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| Staff Writer |
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Forever Young, the impressive Gr.1 Saudi Cup winner, was handed stall five for Saturday's US$12 million Gr.1 Dubai World Cup as connections celebrated securing a favourable middle draw.
A visibly relaxed trainer Yoshito Yahagi said of his stable star: "We thought [beforehand] that the wider we got, the better. I didn't want stall one or two for him, so he gets a fair race, though it's not a big matter anyway."
Last year's Dubai World Cup hero Ushba Tesoro will break from stall four as he bids to reclaim his crown. The champion drew eight when successful two years ago.
His stablemate Wilson Tesoro will emerge from stall three hoping to reverse Saudi Cup form with Forever Young and Ushba Tesoro.
Trainer Noboru Takagi said of Wilson Tesoro that he was "happy to avoid a wide draw" while the habitually slow-starting Ushba Tesoro would "run his own race, regardless of the draw."
Front-running Walk Of Stars has landed the prime position in stall one as he attempts to follow up January's success in the Al Maktoum Challenge.
His trainer Bhupat Seemar called it a "great draw" and expects his charge to be "rocking and rolling" with Forever Young.
Stablemate Imperial Emperor, runner-up in the Al Maktoum Challenge, must overcome a high berth in ten. Such a fate proved no obstacle for last year's winner Laurel River, who triumphed from the widest gate in 12.
Ryan Tongue, representing owners Deva Racing, said: "When there was two and ten left, I was hoping for two of course, but he's a very uncomplicated horse. He was stall 14 last time and he's done very well from that draw, so I'm not really concerned."
Seemar echoed these sentiments, describing Imperial Emperor as "uncomplicated" and "straightforward".
Ramjet, who has chased home Forever Young in his last three outings, will break from stall nine, though trainer Shozo Sasaki remains unfazed.
Sasaki said: "We won't go forward and with only 11 horses it doesn't really matter."
Rattle N Roll, bidding to become the first American winner since Country Grammer in 2022, drew the advantageous stall two.
His trainer Kenny McPeek said: "The inside draw was good. It's a long run to the first turn and he can tuck in and find his way from there. In these races you need to save as much ground as possible."
Trainer Antonio Sano said he "would have preferred the middle to inside or outside" and received precisely that wish for Il Miracolo in six. Owner Eduardo Soto added his horse was a "competitor" and there was "no better position to be in".
Leandro Mora, assistant to trainer Doug O'Neill, called stall 11 the "perfect position" for Katonah, while he had been "hoping for five or four" for Mixto, who will emerge from gate eight.
Hit Show completes the field breaking from stall seven.
Elsewhere, Hong Kong champion Romantic Warrior drew barrier nine in his quest for an 11th Group One triumph in the Gr.1 Dubai Turf.
His rider James McDonald said: "I'm hoping nine is going to be my lucky number on Saturday. I'd rather nine than one. He'll be able to do his thing from there."
A draw of four looks ideal for Godolphin's superstar Rebel's Romance in the Gr.1 Dubai Sheema Classic as he seeks historic back-to-back victories.