Dubai World Cup draw – Capponi given chance to go one better

Since the Dubai World Cup moved from Nad Al Sheba to Meydan in 2010, the effects of the draw on a runner’s chances have been quite pronounced. In the three runnings since the move, just two horses who broke from berths numbered higher than nine have finished amongst the first five past the post at the end of the richest race in the world.

This year’s renewal sees Monterosso, African Story, Animal Kingdom and Kassiano given the bummest of deals, having been quartered in stalls 10,11,12 and 13 respectively.

This was particularly terrible luck for Kassiano, who ran an excellent race from stall 11 to finish a two and three quarter lengths second to Hunter’s Light in the Group 1 Al Maktoum Challenge over course and distance last time out.

Hunter’s Light – 9/2 with Coral – was drawn in six on that occasion and he has been given another sweet draw in stall four for Saturday’s main event. Saeed Bin Suroor’s five-year-old is now vying for favouritism with Royal Delta (currently a 5/1 shot), who is drawn in the same stall (eight) that Monterosso won the contest from last year. Horses drawn fourth have finished in fourth position in each of the World Cups at Meydan so far.

Coral make Capponi a particularly intriguing long shot at 16/1 with Mahmood Al Zarooni’s son of Medicean drawn in stall five this year.

The six-year-old hasn’t been seen on a racecourse since finishing best of the rest behind Monterosso in last year’s race. That has to count as an epic run when it’s considered he broke from stall 11 on that occasion and just one other runner has managed to make the top five from a stall higher than nine in the past three years (when Mastery placed fifth in 2010).

With a much more favourable starting position this time around, the Godolphin representative looks value if he arrives in the same nick as last year. Not only is his draw far better this time around but he’s a card-carrying member of the Meydan fan club, posting three wins and two seconds in five previous spins around the track.