Meydan: Local horses draw inside, outside for Godolphin Mile

Fields were drawn and post positions assigned late Monday for the Godolphin Mile, Dubai Gold Cup, and U.A.E. Derby.

The Godolphin Mile drew a field of 16, with likely favorite Tamarkuz stuck on the rail and another major local hope, Surfer, marooned in post 16.

“You don’t want to lose hope, but it will have to be kind of a miracle situation,” said Surfer’s trainer, Sateesh Seemar.

Tamarkuz, riding a three-race win streak and a terror since switching to Meydan dirt, has twice won already this winter from post 1. The American horses in the race are Quadrivium (post 3), Bradester (post 5), and Prayer for Relief (post 8), the latter now stabled with trainer Mike de Kock.

The two-mile Gold Cup drew 15 entrants, with likely favorite Brown Panther stuck out in post 14.

There are 10 in the U.A.E. Derby, whose principals are Mubtaahij (post 1) and Maftool (post 9). The U.A.E. Derby is a 170-point qualifying race for the Kentucky Derby, and the connections of Mubtaahij already have expressed an interest in running should the colt perform well Saturday.

:: DUBAI WORLD CUP: Get PPs, watch Saturday’s Meydan card live