US pair a better choice than Hunter’s Light

Dubai: Royal Delta can become the first female to win the Dubai World Cup. Not many have tried over the years and none have been even close to her class.

Royal Delta’s Globeform rating of 125 is on a par with the best seen by her US compatriot Animal Kingdom, and her best form is much more recent than his. These two visitors are markedly better than Hunter’s Light, who has yet to beat a high-class Group One performer.

Don’t get me wrong, Godolphin’s leading hope has a lot going for him, not least home court advantage, and he does have a chance of winning. But if Royal Delta and/or Animal Kingdom fire on all cylinders, that chance is rather slim.

Royal Delta is the logical choice. A dual Breeders’ Cup winner, she prepped with a most impressive win at Gulfstream Park, where she crushed an overmatched field to win as she pleased. True, she beat little that day, but she did produce a high Globeform rating yet again and is clearly as good as ever. She was hampered in the World Cup last year and the imposing daughter of Empire Maker can put the record straight this weekend. Taking her weight allowance into account, she is my clear top-rated horse in this field.

Animal Kingdom, who landed the Kentucky Derby in 2011, has been plagued by setbacks since, but what we have seen of him has been nothing but positive. He ran a fine race in the Breeders’ Cup Mile last November, when second to the mighty Wise Dan after a troubled trip. Given his World Cup prep on turf at Gulfstream Park in February, Animal Kingdom was — somewhat surprisingly — beaten. The race was far from satisfactory, however, as a crawling pace and a premature move by his rider put Animal Kingdom in front already before the home turn, totally against his preferred running style and past experience. Lionel Messi would hardly be more confused if asked to take up the role as goalkeeper for Barcelona.

Animal Kingdom was not in his comfort zone, that’s for sure, and he was done for speed in the straight by Point of Entry, one of the best turf runners in North America. My guess is that the fittest horse won on the day and that we will see a much sharper Animal Kingdom today. He drew post 12, which is hardly ideal, but he is not likely to be sent forward early on in any case and perhaps the wide draw will not compromise his chances too much.

Much has been made of this draw, probably too much. Capponi ran second from post 11 last year and in 2011 Mastery (not at all fancied) was beaten by just over a length after breaking from stall 12.

Hunter’s Light may improve again and he is clearly the threat to the US pair, but I also have a bit of a feeling for the French-trained contender Meandre, whose best form puts him right in the mix. He produced a Globeform rating of 122 as he beat Shareta and Danedream in a Group 1 last year and is my best longshot in this World Cup.

— Geir Stabell is the publishing editor of Newmarket-based Globeform. His Meydan previews can also be accessed on www.globeform.com or www.bloodstockmarket.com