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Favorite Electrocutionist starts from the rail in Dubai World Cup |
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3/25/2006 9:27:29 AM |
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 DUBAI - A stellar field of 11 horses from five countries will compete for a US$6 million purse on Saturday in the world’s richest race, the Dubai World Cup.
With favorite Electrocutionist given an unfavorable draw, the race could be wide open.
The 11th running of the World Cup caps a seven-race card at Nad Al Sheba racetrack with total prize money of US$21.25 million, an increase of US$6 million over last year.
Japan’s Kane Hekili and America’s Magna Graduate will challenge Dubai royal family-owned Electrocutionist, the evens favorite colt who starts from stall No. 1 along the rail.
In the 10 previous running of the race, no horse starting on the rail has finished in the top three.
“It will take a special horse to win from there,” said Simon Crisford, Godolphin Racing’s manager. “It was always going to be difficult. Now it will be much more difficult.”
Electrocutionist, a Group 1 stakes winner in England and Italy last year and on dirt this month, will be ridden by World Cup mainstay Frankie Dettori for Dubai-based Godolphin Racing.
“It’s going to be quite hard for him,” said Matt Howard, spokesman for the Dubai Racing Club, which oversees the race. “He’s going to have to lead from start to finish to keep out of the kickback. But he’s got Frankie Dettori on, who’s won this race before. If anybody’s going to be able to get him around the track it’s Frankie.”
Kane Hekili, making his first overseas trip after eight wins in 12 starts in Japan, is garnering huge attention here.
“He’s a tough dirt horse,” Howard said. “The Japanese media are just going mad about him.”
Magna Graduate, trained by Todd Pletcher, stands to do better than his current 14-1 odds would suggest. He will start from stall No. 8, the same stall that was drawn for the great Cigar in the inaugural Dubai World Cup.
“He’s a tough horse, he’s been training very well here,” Howard said.
Brass Hat has won his last three starts, including the Donn Handicap last month. Brass Hat was drawn in stall No. 7 for the 2-kilometer (1 1/4 mile) race. Pleasantly Perfect won the 2004 World Cup from the same stall.
Race day at Nad Al Sheba features a record number of American horses _ 19 _ along with nine from Japan.
Thoroughbreds trained in the United States have won five of the 10 World Cups, including Roses last year.
In the US$5 million Dubai Duty Free, Fields of Omagh will be trying for a second Australian win in a row. Elvstroem won last year.
In the US$2 million Dubai Golden Shaheen, a six-furlong sprint, the favourite is Heart Alone, a Brazilian horse now based in Dubai and trained by Ismail Mohammed. Heart Alone ran away from the field at the Al Shindaga Sprint at Nad Al Sheba in January, winning by almost four lengths.
American horse Proud Tower Too looks promising after winning his last race in February.
“He could win it,” Howard said. “He looks like an incredible sprinter. He’s known for going flat-out.”
Ouija Board, a British horse who won the Hong Kong Vase in December, goes in the US$5 million Dubai Sheema Classic. Oracle West, a South African runner trained by Mike De Kock, stands a good chance, as does the highly rated Heart’s Cry, another of the Japanese contingent.
In the US$2 million UAE Derby, Saudi-owned and Saudi-trained Simpatico Bribon appears the horse to beat. The Chilean-born horse won his last seven starts, all on dirt.
The US$1 million Group 2 Godolphin Mile features Kentucky-bred Jack Sullivan, who won the Al Maktoum Challenge at Nad Al Sheba two years in a row as well as the preparatory race for the Godolphin Mile in 2004. The colt finished fourth in last year’s Dubai World Cup.
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