The Dubai World Cup has given us 24 years of champion racehorse entertainment, and will Godolphin claim the 25th with the Michael Stidham trained Mystic Guide, who’s $3 fav. with Sportsbet.
Market 💰: View the Odds for the Dubai World Cup
Mystic Guide comes into the Dubai World Cup Carnival in what could be called an ideal preparation, with ‘come from behind finish’ being ideal for Meydan’s open galloping dirt track.
In his last start run-away victory in the Razorback Handicap of 1m1f at Oaklawn Park, he will again be ridden by Luis Saez at Meydan, having taken out the Jim Dandy Stakes of 1m last May.
In running second in the Jockey Club Gold Cup of 1¼m in October, Mystic Guide again ‘came from behind’ to gain the lead in the straight, only for Happy Saver to rally again to score by ¾ length.
Home bred by Godolphin, the chestnut 4yo colt ‘has what it takes’ in being by the Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Ghostzapper, from the five times Group 1 winner Music Note, a daughter of A.P. Indy.
Its Godolphin who has a record eight victories in the $12m Dubai World Cup sponsored by Emirates Airline of 2000m on dirt, with their trainer Saeed Bin Suroor having a record nine wins.
Also for Godolphin is the $13 chance Magny Cours for Andre Fabre, having recently won over 1950m at Chantilly, and twice winning up to 2000m in his last two stars last year, all on turf.
In addition, Saeed Bin Suroor and Godolphin have Gifts Of Gold in the 14-horse field who is unfancied at $34 having won the Red Sea Turf Handicap of 3000m on Saudi Cup Night.
In the ever-expanding world of Gulf international racing, its Bahrain trainer Fawzi Abdulla Nass who has Salute The Soldier as $6 second favourite, being his first runner in the Dubai World Cup.
In winning two principal Cup lead-ups, Salute The Soldier took out the Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2 of 1900m and Round 3 of 2000m, and again has Dutch jockey Adrie de Vries in the saddle.
No Dubai World Cup can be visualised without US domination, and the Pegasus World Cup second Jesus’ Team is at $7 for Venezuelan expatriate Jose Francisco D’Angelo and jockey Joel Rosario.
The Charles Town Classic winner Sleepy Eyes Todd is at $9 for Mexican expat Miguel Angel Silva, with the Louisiana Stakes hero Title Ready being $21 for Kentuckian Dallas Stewart and Ryan Moore.
Representing Japan is the Champions Cup winner Chuwa Wizard at $15 for trainer Ryuji Okubo and jockey Keita Tosaki, while Uruguay’s Horse of The Year Ajuste Fiscal is at $21.
Finishing third in the Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2 of 1900m, Ajuste Fiscal will be ridden by Vagner Leal for Antonio Cintra Pereria, who also has El Patriota in the UAE Derby ridden by Vagner Leal.
Flying the flag for Saudi Arabia is The Saudi Cup third Great Scot at $17 for trainer Abdullah Mishriff, and will be ridden by champion Frankie Dettori, who is seeking his fourth Dubai World Cup victory.
Dubai’s Musabbah Al Mheiri saddles the Al Maktoum Challenge R1 winner Military Law who is $8 for jockey Antonio Fresu, while the Al Maktoum Challenge R3 second Hypothetical is $15 for trainer Salem Bin Ghadayer and jockey Mickael Barzalona.
Also from Dubai is the former Firebreak Stakes winner Capezzano who is also $34 also for Salem Bin Ghadayer and Royston Ffrench, with $51 being offered for the Doug Watson trained Thegreatcollection who will be ridden by Pat Cosgrave.
