Roses in May draws post 12 for World Cup

Roses in May draws post 12 for World Cup

Grade 1 winner and Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) runner-up ROSES IN MAY (Devil

His Due) highlights a field of 13 entered for the $6 million Dubai World Cup

(UAE-G1) on Saturday night at Nad al Sheba. The Dale Romans-trained

five-year-old will break from post 12 with jockey John Velazquez.

"It's a dirty dozen," joked owner Ken Ramsey after selecting post 12 at

the blind draw. "But I can't complain because I picked it. We got the 12, so

we're happy with it."

Romans noted the long run to the first turn and wasn't concerned with the

outside draw.

"He's won stalking and he's won wire to wire, so we'll see what happens

when they open the gate," the conditioner commented. "He'll be in the first

pack."

Roses in May won five straight races last year, including the Whitney H.

(G1), before finishing second to Horse of the Year Ghostzapper (Awesome

Again) in the Breeders' Cup. He comes off a second-place finish to Saint

Liam (Saint Ballado) in the February 5 Donn H. (G1) and is expected to go

favored in the about 1 1/4-mile Dubai World Cup.

"I didn't squeeze the lemon tight enough to win the Donn," Romans

explained earlier this week.

Trainer Richard Mandella, who succeeded last year with Pleasantly Perfect

(Pleasant Colony) after posting three runner-up finishes in the world's

richest event, will send out Santa Anita H. (G1) runner-up CONGRATS (A.P.

Indy) on Saturday. The Grade 2-winning five-year-old will break from post 7.

"I'm happy (about post 7), but at a mile and a quarter it doesn't make

much difference," Mandella said. "I believe more in good luck and bad luck

than in good draws and bad draws."

Grade 2 hero CHOCTAW NATION (Louis Quatorze) got post 9. The Jeff Mullins

trainee returned off a lengthy layoff to record a fast-finishing fourth in

the seven-furlong San Carlos H. (G2) in his last start in late February.

"If he shows his usual kick, he's got three-eighths of a mile to get it

done," said Mullins in regards to the lengthy stretch at Nad al Sheba. "Even

in the mornings when he hits the top of the stretch, that's when he gets

going. The further, the better."

Saudi Arabian-owned DYNEVER (Dynaformer), a close second in January's Hal

Hope H. (G3) for trainer Christophe Clement, drew the far outside post and

will be ridden by Jose Santos. LUNDY'S LIABILITY (Brz) (Candy Stripes), who

is two-for-four in the United States with victories in the Goodwood

Breeders; Cup H. (G2) and San Antonio H. (G2), is the other U.S.-based

entrant. The five-year-old has experience over the track, winning last

year's U.A.E. Derby (UAE-G2) before being transferred to trainer Bobby

Frankel, and will start from post 5 with Pat Valenzuela.

The World Cup undercard contains five races worth seven figures,

including the $2 million U.A.E. Derby. The about nine-furlong test will

feature a Kentucky Derby (G1) candidate in the unbeaten SHAMARDAL (Giant's

Causeway), who easily won all three appearances last year with victories in

the Dewhurst S. (Eng-G1) and Vintage S. (Eng-G1). Godolphin is considering

the talented colt for a Kentucky Derby bid.

"You have to be cautious because he has never run on the (dirt) surface,"

jockey Frankie Dettori said of Shamardal. "He has been working well enough

on it at Al Quoz, but it is completely different at racing pace and though

he has the class, being a Dewhurst winner, we are very much going in there

to test the temperature of the water."

The U.A.E. Derby drew 12 entrants, including Brazilian Group 1 winner

DURBAN THUNDER (Royal Academy), who will make his first start for trainer

Kenny McPeek.

The $2 million Dubai Sheema Classic (UAE-G1) has 11 horses going about 1

1/2 grassy miles, and McPeek will saddle a top contender in PRINCE ARCH

(Arch), who captured the Gulfstream Park Breeders' Cup H. (G1) most recently

in his four-year-old bow. Godolphin also holds a strong hand with Group 2

victor CHERRY MIX (Linamix), who finished second by a half-length in the

Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (Fr-G1) last October.

The $2 million Dubai Duty Free (UAE-G1), at about nine furlongs on the

turf, drew a field of 14, and 12 horses are set for the $1 million Godolphin

Mile (UAE-G2) on the main track.