Michael Stidham said he "couldn’t be happier" after Mystic Guide was drawn in gate six in the silver jubilee running of the Dubai World Cup at Meydan on Saturday.
The four-year-colt is one of Godolphin’s three runners from three different continents in Dubai World Cup meeting’s flagship race that has drawn the maximum allowed field of 14 runners.
The US-based Mystic Guide arrives on the back of a victory in the Grade 3 Razorback Handicap at Oaklawn Park on February 27 and is a leading fancy in the $12million race.
“It's perfect. I couldn’t be happier,” Stidham said after the post-position draw ceremony at Meydan on Wednesday.
A minute's silence was observed as mark of respect for Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance, and one of the world's leading owner-breeders who passed away on Wednesday.
While Mystic Guide had the best draw of the three Godolphin runners in the race, Saeed bin Suroor’s Gifts Of Gold was drawn widest in gate 14 and Andre Fabre’s Magny Cours in gate 12.
“The draw is not the best [for Gifts Of Gold] but we’ll have to deal with it,” Bin Suroor, the most successful trainer with nine Dubai World Cup wins, said.
“On a positive note, the horse is doing well. He can jump well from the stalls to overcome the wide draw, hopefully.
“I’m happy with the way he has trained after coming back from his win [in the Red Sea Turf Handicap at the Saudi Cup meeting on February 20] from Saudi. We are looking forward to seeing him run well.”
-
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid at the presentation ceremony of the 1996 Dubai World Cup at Nad Al Sheba on March 27. Allsport -
Allen Paulson with the Dubai World Cup Trophy after his horse Cigar won the 1996 $4 million Dubai World Cup. Allsport -
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid looks at the Dubai World Cup trophy on March 28, 1999. Allsport -
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid at the 1999 Dubai World Cup at the Nad Al Sheba racecourse. Allsport -
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid with Electrocutionist, ridden by jockey Frankie Dettori, that won the Dubai World Cup on March 25, 2006. That was the eleventh running of the world's richest horse race with a prize purse of $6million. Getty -
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, during the presentation ceremony of the Dubai World Cup at Nad Al Sheba Racecourse on March 29, 2008. Paulo Vecina / The National -
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid at the Dubai World Cup on March 28, 2009. Pawan Singh / The National -
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid and victorious owner Bill Casner who won the 2009 Dubai World Cup with Well Armed. Amy Leang / The National -
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid with Sheikh Hamdan at the 2009 Dubai World Cup. Amy Leang / The National -
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, with jockey Ahmad Ajtebi who won the Godolphin Mile with Calming Influence at the 2010 Dubai World Cup. Pawan Singh / The National -
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid at the Meydan Racecourse during the 2012 Dubai World Cup. Jeffrey E Biteng / The National -
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid with, from left, trainer Graham Motion, jockey Joel Rosario and owner John Messara after Animal Kingdom's 2013 Dubai World Cup triumph. -
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid with the team of Animal Kingdom, ridden by Joel Rosario, that won the Dubai World Cup at Meydan on March 30, 2013. Razan Alzayani / The National -
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid reads a racecard at the Dubai World Cup on March 30 2013. Razan Alzayani / The National -
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid lifts the Dubai World Cup after African Story won at Meydan on March 29, 2014. Getty -
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, celebrates with Sheikh Hamdan after Godolphin's African Story won the 2014 Dubai World Cup. Getty -
Sheikh Mohammed celebrates after African Story won the Dubai World Cup on March 29 , 2014. Pawan Singh / The National -
Jockey Silvestre De Sousa after wining the 2014 Dubai World Cup with Godolphin's African Story. Pawan Singh / The National -
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid after Godolphin's African Story won the $10 million Dubai World Cup. Satish Kumar / The National -
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid after Godolphin's African Story won the 2014 Dubai World Cup. Pawan Singh / The National -
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid in a jubilant mood after African Story won the Dubai World Cup. Pawan Singh / The National -
Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, the Crown Prince of Dubai, is presented with the 2015 Dubai World Cup trophy after Prince Bishop won the showpiece race. Pawan Singh / The National -
Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed saw Prince Bishop, ridden by William Buick, win the 2015 Dubai World Cup. Pawan Singh / The National -
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, during Dubai World Cup at Meydan Racecourse on March 28, 2015. Sarah Dea / The National -
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid at the 2017 Dubai World Cup. Christopher Pike / The National -
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid with jockey William Buick, left, and horse Jack Hobbs after the Dubai Sheema Classic at the 2017 Dubai World Cup weekend at Meydan. AFP -
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid at the 2017 Dubai World Cup. Reem Mohammed / The National -
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid at the 2017 Dubai World Cup. Christopher Pike / The National -
Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, with the 2018 Dubai World Cup trophy after Thunder Show won the main race. Pawan Singh / The National -
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid at the 2018 Dubai World Cup. Pawan Singh / The National -
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid and Sheikh Hamdan present Christophe Soumillon the 2018 Dubai World Cup trophy after Thunder Snow won the main race. Pawan Singh / The National -
Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed at the 2018 Dubai World Cup ceremony. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Christophe Soumillion with Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed after Thunder Snow won the 2018 Dubai World. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed with Benbatl, ridden by Oisin Murphy, after the Dubai Turf at the 2018 Dubai World Cup weekend. Pawan Singh / The National -
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid at the 2019 Dubai World Cup. Reuters -
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid and Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed with the Dubai World Cup trophy after Thunder Snow, ridden by Christophe Soumillon, defended the title on March 30, 2019 at Meydan. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
William Buick speaks with Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid and Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed after Blue Point won the Al Quoz Sprint during the 2019 Dubai World Cup weekend. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Richard Lambert, traveling head lad for French trainer Fabre said they would have preferred gate six to eight for Magny Cours.
“My boss would probably have preferred something like stall 6, 7 or 8, but 12 is okay,” he said.
“He is not a horse who shows a lot of speed at the start, but after the first turn he starts to accelerate so the draw isn’t as important.”
Of the local entries, Musabah Al Muhairi’s Military Law, winner of the Al Maktoum Challenge Round 1 and sixth in the $20million Saudi Cup, will break from gate five.
“I am very happy with the draw,” Al Muhairi said. “This is perfect and I just couldn’t have asked for a better position for him to start.
“If he jumps out well and Antonio Fresu can get him into a good position just off the pace then we have every reason to believe he will be in a good position to contest the finish. He will work for the last time on Thursday and we will have him ready for race day.”
Doug Watson’s Thegreatcollection starts from gate eight and Salem bin Ghadayer’s pair Hypothetical and Capezzano are in gate two and seven, respectively.
Watson said of the Thegreatcollection: “We have to be happy with eight and we know he is a horse who likes to be ridden patiently so, hopefully, there is plenty of early pace and he can pick up in the straight. He is in great form and looks fantastic anyway.”
Bahraini trainer Fawzi Nass’ Salute The Soldier, winner of both the second and third legs of the Al Maktoum Challenge drew gate 11.
“Obviously we would have preferred a lower draw but it is what it is and, in Adrie de Vries, we have a top jockey who will ride his race as he sees fit,” Nass added.
The Japanese raider Chuwa Wizard jumps out from gate three and his handler Ryuji Okubo said: “It is a good draw. I didn't want a wide gate because [the start] is close to the first turn.”
The Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Invitational runner-up Jesus' Team will jump from stall nine and will have Sleepy Eyes Todd next to him in 10.
“When I saw post position nine I was happy because it's in the middle,” said Jose Francisco D’Angelo, the trainer of Jesus’ Team.
“He doesn't need to make an aggressive move at the beginning. I like the number nine,.
“It was a relief. In the Breeders' Cup Mile, he had to start from gate 11. He can move fast to find a good spot.”
Saudi raider Great Scot, third behind Mishriff and Charlatan in the Saudi Cup, is drawn in gate 1 while Title Ready is in gate four and Uruguayan raider Ajuste Fiscal in gate 13.
