Bailey tips Magna Graduate for victory

Dubai: Four-time Dubai World Cup winning jockey Jerry Bailey is picking American raider Magna Graduate to win tomorrow's renewal of the $6 million (Dh 21 million) race.

"I can't see it being a very fast pace, and that could be an advantage to a horse like Magna Graduate," Bailey said during a visit to the media centre at Nad al Sheba Racecourse yesterday.

He pointed out that the four-year-old colt by Honour Grades likes to stay near the pace as a stalker before pouncing in the stretch. "If there is a lack of speed in the early going, that could work against a stretch runner like Donn Handicap winner Brass Hat," Bailey said.

And while he is intrigued by Japanese champion dirt runner Kane Hekili, he said the colt could be thwarted by lack of an early pace as he also is a stretch runner.

The Todd Pletcher-trained Magna Graduate is an improving type. He won the Group 2 Clark Handicap at Churchill Downs like a tough performer ready to go places.

But his prominent style may make him vulnerable over 10 furlongs especially at Nad Al Sheba, where the home stretch is demandingly long. Bailey, who won the Dubai World Cup with Cigar (1996), Singspiel ('97), Captain Steve ('01) and Street Cry ('02), retired in January this year. The native Texan was second in the all-time earnings list with $296 million (Dh1 billion). He was just $2 million (Dh7.2 million) short of leader Pat Day who retired last summer. Bailey won the Kentucky Derby aboard Sea Hero in 1993 and Grindstone in 1996. He has won a record seven Eclipse Awards as America's outstanding jockey, including in 2003 when he set a world record of 70 stakes victories in a single year.