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| Staff Writer |
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Rattle N Roll has been tipped to "shock the world" in the Dubai World Cup with William Buick booked for the ride at Meydan on Saturday.
Kenny McPeek's 6YO American raider has remained in the Middle East since two appearances in Saudi Arabia earlier this year, and the trainer is relishing the move up to ten furlongs on the Dubai dirt.
"The horse is doing super over there, and it looks like William Buick is going to ride," said McPeek.
McPeek has long viewed the extended trip as ideal for his charge, having been frustrated by limited opportunities to race at the distance previously.
"This is a horse who is begging for 10 furlongs and his whole career we've always wanted to run him at this distance," he explained.
"He didn't make the body of the race at the Breeders' Cup last fall when we thought he would run well, and he's been in top form."
Having landed a Saudi Cup qualifier in January, Rattle N Roll was last seen when finishing fifth in the Riyadh feature last month, staying on well in the closing stages behind the principals.
The American runner wasn't far away in the battle for minor honours in a race that produced a memorable battle between Forever Young and Romantic Warrior.
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The Japanese superstar Forever Young will likely prove the one to beat once again, but McPeek is undaunted by the challenge.
"I think he just got a bit too far back in the Saudi Cup and I think if he was a little bit closer, he would have run a little bit better, but he still came on and was only beaten a length for third," the trainer continued.
"But over a mile and a quarter and two turns, this is a race where if the pace would set up for him, I think he could shock the world. Forever Young is the one stand-out in the race, but you should never dodge one horse."