World Cup beater Curlin heading home to Kentucky

Curlin, runaway winner of the $6 million Dubai World Cup, will be rested before connections decide on his campaign for the rest of the year, trainer Steve Asmussen said.

The US Horse of the Year in 2007 romped home by 7 3/4 lengths under jockey Robby Albarado to land horse racing's richest prize at Nad Al Sheba on Saturday night.

Asmussen said in a media release Curlin was "full of energy" and would be sent to New York tomorrow to clear quarantine and then be shipped to Keeneland racecourse in Lexington, Kentucky, where he will eventually resume light training.

"From there, we'll plan a course for the second half of the year," Asmussen said. "It will be decided collectively and based on what's in the best interest of the horse and his legacy."

Bookmakers William Hill have already installed Curlin as 6-4 favourite to retain his Breeders' Cup Classic crown at Santa Anita, California, in October.

Victories in last year's Classic and the Preakness Stakes had already marked Curlin out as a top-class performer and he underlined his reputation with another hugely impressive display on Saturday, thoroughly justifying his odds of 4-11.