By Emma Berry
DUBAI, UAE—A new system was in place for the Dubai World Cup post-position draw on Wednesday, with the runners' connections being able to opt for their preferred gate once their horse's name had been selected at random. Naturally, this meant that being picked late was a huge disadvantage, as Saeed Bin Suroor found when Thunder Snow (Ire) (Helmet {Aus}) was the 12th of 13 runners to be drawn. With only stalls 12 and 13 remaining at that stage, last year's winner will have to jump from number 12 in a bid to retain his crown in Meydan's closing race on Saturday. However, it was from the widest stall (10) that the now 5-year-old delivered his trainer an eighth World Cup victory last year.
One man hoping for better luck during the 24th running of the $12-million Dubai showpiece is Satish Seemar, who will saddle local favourite North America (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) for his third appearance at the meeting and second in the World Cup itself. Last year, the 7-year-old missed the start from stall two and was then squeezed up on the rail before trailing home last. Since then, he has been faultless in his two appearances at Meydan in partnership with Richard Mullen and on Saturday he will jump from his trainer's preferred stall three after being the first horse selected.
“We were hoping to be drawn in gates three to six. He's coming to the race fresh—he likes to be fresh,” said Seemar of the Ramzan Kadyrov-owned gelding who has won seven of his 11 starts since switching to Zabeel Stables.
“I watched him do his normal hack canter over a mile this morning. We worked five days out, which was Monday, and he came out of that well and is eating well. Now we just have to wait for the next few hours. I'm anxious and hoping that everything goes well. He deserves it, and my team deserves it, and the Dubai public deserves it because he is a Dubai horse. This is a special race, and after winning such a race you can actually think about a big step outside Dubai and that's what every trainer is hoping and striving for.”
He added, “I want to keep a lid on expectations because last year it didn't work out and we had been very excited. This time I want to be calm and collected.”
The Antonio Sano-trained Gunnevera (Dialed In), who is making his second start in the World Cup after finishing eighth last year, has been drawn in stall one, with wide-margin conqueror of Thunder Snow on Super Saturday, Capezzano (Bernardini), drawn next to him in two.
China Horse Club and WinStar Farm have two chances in the race with Audible (Into Mischief) and Yoshida (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}), who will start from gates four and 10 respectively, while Phoenix Thoroughbreds will also be doubly represented by GI Belmont S. runner-up Gronkowski (Lonhro {Aus}), in gate seven, and Axelrod (Warrior's Reward) next to him in eight.
South Korea's first World Cup starter Dolkong (Afleet Alex), who will be ridden by Olivier Doleuze, drew widest of all in 13.
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