Godolphin’s Mystic Guide draws gate 6 for $12 million Dubai World Cup
Officials during the draw for Dubai World Cup at the Meydan Racecourse on Wednesday.
The four-year-colt is one of Godolphin’s three runners from three different continents in Dubai World Cup meeting’s flagship race that has drawn the maximum allowed field of 14 runners.
The US-based Mystic Guide arrives on the back of a victory in the Grade 3 Razorback Handicap at Oaklawn Park on Feb.27 and is a leading fancy in the $12million race.
His trainer Michael Stidham was delighted with his 4-year-old’s starting position. He said at Wednesday’s draw at Meydan, “It’s perfect. I couldn’t be happier.”
A minute’s silence was observed as mark of respect for Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance, and one of the world’s leading owner-breeders who passed away on Wednesday.
Mystic Guide is one of three runners for the owner each trained in different countries, with the Andre Fabre trainee Magny Cours (Medaglia d’Oro) having drawn 12 and Saeed Bin Suroor’s representative Gifts Of Gold (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) widest of all in 14.
On Tuesday evening, the son of champion Ghostzapper and five-time Grade 1 winner Music Note went through the schooling process at Meydan, which involves vanning over from the international quarantine barn to the receiving barn, walking the 800m tunnel, saddling, parade-ring walking and then returning.
“Based on the schooling process we gave him the morning off,” Stidham said. “He had trained in the morning and then went over there for two hours of schooling, so we just felt like it would be best to give him an easy day. We walked and grazed him. Tomorrow he will gallop and stand in the gate.
“It’s a lot different; the total opposite of what we do in the States,” he continued. “Doing all this in a week’s time is very demanding on a horse and their routine, so you have to adapt your training with this extra activity and that’s what I’m doing. He’s plenty fit. I don’t want to put him over the top and have a flat horse on race day.”
Of the local entries, Musabah Al Muhairi’s Military Law, winner of the Al Maktoum Challenge Round 1 and sixth in the $20million Saudi Cup, will break from gate five.
“I am very happy with the draw,” Muhairi said. “This is perfect and I just couldn’t have asked for a better position for him to start.
“If he jumps out well and Antonio Fresu can get him into a good position just off the pace then we have every reason to believe he will be in a good position to contest the finish. He will work for the last time on Thursday and we will have him ready for race day.”
Doug Watson’s Thegreatcollection starts from gate eight and Salem Bin Ghadayer’s pair Hypothetical and Capezzano are in gate two and seven, respectively.
Watson said of the Thegreatcollection: “We have to be happy with eight and we know he is a horse who likes to be ridden patiently so, hopefully, there is plenty of early pace and he can pick up in the straight. He is in great form and looks fantastic anyway.”
Bahraini trainer Fawzi Nass’ Salute The Soldier, winner of both the second and third legs of the Al Maktoum Challenge drew gate 11.
ockey Adrie de Vries had a positive bulletin on the Nass trainee. “He is a very exciting horse and we are all really looking forward to Saturday,” he said.
“If you remember, this time last year he was favourite for the Godolphin Mile, now he has a live chance in the big race. His final work was very good and he seems in great form. Fawzi and his team have done very well keeping him fresh and happy. I am really looking forward to Saturday.”
GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational runner-up Jesus’ Team (Tapiture) will jump from stall nine and will have Sleepy Eyes Todd (Paddy O’Prado next to him in 10.
“When I saw post position nine I was happy because it’s in the middle,” said Jose Francisco D’Angelo, the trainer of Jesus’ Team.
“He doesn’t need to make an aggressive move at the beginning. I like the number nine,.
“It was a relief. In the Breeders’ Cup Mile, he had to start from gate 11. He can move fast to find a good spot.”
Saudi raider Great Scot, third behind Mishriff and Charlatan in the Saudi Cup, is drawn in gate 1 while Title Ready is in gate four and Uruguayan raider Ajuste Fiscal in gate 13.
