DUBAI'S dirt track reopened yesterday for the first time since a heavy storm on Tuesday and runners in the world's richest race had a final chance to get used to the surface.

Race officials said that after two glorious days of drying weather the sand track at Dubai's Nad al Sheba course was in perfect shape for morning work. The $4 million Dubai World Cup, with a huge gold trophy and a $2.4 million first prize, is due to be run under floodlights today at 4.15 p.m. Irish time.

The track at Nad al Sheba, a racing oasis in the desert con the outskirts of this glittering Gulf Arab city, has seen only one previous top class event. That was last year's inaugural Dubai World Cup when the undisputed American champion Cigar raced in Arabia for the first time and became undisputed world champion.

This year's favourite is US trained Siphon, winner of the Santa Anita Handicap earlier this month. Siphon and second favourite Sandpit, both bred in Brazil and trained in California by Richard Mandella, stretched their legs along the back of the mile and a quarter course and were the last horses to work.

Mandella, who saddled Soul of the Matter which finished half a length behind Cigar last year, said Siphon's connections were very pleased with his performance yesterday.

Siphon is a blazing front runner who has drawn wide at 10 in the 13 horse field, so the opening exchanges before the first turn are likely to be fast and furious.

The key question is whether Europe's leading contenders, European champion Helissio, Japan Cup winner Singspiel, and Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid's lightly raced Flemensfirth can turn in their form on dirt rather than their usual turf surface.

If they can handle the sand they could pose quite a challenge to the professional American dirt horses. French owned and trained Helissio, winner of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and rated the world's best three year old last year, will be racing on dirt for the first time.

Singspiel, winner of the Breeder's Cup and Japan Cup, was elected grass horse of North America last year and will be ridden by Jerry Bailey, who rode Cigar to victory last year.

Gambling is illegal in the United Arab Emirates but British bookmakers have odds makers in Dubai for the big race. Last year it was an easy bet - everyone was on Cigar - but this year any one of half a dozen horses could win," said David Wood of William Hill.