UAE: Frankie Dettori is looking forward to the opportunity to write a glorious final chapter to the Dubai element of his storied riding career, with defending World Cup champion Country Grammer headlining a book of seven rides on the card.
A repeat of last year’s success was rendered considerably more complicated by Wednesday night’s post-position draw, with Country Grammer berthed in stall 14 of 15.
“It obviously looks a very competitive race,” said Dettori, who rode Country Grammer for the first time 12 months ago at Meydan.
“Beforehand last year we thought that Life Is Good was unbeatable and he probably was until the furlong pole – and then he just collapsed,” he went on.
“This year there’s more strength in depth. There’s eight Japanese runners, multiple Group 1 winners and a big field. One thing for sure with Country Grammer is that he’s all about leaving everything on the track. You know he’s going to run until the end so I couldn’t ask for a better companion.
“It’s not going to be easy and stall 14 is not ideal. I spoke to Amr Zedan last night and just said that it is what it is. We can’t change it now so let’s get on with it and see how the race unfolds.”
Dettori added: “I can’t really say a bad word about Country Grammer because if you look at his form he’s all guts, he’s a proper horse.
“The way that he ran in the San Antonio Stakes [at Santa Anita on Boxing Day], he was just sharp and was easy. I was outpaced around the turn and I thought I was in trouble, but the same as last year in the World Cup, he just doesn’t know how to give up.
“Sometimes he runs out of runway but you just know that he’s going to give you everything he’s got.”
Victory for Country Grammer would be a fifth in the Dubai World Cup for trainer Bob Baffert, whose assistant Jimmy Barnes reported: “He had a routine gallop early this morning. He came out of Monday’s work well and we are happy how he looks today.”
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