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Draw Won’t ‘Affect our Chances’

DUBAI - The connections of the Godolphin representatives Mastery and Allybar appeared confident that the result of the draw will not adversely reduce their chances in the race.

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Speaking after the post position draw for the three most valuable races on Dubai World Cup night at the spectacular new Meydan Racecourse, Godolphin trainer Saeed bin Suroor said: . “Frankie Dettori will ride Mastery very well and take a good position in the race.”

“Mahmood Al Zarooni, who will now share the training of the Godolphin horses, declared: “I am happy with stall 1 but I will be very nervous on Saturday,” he added

Godolphin has two runners in the feature race, the 10-furlong Dubai World Cup on Tapeta, with Mastery, trained by Saeed bin Suroor, gaining stall 12 of the 14 contenders for the world’s richest race, and Allybar, one of Mahmood Al Zarooni’s first runners, coming out of the inside stall, number 1.

The draw for the US$10-million Dubai World Cup Sponsored by Emirates Airline was made by connections, while the stall numbers for the Dubai Duty Free and Dubai Sheema Classic Sponsored by Guangsha Group, both worth US$5-million and run on turf, were selected by an automatic computer programme. All three races are run on Saturday. However, Godolphin trainer said the draw for the Dubai Sheema Classic is less significant since the race is over 12 furlongs of the wide outer turf course. “Two of Godolphin’s four runners were drawn on the wide outside, with Campanologist in 15 and Cavalryman in 16. The other two Godolphin contenders for the race, Eastern Anthem and Anmar, will emerge from 2 and 3 respectively,” he said.

The post positions in the nine-furlong Dubai Duty Free are more important and Saeed bin Suroor was happy with Justenuffhumor and Alexandros in 3 and 11 respectively, while Calvados Blues, trained by Mahmood Al Zarooni, was not so fortunate with stall 16.

hisham@khaleejtimes.com