By Emma Berry
“I think it was a six,” joked Bob Baffert as he upturned a golden falcon at the Dubai World Cup post position draw to find the number nine on its base. That's the gate allotted to his stable star Arrogate (Unbridled's Song), the highest-rated horse ever to run at the World Cup meeting.
Later calling upon Dana Barnes to make the draw for Hoppertunity (Any Given Saturday), Baffert added of his second runner in the $10 million race, who drew wide in stall 12, “He's Dana's favourite horse and Hoppertunity couldn't be any better. He shipped well and he always gets a piece of it. One of these days he'll get the whole enchilada.”
Japanese raider Apollo Kentucky (Langfuhr {Can}) has been allocated the inside draw, while Salem bin Ghadayer's Long River (AP Indy) splits him and his compatriots Gold Dream (JPN) (Gold Allure {JPN}) and Lani (Tapit), who are in three and four. Gun Runner (Candy Ride {Arg}) has arguably the best of the luck of the draw from the American contingent and will jump from gate five, while Godolphin's British Group 3 winner Move Up (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) takes six and Awardee (Jungle Pocket {JPN}) is in seven. One inside Arrogate will be the Erwan Charpy-trained mare Furia Cruzada (Chi) (Newfoundland).
“It's my first runner and it's exciting to be here,” said Charpy. “We've got speed inside and outside and I'm happy enough with midfield. She's adaptable. Realistically she's an outsider but she'll run to her best.”
On Arrogate's outside is Keen Ice (Curlin) who has been drawn next to stablemate Neolithic (Harlan's Holiday) in 11. Maria Ritchie's first World Cup runner Special Fighter (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) will need a good start from 13, as will the Mike de Kock-trained Mubtaahij (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), who is widest of all in 14.
De Kock's assistant Trevor Brown was philosophical in his response, saying, “What can we do? We're very happy with his progress since his last race. You have to take what you get.”
The G1 Longines Dubai Sheema Classic has only seven starters, headed by last year's winner Postponed (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), who has the outside gate. Mickael Barzalona will be aboard Earnshaw (Medaglia d'Oro) in stall number one, with Jack Hobbs (GB) (Halling) is in three next to one of Aidan O'Brien's two runners in the race, Highland Reel (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). His stablemate Seventh Heaven (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) is the only filly in the race and starts from gate six, while Teruya Yoshida's contender Sounds Of Earth (JPN) (Neo Universe {JPN}) is in four and the field is completed by Prize Money (GB) (Authorized {Ire}), drawn in five.
The 2016 G1 Dubai Turf winner Real Steel (JPN) (Deep Impact {JPN}) was withdrawn from this year's race overnight after bleeding from both nostrils, leaving a field of 13 to face the starter in the $6,000 contest.
Aidan O'Brien may well be cursing his luck as his three runners––Cougar Mountain (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), Deauville (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Long Island Sound (War Front)––were handed the three widest berths.
Richard Fahey's Godolphin runner Ribchester (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}) drew the rail, with Zarak (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) in two and fellow French challenger Heshem (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}) in three. Decorated Knight, aiming for back-to-back Group 1 wins and a second victory in this race for his trainer Roger Charlton, has a favourable position in stall four, while Mick Channon's Opal Tiara (Ire) (Thousand Words {GB}) is alongside him in five with Sheikh Hamdan's Mutakayyef (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) in six.
The line-up is completed by dual Grade 1 winner Mondialiste (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in seven, Very Special (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) in eight, Vivlos (JPN) (Deep Impact {JPN}) in nine and Debt Collector (NZ) (Thorn Park {Aus}) just inside the Ballydoyle trio in gate 10.
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