Ruler Of The World has a chance to make up for a narrow defeat at Ascot late last year, with the four-year-old colt installed as favourite to win today’s $10 million Dubai World Cup, the world’s richest horse race.
In October, the Aidan O’Brien-trained 2013 Epsom Derby winner was beaten 3/4 length by Farhh and Cirrus des Aigles in the 10-furlong (2,000 metres) Champion Stakes at Ascot after challenging late in a thrilling three-way finish.
However, the Irish-bred son of Galileo was made 4-1 favourite for the 19th running of the 2,000 metre Dubai World Cup despite returning from a five-month lay-off and the fact that it will be his first run on a synthetic surface.
Harry Herbert, racing advisor of Qatar’s royal Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad al-Thani, who bought a 50 per cent interest in the colt in a last-minute deal, was optimistic after drawing the 12th post for the contest at the opulent Meydan Racecourse.
“We would have preferred a lower draw but his jockey, Joseph O’Brien, is a master at getting a good racing position,” Herbert told reporters.
Sixteen runners
Sixteen runners from eight countries will compete for the golden trophy in front of an expected crowd of 60,000 in what connections see as an open contest.
However, no American horses are participating this year despite Animal Kingdom’s success in 2013.
“It is a very competitive race. We have got horses from Ireland, Hong Kong and Japan, not only local horses,” said jockey Silvestre de Soussa, who will ride 12-1 chance African Story for Godolphin’s boys in blue.
More race mileage may give an edge to Hong Kong-trained runners such as Irish-bred Military Attack, who won the Hong Kong Gold Cup by almost three lengths in a blazing and thrilling finish last month for the second year in a row.
Another Hong Kong-trained runner, Akeed Mofeed, is an 8-1 bet despite finishing a disappointing fifth behind Military Attack in the Gold Cup at Sha Tin, sharing the same odds with Saeed bin Suroor’s Prince Bishop.
The seven-year-old son of Dubawi, running in Dubai Crown Prince green silks, is seen as the best chance among home World Cup contenders after snatching his first Group One win in the Al Maktoum Challenge on March 8.
“The horse is doing really good. I know we drew (the stall) number one but he has a good turn on foot. He can take any position early,” Suroor said.
Red Cadeaux is set to make another bid for the World Cup today after losing by two lengths to Animal Kingdom last year.
However, the Melbourne Cup runner-up is regarded as an outsider at 25-1 this time. He came fourth in the Hong Kong Vase in December, his last appearance.