Godolphin stillup for the Cup despite draw

Hopes remain high in the Godolphin camp that a fourth ‘home win’ could be on the cards in Saturday’s running of the richest race in the world, the Dubai World Cup.

The locally-based outfit have taken the spoils three times in the last four years, courtesy of wins from Almutawakel, Dubai Millennium and Street Cry.

And despite their two representatives in this year’s running of the Emirates-sponsored £6m (€8m) prize receiving outside draws at today’s draw ceremony, trainer Saeed Bin Suroor was still in an optimistic mood.

Moon Ballad, who will be ridden by Frankie Dettori, and Jamie Spencer’s mount Grandera, will start from stalls 11 and nine respectively in the 11-runner race.

But despite admitting that he would have preferred “something between four and nine” for both horses, their handler said he was not too disappointed.

“My horses both have good chances in the race,” he said.

“Moon Ballad’s form in Europe last year is really very good and he won his last race on dirt very well. Also, he is by Singspiel who won this race in 1997.

“He is a horse who has a lot of early speed and I do not think it will be a problem to come from the outside draw. With a good horse you can come from any position.

“Grandera should be able to get just behind the leaders. The important thing with him is that there must be a very fast pace to help him settle but I think there will be and I think he will run well.”

Nayef, the British-trained favourite for the race was given a perfect draw in seven, leading his odds to be cut into 11-8 by bookmakers Coral.

“It’s a good draw, he is in good form and I’m looking forward to Saturday,” said big-race jockey Richard Hills.

“He is a horse I always look forward to riding and I just hope he runs as well as he did when he won the Sheema Classic last year.”

French hope Aquarelliste seems to have been forgotten by many in the run-up to the mile and a quarter contest but trainer Elie Lellouche’s assistant Bruno Kogue said he was pleased with the mare’s draw in stall one.

“She is a very good starter normally so we should be able to get a good position,” he said. “She can come from behind or make the running. We will see how the race goes.

“But she is working well on the track and Dominique (Boeuf) arrives tonight to do a last piece of work on her in the morning.

“It’s a tough race and we don’t really know how she will handle the sand but we hope she has a good chance.”

John Sadler, the Saudi Arabia-based trainer of outsider State Shinto was keeping his feet on the ground.

“I am pleased that Johnny Murtagh is coming back from Ireland to ride him but realistically we would be thrilled to be placed,” he said.

“It’s an amazing day of racing and just to be taking part is a brilliant feeling.”

The Godolphin hand looks as strong as ever on the supporting card with expensive purchase Sulamani set to tackle the Dubai Sheema Classic.

The ex-French middle-distance performer had been due to run in the feature event but his apparent preference for racing on a turf surface has led to connections taking a change of heart.

Sulamani completed his build-up to the weekend by cantering over five furlongs under Dettori at Godolphin’s Al Quoz base early this morning.

“We just feel that he is a better horse on turf, it is the sensible thing to stick to what we know he acts on,” explained racing manager Simon Crisford.

“He was a very exciting horse last year but we haven’t thought about a programme for him. It is very much one race at a time.”

The 15-8 chance with William Hill will be racing out of stall 11 as he takes on 15 rivals, including French hope Ange Gabriel and the Mark Johnston-trained Zindabad.

But one man who will only be cheering half heartedly for the European contingent is Kevin McAuliffe.

McAuliffe trained in Newmarket until last May when he took the gamble of relocating to Saudi Arabia.

And now he has three runners at the most valuable race meeting in the world, he is a man with no regrets.

“If somebody had told me this time last year that I would be in Dubai with three runners going for gold at the World Cup meeting, I would have thought they were on something,” he smiled.

“I could not possibly have them in better shape – now it is just a question of getting the luck and running and whether they are good enough.”