HORSE RACING: Coral today opened betting on this year’s Dubai World Cup and installed Gio Ponti, runner-up to Zenyatta in the Breeders Cup Classic, as the 7-2 ante post favourite.
With the World Cup switching to a synthetic Tapeta surface at the new Meydan racecourse, the profile of the horses’ targeting the race is significantly different from previous years.
Two of Europe’s leading turf horses, Vision D’Etat and Twice Over, are Coral‘s 6-1 joint second favourites and another English trained turf horse, Presvis, is next in the betting at 8-1.
“Since 1996 the Dubai World Cup has been dominated by top class American dirt performers, the likes of Cigar, Pleasantly Perfect, Invasor and Curlin, but 2010 will effectively represent the dawn of a completely new Group 1 contest in Dubai”, Simon Clare, Coral Spokesman told betrescue.com
“Every horse in our ante post list is either a proven turf performer or, in the case of Richard’s Kid and Gitano Hernando, a synthetic surface specialist. There is barely a single piece of dirt form on any of the leading contenders’ records with only the Japanese horse, Espoir City, a genuine dirt performer”, said Clare.
“The switch to Tapeta has certainly benefitted the betting shape of the race. There is much more depth and competitiveness to this year’s contest, with 13 horses priced between 7-2 and 16-1”, added Clare.
** Dubai World Cup:
7-2 Gio Ponti, 6-1 Vision D’Etat, Twice Over, 8-1 Presvis, 12-1 Vodka, 14-1 Mawatheeq, Espoir City, 16-1 Richard’s Kid, Gitano Hernando, Eagle Mountain, Cavalryman, Papa Clem, 33-1 Crowded House, 40-1 Gloria De Campeao, Success Brocken
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