California Chrome, the 2014 Horse of the Year, drew the outside gate in a field of nine for the $10 million Dubai World Cup on March 28, and co-owner Steve Coburn said he loves that spot.
Main Sequence, the second reigning United States Eclipse Award champ on the Meydan card, drew Post 5 for the $6 million Dubai Sheema Classic presented by Longines, also in a field of nine. The Todd Pletcher-trained Mshawish landed Post 3 for the Dubai Turf Sponsored by DP World.
And in the $2 million Dubai Golden Shaheen, sponsored by Gulf News, 2013 Xpressbet Breeders' Cup Sprint winner Secret Circle will start from Post 7, Salutos Amigos drew Post 5 and Big Macher has Post 6.
California Chrome, however, was the center of attention at the well-attended draw ceremony in the Meydan auditorium.
"He has natural speed. He can get out and not get any dirt in his face," said Coburn, who sported his trademark cowboy hat at the draw. "We're happy with this post."
Trainer Art Sherman said jockey Victor Espinoza "knows the horse well, and that gate shouldn't be any problem" for the Lucky Pulpit colt, who will make his first start since finishing second to Shared Belief in the San Antonio Stakes at Santa Anita Park on Feb. 7.
Sherman said California Chrome has trained well since arriving at Meydan, is holding his weight, and looks primed for a top performance.
The problem could be the rest of the field, which includes Donn Handicap winner Lea, an in-form Prince Bishop, Japan Cup winner Epiphaneia, dirt specialist Hokko Tarumae and defending World Cup champion African Story.
Bill Mott, who saddled Cigar to win the first World Cup on March 27, 1996, is back with Lea and was lauded by Dubai Racing Club officials for providing not only the initial impetus for the race but for continuity over two decades.
"I'm very proud of being associated with the first winner, Cigar, and happy to be here with Lea," Mott said after Lea drew Post 5 for the World Cup. "I understand speed has been doing well here and he has tactical speed, so this should be a good draw."
Godolphin trainer Saeed bin Suroor, who drew Post 3 for African Story and Post 1 for Prince Bishop, winced slightly at the latter draw.
"He has had problems in the past when he started from this stall," bin Suroor said.
African Story won last year's World Cup on the old Tapeta surface, replaced this year with dirt, and Suroor said the switch "won't make any difference for him." African Story has tried the surface twice in the run-up to World Cup night; he ran poorly after a long layoff in his first start, but then won impressively last time out, defeating a late-running Prince Bishop by a neck in the Maktoum Challenge Round 3.
Hokko Tarumae drew Post 2 and his owner, Michiaki Yabe, said the switch to dirt "is a big advantage." He finished 16th in last year's World Cup but has reeled off three straight wins in Japan, all on dirt tracks.
Epiphaneia will start from Post 8. Others in the race are U.S. runners Candy Boy (Post 6) and Long River (Post 7) and Side Glance (Post 4).
The Sheema Classic may be the toughest event on the nine-race, $30 million card. Main Sequence, last seen making his season debut Feb. 21 with a 3/4-length victory in the Mac Diarmida Stakes at Gulfstream Park, will meet Flintshire, the horse he defeated by half a length with his 2014 Longines Breeders' Cup Turf win at Santa Anita. He also faces Hong Kong star Designs On Rome and the smart turf mare Just The Judge, who won the E.P. Taylor Stakes at Woodbine and was third in both the Beverly D. Stakes at Arlington International Racecourse and the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf.
Flintshire will start from Post 4 in the 1-1/2-mile turf event. Designs On Rome drew Post 7 and Just The Judge drew Post 8.
The Dubai Turf, formerly known as the Dubai Duty Free, is run at nine furlongs and attracted a well-credentialed, international field of 10.
Mshawish, with Frankie Dettori up, will break from Post 3. He won three straight races this fall at Gulfstream for Pletcher, including the Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap.
Irish Champion Stakes winner The Grey Gatsby has Post 6. Trade Storm, who finished second to the subsequently retired Hunter's Light in the Jebel Hatta in February, goes from Post 7. Euro Charline, idle since winning the Beverly D. last summer at Arlington, goes from the inside gate.
In the six-furlong Golden Shaheen on the dirt, the U.S. contingent faces Hong Kong's top sprinter Lucky Nine and 2012 winner Krypton Factor in a field of 15.