Sheikh Mohammed has purchased South American G1 winner Xin Xu Lin to race in the Gulf.  

The Brazilian-bred colt was a G1 winner of the Grande Premio Juliano Martins, Grande Premio Ipiranga and Grande Premio Derby Paulista in his homeland.

Xin Xu Lin (3c Wondertoss – Barbiera by Pleasant Variety) also garnered a G1 in the Gran Premio Internacional Carlos Pellegrini in Argentina late last year.  That race is considered the equivalent of the Arc de Triomphe in South America.

Xin Xu Lin will join trainer Mahmood al Zarooni and will be aimed for the World Cup meeting on March 26, however, no specific target has been decided.

Meanwhile, Sheikh Mohammed’s son Sheikh Rashid has purchased an unspecified percentage in top-class colt Morning Line to run in the G1 Dubai World Cup next month.

Morning Line (4c Tiznow–Indian Snow by A.P. Indy) warmed up for his imminent trip to the Gulf with an encouraging second in the G1 Donn Hcp over 1800m in Florida on Saturday.  He duelled with Square Eddie in front and was left a sitting shot for the winner Giant Oak (Giant’s Causeway) who had bided his time in the early stages.

Sheikh Rashid’s Zabeel Racing enterprise will race the colt in partnership with current owners Thoroughbred Legends Racing Stable.

Morning Line won the G2 Pennsylvania Derby and was narrowly beaten by shock winner Dakota Phone in the G1 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile at Churchill Downs in November.  He is a son of dual Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Tiznow and was a $700,000 buy for his original owners at the 2008 Keeneland September yearling sale.