Dual Cox Plate winner So You Think strengthened his position at the head of the market for the Dubai World Cup after drawing barrier four in the richest race in the world.
The giant Australian import now with Aidan O’Brien is a 5-2 chance (from 3-1) with Paddy Power and 5-2 from 11-4 with BetVictor after faring much better than one of his main market rivals, Game On Dude, who will break from the widest of 14.
As a result Coral eased the Bob Baffert-trained American raider to 8-1 from 6-1 in the $US10 million ($A9.6 million) race.
Japanese challenger Smart Falcon, the second-favourite, is positioned next to So You Think in stall five.
Of Godolphin’s four challengers Monterosso fared best in stall eight with Capponi, Prince Bishop and Mendip in 11, 12 and 13 respectively.
Marco Botti`s Planteur will break from stall six while last year’s runner-up Transcend will have to overcome gate 10.
“So You Think has the perfect draw, the best form in the book, and will now go to post as a heavy favourite for the world’s richest race. Game On Dude, by contrast, will find it very tough to win from stall 14,” Coral spokesman Simon Clare said.
Smart Falcon was also eased to 5-1 from 4-1 by Coral following reports that he had not travelled from Japan particularly well.
Co-owner Bernie Schiappa insists he is happy with the 14 draw for Game On Dude who will be ridden by Chantal Sutherland.
“It’s perfect. The outside is fine with me. I can’t repeat what Bob (Baffert) said on the phone,” Schiappa said.
Trainer Baffert is recovering from a heart attack in a Dubai hospital.
Keith Dalton, who represented O’Brien, said of So You Think`s draw.
“I was on the phone to Aidan O’Brien and he chose the fourth position so I guess we’re happy.”
Godolphin took a different view with racing manager Simon Crisford explaining they wanted to be away from the rail.
“We talked to all of our jockeys in the race and they felt from stall eight outward is the place to be,” Crisford said.
“It can get very tight on the inside, especially if the pace is slow. If you miss the kick, you’re likely to be in trouble. The pace looks likely to come from Game On Dude in stall 14, which has panned out well for us.”
