Dubai World Cup: Dettori high on African Story in Godolphin Mile

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates - Of his seven mounts on the Dubai World Cup card on Saturday, jockey Frankie Dettori – who leads all riders with 17 World Cup night victories – believes his best chance at number 18 is with African Story in the $1 million Godolphin Mile over the Tapeta surface.

African Story has gone 2 for 3 at Meydan this winter with a neck loss in his other start. He comes off a four-length victory in the Group 3 Burj Nahaar here three weeks ago.[bc_playlist_id:247605:]

“Out of my rides on Saturday, he is probably the one that sticks out the most,” Dettori said Thursday morning as he signed autographs and took pictures with fans at the “Breakfast With the Stars” event. “It’s no walkover – he still has to run his career best. He’s really adapted on this Tapeta track very well. He sets the standard in the race. He’s the one everybody’s got to beat.”

African Story is one of three horses sent out by Saeed bin Suroor for Godolphin Stable. Sandagiyr defeated African Story in the Group 3 Firebreak Stakes in his lone try on the Tapeta surface. He then finished fourth to Do It All – who is also in this race – in the Group 2 Zabeel Mile on turf.

Western Aristocrat, who won the Grade 1 Jamaica on turf at Belmont last fall, is making his second start on synthetic. He won an allowance race at Kempton last fall before coming to New York.[bc_video_id:236236:]

“Looking at the race, I’ve been very pleased with the horse at home and feel that he has the form which entitled him to be very competitive on Saturday,” trainer Jeremy Noseda wrote this week on his website.

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