California Chrome (Lucky Pulpit) has drawn wide for his second attempt to win the world's richest horse race–Saturday's $10 million G1 Dubai World Cup–landing in gate 11 of 12.
The 2014 American Horse of the Year exited from post nine last year en route to a second-place finish to longshot Prince Bishop (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}). Trainer Art Sherman, who arrived in Dubai to oversee his charge's final preparations Monday night, was given the penultimate chance to pick his gate, and he said, “The outside draw is good if you've got the horse, and I hope we have,” he said. “There wasn't too much I could do about the draw. He's got tactical speed so I'm not going to worry about it.”
Sherman employed a change of tactics this year with California Chrome, opting to prepare the 5-year-old in Dubai rather than ship in for the main event like last year. The chestnut rewarded connections with an as-he-pleased two-length score in a Dubai World Cup track-and-trip handicap win Feb. 25.
His preparation isn't the only thing that looks different for California Chrome this year; he is also sporting new silks, with Taylor Made Farm having entered the partnership and co-breeder Steve Coburn having exited last summer.
Taylor Made has not one, but two chances to have the Dubai World Cup winner standing its stallion barn next year, having secured the stud rights to Mshawish (Medaglia d'Oro) shortly after his GI Donn H. win Feb. 6.
The 6-year-old Al Shaqab colourbearer will break from gate two, one to the outside of last year's GI Travers S. winner Keen Ice (Curlin), and trainer Todd Pletcher said, “The track is good on the inside and with our horse's experience we know he doesn't mind being inside. We talked to [jockey] Frankie [Dettori] earlier and his choices were, in order, two, three, four, five, six and one, so why not go with his first choice? Hopefully we'll be in a good stalking position–that would be ideal.”
Jerry Crawford of Donegal Racing had just three choices left when picking Keen Ice's gate.
“The thing that made it [choosing the rail] attractive was that it was that or the 11 or the 12,” Crawford said. “We have speed drawn to our immediate inside in the two hole, so we should have room to maneuvre and navigate from there. We are going to be in first-time blinkers so I think that will make him a little keener, excuse the expression.”
Keen Ice became the only horse to defeat American Pharoah (Pioneerof the Nile) during the Triple Crown winner's 3-year-old campaign when winning the GI Travers S. last summer, but was a dull seventh in the G1 Al Maktoum Challenge R3 Mar. 5.
The formidable U.S.-based team is completed by Frosted (Tapit) in gate nine and Hoppertunity (Any Given Saturday) one to his outside. Darley USA President Jimmy Bell was given fifth choice and selected gate nine for Frosted, and trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said, “We were hoping to be outside of the speed. Special Fighter [in gate five] is speed as is California Chrome. We didn't want to go all the way outside. There's a long run into the first turn which should help us secure position.”
Hong Kong representative Gun Pit (Aus) (Dubawi {Ire}) made a favourable impression when finishing second in Round 3 of the Maktoum Challenge on his local debut, and his connections were the first to draw their gate Wednesday.
“He drew the inside when he ran second on Super Saturday,” said trainer Caspar Fownes. “We were the first name called out today and we're delighted to put him in barrier three. He will be handy. We're looking forward to Saturday night. I can think he can run a very respectable race from three.”
DUBAI WORLD CUP POST POSITIONS:
1-Keen Ice
2-Mshawish
3-Gun Pit
4-Mubtaahij
5-Special Fighter
6-Candy Boy
7-Vadamos
8-Hokko Tarumae
9-Frosted
10-Hoppertunity
11-California Chrome
12-Teletext
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