Dubai: Curlin, the red-hot favourite for Saturday's $6 million Dubai World Cup (Gr 1), will have to do what no other horse has done in 12 past runnings of the world's richest race - and that is to win from stall 12.
The American Horse of the Year, who takes a faultless set of credentials into the 2,000 metre race on dirt, must overcome the jinx of breaking from the second-widest stall if he is to maintain his lofty reputation.
But Scott Blasi, assistant to trainer Steve Asmussen, is unmoved.
"It suits us fine, I don't think it's a big deal," he told Gulf News. "In fact, I prefer him to be on the outside as it gives Robbie (Albarado) a chance to settle the horse and get into a nice position when they enter the straight.
"He's run here before so he knows the track and the distance."
Blasi pointed out that Culin (2/5 Fav) was a much-improved horse to the one that won the Breeders' Cup Classic (Gr 1) last year and that would compensate for the outside draw.
"He's physically bigger and better. He's also a lot more mature and knows how to run his races, so the draw is not going to pose any problems."
Although there is no doubt that everyone gets carried away with tactics and draws when a staggering $3.6 million is at stake to the winner, almost all the connections of the 13 runners, who will line up to face the starter at 9.30pm, were pleased with the positions their horses were allotted.
Godolphin trainer Saeed Bin Surour, who saddles Curlin's main challengers, Jalil (stall 8) and Happy Boy (3), dismissed expert views that a draw close to the rail would benefit the horse. "If you have a good horse, who has good early speed, then you don't have to be worried about the draw," he said. "I'm happy with the draws my horses have got. What's more important is that they are fit and ready to run."
Something special
We expect something special from them, especially Jalil, who has really pleased us. He's progressing with every run and we think he will run a big race on Saturday."
Top South African trainer who saddles 2007 UAE Triple Crown winner Asiatic Boy also stressed that the draw was 'not such a big thing', after his stable star was drawn in gate 9.
"I would rather have had him closer to the rail, but he's got good early speed so he should be able to get into a position from where he can dictate how the race his run. I'm very happy for him to lead the race."
Asiatic Boy finished third to Jalil in the third round of the Maktoum Challenge, his intended prep race for the Dubai World Cup, but de Kock was willing to erase that entry from the horse's resume.
"You have to think ahead, and not look behind," he said. "Asiatic Boy is too good a horse to be judged on that one run. Expect a much better performance from him on Saturday."
In other keys draws Saudi Arabia's Premium Tap, second in the race last year behind Invasor, was drawn in stall 6, while Japan's Vermillion will break from 7.
Post position draw
Dubai World Cup (Gr 1)
Purse: $6 million Distance: 2000m (Dirt)
- 1. Saw Yed (S AlKahtani) O Peslier
- 2. Well Armed (E Harty)A Gryder
- 3. Happy Boy (S Bin Surour) K McEvoy
- 4. Kocab (A Fabre) S Pasquier
- 5. Great Hunter (D O'Neill) G Gomez
- 6. Premium Tap (J Gardel) S Madrid
- 7. Vermillion (S Ishizaka) Y Take
- 8. Jalil (s Bin Surour) L Dettori
- 9. Asiatic Boy (M de Kock) J Murtagh
- 10. Lucky Find (M de Kock) K Shea
- 11. Gloria De Campeao (P Bary) C Lemaire
- 12. Curlin (S Asmussen) R Albarado
- 13. A P Arrow (T Pletcher) R Dominquez
Latest odds from William Hills after yesterday's draw:
Dubai World Cup: 2-5 Curlin (from 4-9), 7-1 Jalil (from 9-1), 10-1 Asiatic Boy, 12-1 Vermillion, 14-1 Premium Tap, 16-1 Happy Boy, 25-1 A P Arrow, Lucky Find, 33-1 Gloria De Campeo, Kocab, Well Armed (from 40-1), 66-1 Great Hunter, 100-1 Sway Yed (EW 1/5 1,2,3).
