate under number, draw, horse, country, trainer, jockey):

1. (5) Blue Burner, Kent Desormeaux

2. (8) Crimson Quest, Alex Solis

3. (9) Grandera, Jamie Spencer

4. (6) Grundlefoot, Sebastian Madrid

5. (4) Hans Anderson, Wigberto Ramos

6. (10) Harlan’s Holiday, John Velazquez

7. (11) Moon Ballad, Frankie Dettori

8. (7) Nayef, Richard Hills

9. (3) Sei Min, Jose Velez

10. (2) State Shinto, Johnny Murtagh

11. (1) Aquarelliste, Dominique Boeuf

All carry 57 kilos.—Reuters