The 2019 Dubai World Cup: Runner-By-Runner Guide
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The 2019 Dubai World Cup: Runner-by-runner guide By Harry Allwood The 24th running of the 2019 Dubai World Cup sponsored by Emirates Airline takes centre stage at Meydan on Saturday. Saeed bin Suroor relies on Thunder Snow again to enhance his great record in this race run on the world’s richest race day. Won by superstars such as Cigar, Dubai Millennium and Arrogate in the past, Thunder Snow will bid to create history and become the first back-to-back winner of the race. He has not won since his superb victory in the race last year, but will be primed for Saturday’s big race and, even though he has a high draw to contend with again, he is sure to give his all. North America was well fancied last year when he missed the break and finished last of the ten runners. He will seek redemption on Saturday and has looked a serious candidate winning both his starts at Meydan since. Here is a guide to all 13 runners. AUDIBLE Trainer: Todd Pletcher. Landed the Florida Derby in good style last year before finishing a fine third in the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on his next start where he was not beaten far by American Triple Crown winner Justify. He would have a chance on those two pieces of form but has run below par on his last two starts so will need to be on his A game to land a blow here. However, Todd Pletcher’s horses always have to be respected in Dubai and he is not without a chance if he can bounce back to form. AXELROD Trainer: Salem bin Ghadayer. Looked a horse with a big future when recording back-to-back victories in Grade Three contests in 2018 but has failed to land a blow in his last three starts. He probably needed the run when beating just one rival home in a Group Three at Meydan in March considering it was his first run since December and he ran a great race to finish second in the Pennsylvania Derby last year. Even on his best form he has a bit to find, although a step back up in trip should suit this four-year- old. CAPEZZANO Trainer: Salem bin Ghadayer. There were question marks beforehand as to whether Capezzano would stay ten furlongs in the Al Maktoum Challenge R3 having run below par over the trip twice, but he answered those questions by storming to victory in impressive fashion under Mickael Barzalona. The five-year-old defeated Thunder Snow by nine and a half lengths, although that was just a pipe- opener for last year’s Dubai World Cup winner. Capezzano – who has won five times at Meydan – has shown improved form this season and has a good draw in stall two. If he manages to get the lead in the early stages, a big run can be expected. DOLKONG Trainer: Simon Foster. Showed improved form to win a ten-furlong handicap in good style at Meydan in February before finishing third behind Capezzano in the Al Maktoum Challenge. The track and trip will suit and, although he may have not finished progressing yet, he is still likely to find a few too good at this level. GRONKOWSKI Trainer: Salem bin Ghadayer. Ran a huge race to finish second behind Justify in the Belmont Stakes in June last year. Hasn’t matched that form since and was another well beaten by Capezzano last time out. Gronkowski will be partnered by Oisin Murphy – which is a big positive – and is a player on the form of his run in the Belmont Stakes, but it is worrying he has run four below-par races since then and needs to raise his game. GUNNEVERA Trainer: Antonio Sano. There looks to be plenty of pace in this year’s renewal of the Dubai World Cup which will suit Gunnevera who will need a fast pace to aim at to be seen to best effect. The five-year-old had excuses when eighth in this race last year as he suffered a hoof injury but has finished runner-up in two Grade One contests since then, including in the Breeders’ Cup Classic behind Accelerate. Gunnevera will also be suited by the step back up in trip and has the ability to go close should the race be run to suit. K T BRAVE Trainer: Haruki Sugiyama. Nine-time Stakes winner who is Japan’s flagbearer this year. Has finished placed in multiple Group One races during his career and finished second at the highest level last time out. Saturday will be his first start at Meydan and, although this trip should suit, he is probably vulnerable to a horse with greater potential and this looks a tough ask from stall 11. NEW TRAILS Trainer: Ahmed Bin Harmash. Has won two of his five starts at Meydan and has some decent handicap form next to his name. Had his first run in a Group One when fourth in Round Three of the Al Maktoum Challenge and has work to do to reverse the form with three of the rivals he finished behind in that race who re-oppose on Saturday. Highly likely there is more to come from New Trails – especially if the first-time visor has a positive effect – but is still likely to fall short at this level. NORTH AMERICA Trainer: Satish Seemar. Missed the break badly when he finished last of the ten runners in this race last year and looked as good as ever when winning Round One of the Al Maktoum Challenge at Meydan on his return in January. Followed up that victory with a win in Round Two and, although he was toiling late on in that race, his seasonal debut probably took more out of him than expected. Will be a hard horse to catch if he breaks well and, even though he is likely to face competition for the lead, jockey Richard Mullen is confident of a big run. PAVEL Trainer: Doug O’Neill. Finished a creditable fourth in the 2018 Dubai World Cup and improved again when landing a Grade One handicap at Churchill Downs two starts later. A return to Meydan should suit - as should the step back up in distance – and Joel Rosario, who won this race in 2013 aboard Animal Kingdom, now takes over in the saddle. However, Pavel has run disappointingly on his last three starts which is a big concern, although vibes from his trainer have been positive in recent days and the first-time visor is now employed on the son of Creative Cause. SEEKING THE SOUL Trainer: Dallas Stewart. Has proved consistent during his career and found only City Of Light too good in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile in November. Looked as good as ever when second again behind that rival in the Pegasus World Cup on his first start this year – where he was bumped at the start - and seems to be improving with age. He shapes as though the step up to ten furlongs will suit and, although he is another who has never run at Meydan, he should run his race once again and is one for the shortlist. THUNDER SNOW Trainer: Saeed bin Suroor. Scored in impressive style in this race last year when he had Pavel, Gunnevera and North America in behind. Although he has failed to get his head in front since, he has run some respectable races in defeat and will be a threat to all if he is in the same form as 12 months ago. His high draw is a negative but being drawn widest of all did not hinder him last year. He should also come on for his run last time considering it was his first start since November and his trainer has won this race eight time in the past. YOSHIDA Trainer: William Mott. A Grade One winner on the turf and the dirt, Yoshida is an interesting runner given his versatility and was impressive when defeating Gunnevera in the Woodford Stakes at Saratoga in September. He was also finishing strongly when fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Classic where he finished behind Gunnevera and Thunder Snow and it is a slight negative that he often finds himself with lots of ground to make up. He is likely to get a strong pace to aim at though which should set the race up nicely for him and could easily finish in the frame. Harry Allwood’s verdict: This is likely to be a tactical race and the run to the first bend could be make or break for a number of the runners in what looks to be a wide-open renewal of the Dubai World Cup. Meydan regular North America will need to break much better this year but has done that on his last two starts which is going to be a huge advantage here. Capezzano has a similar run style to North America and the pair could end up taking each other on for the lead which is likely set the race up for a closer, although the dirt surface continues to prove unfavourable to closers. However, I have been impressed with North America on his last two starts and I think he will be hard to beat if he breaks well, despite the fact he could be hassled for the lead. It will be interesting to see what Christophe Soumillon does aboard Thunder Snow from stall 12. He was far too good for his rivals last year when he made all but will need everything to go right for him to repeat that success.