Special Features
Dubai World Cup Race Review
A two and a quarter length defeat at the hands of Zenyatta puts him firmly into calculations, but he will have to be at his very best if he is to land the race from stall eleven.
American raider Gio Ponti actually finished ahead of Twice Over in the Breeders’ Cup Classic and his form behind Zenyatta is just about the best piece of form on offer in the World Cup. Christophe Clement’s horse is drawn perfectly and he should arguably be the favourite for the race, despite a below-par performance on his seasonal reappearance last month.
Four time Group One winner Vision D’Etat arrives in Dubai from France and he takes his chance on the back of an impressive victory over Collection in the Hong Kong Cup last December. He too looks perfectly drawn and Eric Libaud’s superstar looks certain to run his race on his Tapeta debut, as does Gitano Hernand, Marco Botti’s Goodwood Stakes winner. Set to leave from stall number two, a facile victory at Lingfield on his seasonal reappearance will have him spot on for this and his trainer and jockey Kieren Fallon are full of confidence ahead the $10 million showpiece.
However, another chance is taken on Japanese racing sensation RED DESIRE who warmed up for the World Cup with a victory in the third round of the Al Maktoum challenge. Mikio Matsunaga’s horse boasts some top class form in Japan and after gaining revenge on arch-rival and Sheema Classic contender Buena Vista in the Grade One Shuka Sho, she finished a mighty third to the legendary Vodka when tackling the colts and her elders for the first time in the Japan Cup in Tokyo.
Her victory in the Al Maktoum Challnge at the beginning of the month saw her beat six Grade One winners, made all the more impressive by the fact she carried 1lb overweight and came from last to first in a slowly run race. Her turn of foot was tremendous and she came from the clouds once switched out wide, grabbing Gloria De Campeao in the final strides of the 1m2f Group Two.
Whereas her draw that day was not ideal (she broke from stall 13), she will leave from box three on Saturday and will be partnered by the ultra-cool Christophe Soumillon in the absence of Olivier Peslier. Her tremendous turn of foot can see Red Desire swamp her rivals close home and make it a night to remember for Japan
