Dubai Most trainers are entitled to feel disappointed should their horse not draw a favourable stall in a race that carries a massive prize purse of $10million.
But then again Bon Baffert has always made known that he is different.
Regardless of Arrogate having drawn stall nine in a field of 14, Baffert remained buoyant of the red-hot favourite’s chances of adding the gilded Dubai World Cup trophy to the $12million Pegasus Cup and $6million Breeders’c Cup Classic.
Where will each horse be at the Dubai World Cup? Watch the post position draw for the 22nd running of the Dubai World Cup from the iconic Meydan Racecourse.
“I didn’t want the one or the 14 but nine is fine,” said the good-humoured Baffert.
“(But) they still have to break well. The main thing is for him to get away and then after that Mike Smith (jockey) will decide what he’s going to do. I always leave it up to Mike.”
Arrogate is the 1-3 international favourite to give Baffert a third Dubai World Cup after Silver Charm in 1998 and Captain Steve in 2001.
Gun Runner, runner-up in the 2016 Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) dislodged last year’s World Cup runner-up, Mubtaahij as second favourite, after the Mike de Kock-trained galloper drew the widest stall in 14.
Godolphin’s Saeed Bin Surour, the most successful trainer in the race with seven victories, draw the ideal 6th gate for his challenger, Move Up, a dual Group winner when raced in the UK.
WATCH: Saeed bin Surour, UAE's most succesful trainder speaks about his chances at the Dubai World Cup.
Baffert also saddles last year’s third Hoppertunity (16-1), who is in gate 12, while the local hopes, Special Fighter (14-1) drew 13, Long River (20-1) 2 and Furia Cruzada (25-1) 8).
WATCH: Saeed Al Tayer, The chairman of the board of directors of the Meydan City Corporation, speaks at the opening of the post position draw at the Dubai World Cup.
Sporting a trademark crisp-white shirt and blue-tinted glasses Baffert flashed his patented friendly smile as he described Arrogate as being one of the best horses he has ever trained.
“I remember when American Pharoah retired I thought it’s going to be a tough gap to fill, but Arrogate got in those shoes and has just kept going. He’s easily as good, if not better than American Pharoah.
“He’s an exceptional horse but he still has to have racing luck. I know I’ve got a great horse and iff he can just repeat his last race, or the one before, then I know we’re going to be in great shape.”
WATCH: The World Cup Draw is over. What does it mean and what can you expect from this Saturday's Dubai World Cup. Our Features Writer Leslie Wilson Jr. and ex-trainer Jacqueline Doyle analyse it for us.
Ron Winchell, Gun Runner’s trainer believes that his horse ‘can stand up to Arrogate and the rest in the field.
“To have the No. 5 position we could not have been happier. It’s just the place we wanted him at the start,” he said.
“He keeps getting better and better. He’s won the last few races rather impressively and now I am hoping to make that three in-a-row. I feel pretty confident in him.”
WATCH: Jockey Mike Smith, talks about Dubai World Cup favourite, Arrogate.
Erwan Charpy, a Dubai veteran, was delighted to be saddling his first ever World Cup runner in Furia Cruzada, who drew stall 8.
“It is so exciting to be here. We’ve got speed inside and outside and I am happy enough with midfield,” he said. “She’s adaptable and realistically, she is an absolute outsider but I can guarantee you that she will run to her best.”
Maria Ritchie, who only received her trainer’s license last month, sends out Special Fighter, who drew the last but one gate.
“Ideally, I would have liked to have been in six or seven. So being out in 13 isn’t exactly ideal,” said the Oasis 1 Stables handler.
“We always knew this was not going to be easy. But I am sure he will be there in the mix giving it his all.”
Stall 11 may not be the best position in the race, : “Lucky 11! The horse looked very good on the track this morning. It’s so far so good.”
“I was told that posts three through eight are where you want to be, but Jack Wolf, representing Starlight Racing’s Neolithic, said: “I was told that posts three through eight are where you want to be, but I can’t complain about (11).
“Keen Ice is directly inside (10) and he likely won’t be quick away from there. Directly inside him is Arrogate, so we will know where he is immediately.”
Being the last person to draw a post is not usually the best thing, but as luck would have it, Saeed Bin Surour was dealt the favourable No 6 gate.
“Move Up did well on turf last season, winning a G2 in Turkey and a G3 at Ascot,” said the Emirati handler.
“I couldn’t be happier with the draw. He is coming up against the best horse in the world, but we wanted to give him a chance in a race like this and we will see how he gets on.”
