Royal Delta heads $10m Dubai World Cup field

Godolphin have expressed delight after early favourite Hunter's Light's position in stall four for Saturday's $10 million Dubai World Cup.

Thirteen runners will go to post at Meydan in the richest horse race in the world with a Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom, a two-time Eclipse Award-winning filly Royal Delta and the defending champion Monterosso heading the star-studded field.

Ahmed Ajtebi’s ride Capponi was given first preference at the stall selection ceremony inside the IMAX cinema complex at Meydan, with Godolphin Racing manager Simon Crisford opting for the fifth slot.

Crisford selected the first draw, Capponi (5) and the last draw, Kassiano (13).

“Capponi seems pretty well but he has taken time to come to hand he had some issues after the World Cup last year but I hope they are sorted,” said Crisford.

“Kassiano is improving all the time since joining the stable and I don’t think that barrier 13 would stop him from winning. Hunter’s Light has a good draw in four African Story was not so good in 11.

“I would have preferred anything below seven for African Story. The draws for Monterosso (10) and Kassiano (13) are fine. He has improved 16lb over the Dubai World Cup Carnival but I reckon he has to be another 10lb better than what we have seen so far in the Dubai World Cup. I’m not too disappointed with the number 13 draw because he can take his time and finish the race well.

Hunter's Light a 7-2 favourite is one of three runners for Saeed Bun Suroor and the trainer is satisfied with the positions for his trio of runners.
 
"I am happy enough with the draw for my horses - it is not a worry," Bin Suroor told godolphin.com. "All three are in very good form. Kassiano has improved a lot and can take any position in the race - I think he will be fine.
 
"African Story is improving all the time and Sheikh Mohammed has decided to run him in the Dubai World Cup. If the pace is slow, I would like to see African Story or Hunter's Light in front, but if the pace is strong, I would like to see them somewhere handy."
 
Bin Suroor's fears American raider Animal Kingdom, but he has been parked out in stall 12 of 13. It is seen as a negative, but the 2011 Kentucky Derby winner's trainer Graham Motion was not downbeat.

"I don't know that it's such a bad draw," he said. "I was kind of glad posts one, two and three already had been taken."

Top American mare Royal Delta has secured stall eight, while fellow US raider Dullahan is in stall two.
 
Last year's winner Monterosso, trained for Godolphin by Mahmood al Zarooni, will break from stall 10.

There are three British runners: Marco Botti's Planteur in stall seven, Ed Dunlop's Red Cadeaux in stall two and Side Glance from Andrew Balding's yard in six. Meandre (stall nine) and Treasure Beach (one) make up the field.
 
Royal Delta, seeking to become the first female World Cup winner, is the 4-1 second choice on the line. Her draw in the 2012 World Cup was favourable, too, but Royal Delta got into trouble anyway after leaving from post 7.

“I just hope she breaks well and gets a clean trip,” said Bill Mott, who trains Royal Delta.

Mott won the inaugural World Cup in 1996 with Cigar who also started from post position 8.

Royal Delta trainer Bill Mott won the inaugural Dubai World Cup in 1996 with Cigar, but an American horse has not won the race since the track shifted in 2010 from dirt to tapeta surface.

Barry Irwin, founder of Team Valor which co-owns Animal Kingdom, said he was glad with the outside draw, noting his horse won the 2011 Kentucky Derby from the No. 16 post in the 20-horse field.

"I don't think it's that big of a deal," Irwin said. "He's not going to be in front anyway. He will be a mid-pack horse. We just didn't want to be inside. If we were in the 1-2-3, we would be feeling it; 11-12-13 not great, but not bad."

Mott, who brought Royal Delta to Dubai last year only to see her finish ninth, said she was "a little banged up" last year but appears to be doing much better this year.

"Hope she breaks well and has a clean trip," Mott said of his starting post. "We are just hoping for a better trip, a smooth trip. That is all we can ask for."

Jerry Crawford, managing partner of Donegal Racing which owns Dullahan, said he, too, could live with the No. 3 gate saying it means less work for his horse which finished third at last year's Kentucky Derby and beat Game On Dude in the Pacific Classic.

"We will save a lot of ground between the start and the first turn by being where we want to be," Crawford said. "I much prefer the 3. You can do the math. If you come straight over to the rail and save every step of ground, you still have to run 40 feet further from 13 than the 1. It's just mathematics at the end of the day."

The early favourite is Hunter's Light, which drew No. 4. If he won, it would be the second straight year that the champion horse came from the stables of UAE Vice-President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum won.

Monterosso, who drew No. 10 this time, was the surprise winner last year to give the Dubai ruler his first Dubai World Cup win since 2006.

Also entered were African Story, Capponi, Kassiano, Meandre, Planteur, Red Cadeaux, Side Glance and Treasure Beach.

The nine-race World Cup card has a total purse of $27.25 million.