Pleasantly Perfect, Richard Mandella's ante-post favourite for the $6 million Dubai World Cup (Gr I), flew in from Los Angeles via Stansted Airport in England , before landing at the Dubai International Airport at 9.10pm on Sunday evening.The trans-Atlantic flight took approximately 18 hours dor-to-door.

Also on aboard were fellow Dubai World Cup runners Medaglia d'Oro, recent winner of the Donn Handicap Japan Cup Dirt (Gr I) winner Fleetstreet Dancer and the Strub Stakes (Gr II) winner Domestic Dispute.

"They all travelled good and have settled in nicely," reported Toni Hodge, Manager, Dubai World Cup Qarantine. "They had a quiet day, just to acclimatise, and are expected to begin work tomorrow."

The other horses who flew in from the West Coast were Neil Drysdale's Sarafan, a contender for the $2 million Dubai Duty Free (Gr. I), Julio Canani's Tsigane who runs in the $2million Dubai Golden Shaheen (Gr. I).

The final two horses on the flight were During, from the stables of Dubai World Cup winning trainer Bob Baffert, and O'Neil's Excessivepleasure who will both run in the $1 million Godolphin Mile (Gr II).

Breeders' Cup Sprint (Gr. I) winner Cajun Beat, who will line up in the Dubai Golden Shaheen (Gr.I), flew to Dubai from Fort Lauderdale on the East Coast via Stansted.

Cajun Beat, trained by Steve Margolis, was accompanied on the charter by the Kenneth McPeek-trained Hard Buck who will run in the $2 million Dubai Sheema Classic (Gr I).

Tour of the Cat, trained by Myra Mora and the Todd Pletcher-trained Alke, both of whom will run in the Dubai Golden Shaheen were also on the plane from the East coast that arrived in Dubai at 6.30pm on Sunday.

Sarah Williams, Liason Officer for the Dubai World Cup Quarantine Centre, said that the respective connections were very happy with the travel arrangements and the way the horses took the long-haul flight.

"Everything went very well and they're being looked after in the best possible manner," she said.

Pleasantly Perfect, winner of the 2003 Breeders' Cup Classic (Gr 1), is accompanied by Crystal Brown, assistant trainer to Richard Mandella, head groom Jose Carrera and veterinarian Rick Arthur.

The horse almost did not make the trip to Dubai having been diagnosed with a fever early last week.

The illness even caused Mandella to pull his ward out of the Grade One Santa Anita Handicap on March 6, his intended prep race for the Dubai World Cup where he enjoys top favouritism.

However, Pleasantly Perfect, who defeated Medaglia d'Oro in the Classic, made a quick recovery and even passed a fitness test with flying colours.

In his final piece of work before shipping to Dubai the son of Pleasant Colony drilled seven furlongs at Hollywood Park in a time of 1:25.60.

Arthur is accompanying the horse primarily as a precautionary measure in case any sign of the fever returns, it was reported.

Mandella is expected to arrive in Dubai on Friday to supervise his runner's final preparations for the world's richest race on March 27.

Martin Talty, Manager of the Dubai Racing Club's International Department, said that the horses would begin track work tomorrow.

Likely runners
Admire Don (JPN) - Hiroyoshi Matsuda ( Japan )
Dinyeper (GB) - Ayhan Kasar ( Turkey )
Domestic Dispute ( USA ) - Patrick Gallagher ( USA )
Fleetstreet Dancer ( USA ) - Doug O'Neil ( USA )
Grand Hombre ( USA ) - Saeed bin Suroor (UAE)
Kings Boy (GER) - Jerry Barton (KSA)
Medaglia D'Oro ( USA ) - Robert Frankel ( USA )
Pleasantly Perfect ( USA ) - Richard Mandella ( USA )
Regent Bluff (JPN) - Yokichi Okubo ( Japan )
Silent Deal (JPN) - Yasuo Ikee ( Japan )
State Shinto ( USA ) - Mazin Al Kurdi (UAE)
Victory Moon (SAF) - Mike de Kock ( South Africa )