Dubai: In 12 of the 13 runnings of the $6 million (Dh22.02 million) Dubai World Cup, stall one, known universally as "the coffin box draw", has not boasted one horse in the frame.
The exception was Electrocutionist, who defied the impossible when winning in 2006.
However, that crumb of comfort did little to cheer up trainer Ralph Beckett, who flies the flag for Britain with Muhannak in the world's richest race.
He groaned with disbelief when his Breeders Cup Marathon winner was handed the inside draw.
Observing that Muhannak had been forced to race from the outside stall (16) when disappointing in round three of the Al Maktoum Challenge, Beckett said: "Things are going from bad to worse, and the mountain has got that much higher with the one draw.
"I know that Frankie [Dettori] did it on Electrocutionist, but there were only 10 runners that year and it will be tougher still with a full field of 16."
