The World Cup For Premium Tap

Premium Tap will take his rightful place in the line-up for the Dubai World Cup at Nad Al Sheba on Saturday. For a while his contention was in doubt after a disappointing 4th place in Saudi Arabia's premier race on 15 February. His trainer was unhappy with the way the horse was working and he had some other problems. Though he just about won his follow-up start in a mile race on 7 March, he is still not quite back to the old Tap.

But Premium Tap will travel to Dubai to challenge 2007 american horse of the year Curlin and I will be cheering for him. Curlin is likely to be a short-priced favourite. He is looking a dream and has had a dream preparation for the big race. But there are others beside Premium Tap that will be challenging the 4yo Smart Strike colt.

The field looks like this (per DRF):

* DUBAI WORLD CUP-G1. Purse $6,000,000. 1 1/4m (dirt) 4yo+

Post time: 1:30 p.m. (EDT)

1 - Sway Yed - O Peslier - 126 - 100-1

2 - Well Armed - A T Gryder - 126 - 33-1

3 - Happy Boy - K McEvoy - 126 - 16-1

4 - Kocab - S Pasquier - 126 - 33-1

5 - Great Hunter - G K Gomez - 126 - 66-1

6 - Premium Tap - S Madrid - 126 - 14-1

7 - Vermilion - Y Take - 126 - 12-1

8 - Jalil - L Dettori - 126 - 7-1

9 - Asiatic Boy - J P Murtagh - 126 - 10-1

10 - Lucky Find - K Shea - 126 - 25-1

11 - Gloria de Campeao - C-P Lemaire - 126 - 33-1

12 - Curlin - R J Albarado - 126 - 2-5

13 - A.P. Arrow - R A Dominguez - 126 - 25-1

I wish I could say that Premium Tap will win, but his form is suspect at best and one has to wonder whether the level of competition he has been facing is enough to have fit and ready for a clash like this. But yet, I believe he has a lot of class and an enormous amount of talent and heart and if he would win I would be over the moon. However, Curlin is looking strong and there are other contenders, like Asiatic Boy, that cannot be underrated. I hope he will be able to equal or better his 2nd place in last year's race and that is what I am hoping for. He is definitely not without a chance and I will be cheering him on all the way!

Unfortunately I won't be around this weekend as I will be climbing a mountain in Wales, but I will be anxiously looking for the result as soon as I am back home on Sunday.

(Premium Tap (USA) - 2002 bay horse - Pleasant Tap x Premium Red, by Thirty Six Red)