Linngari pleases in build-up

Dubai: South Africa's Linngari coming through a smooth workout on Sunday pleased his connections in his preparation for Saturday's $5 million Dubai Duty Free (Group 1).

The four-year-old son of Indian Ridge, a winner of two Group races during the Dubai International Racing Carnival, worked on the turf at Nad Al Sheba, along with stablemate Protector.

Partnered by Kevin Shea, who will be on board in Saturday's big race, Linngari breezed over 1,200 metres and quickened well towards the end.

He covered the last 800 metres in 45.52sec and was clocked over the final 400 metres at a handy 21.7sec (Dogs out 18 metres).

Trainer Herman Brown was pleased with the workout and said: "We did not do too much with him. He quickened at the 800 metres. I was happy with him and Kevin [Shea] said he was also happy. We did not ask a lot and he pulled up well.

"We are looking forward to Saturday. We will keep him ticking over and look at giving him a breeze over 400 metres on Thursday. I couldn't be happier with him."

Brown, regarded as one of the nice guys in racing, must be pinching himself to see whether he is dreaming, now that he has a serious contender for one of the big prizes on offer at the $21 million Dubai World Cup meeting.

Asked to list his goals at the start of the Carnival, Brown said he was hoping to win a couple of races at the most. Little did he visualise that 11 weeks on, he will be challenging for one of the two richest turf races in the world, with a horse that has only just come to his possession.

But right from his first UAE start, in the Al Rashidiya (Group 3), Linngari has looked a class act.

In that race, he beat Greys Inn, a three-time Grade 1 winner in South Africa, and Latino Magic, a former Group 3 winner in Leopardstown.

His second success, in the Group 2 Al Fahidi Fort, was even more impressive as he toyed with a top-class field before running out a comfortable winner of the mile Group 2 Al Fahidi Fort.

Among his 15 rivals in Saturday's race are 11 individual Group 1 winners.

World cup
Electrocutionist is the 11/10 favourite

Electrocutionist was yesterday installed favourite to give Godolphin their fifth victory in 11 runnings of the $6 million Dubai World Cup.

The Maktoum Challenge winner is 11/10 with English bookmakers Coral to emulate Almutawakel, Dubai Millennium, Street Cry and Moon Ballad.

Japanese raider Kane Hekili is the joint 5/1 second favourite along with the leading American contender Brass Hat.

Wilko, the 2004 Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner is a 22/1 chance.