Dubai World Cup Watch: Drosselmeyer Heading to the Middle-East

Last year’s Belmont Stakes winning colt Drosselmeyer (Distorted Humor) has been pointed towards the Dubai World Cup according to a recent article in the Blood Horse. The WinStar Farm-owned four year-old will line up in the Grade 3 Mineshaft Handicap at Fair Grounds in Louisiana with an eye firmly fixed on the world’s richest race.

Currently in training at Florida’s Payson Park, the Bill Mott-trained colt fired a co-bullet 5f in a razor sharp 1.00.80 to put in identical fractions to Kentucky Derby contender To Honor and Serve (Bernardini).

WinStar Farm President Bill Walden heaped praise on the son of Distorted Humor by confirming reports that he had been looking rock-solid in training sessions. “We’re real happy with his works… So far he’s doing everything right.”

Drosselmeyer is still yet to figure in the ante post (forecast) wagering for the prestigious $10,000,000 event but he scored a victory over a sizable portion of the American contingent also looking eastward for a kick at the world’s richest can. First Dude (Stephen Got Even) is trading anywhere from 20/1 to 50/1 with various continental bookmakers.

Globetrotting Gio Ponti (Tale of the Cat) will be a contender and looks in the mix at 8/1. Donn Handicap Winner Giant Oak (Giant’s Causeway) is also getting respect at 12/1. Twirling Candy (Candy Ride) made a bold statement by capturing the Strub Stakes last Saturday and will be an especially strong contender thanks to the surface-versatility shown by Candy Ride’s.

Conditioner Bill Mott knows a thing or two about high-profile scores in Dubai, having won the Carnival showpiece with Cigar (Palace Music) back in 1996.