Bold Silvano: the World Cup second favourite has been withdrawn
PICTURE: Andrew Watkins / Dubai Racing ClubBold Silvano withdrawn from Dubai World Cup
BOLD SILVANO, second favourite for Saturday's Dubai World Cup, will missthe race after pulling out sore on Monday morning.
A disappointed Mike de Kock said: "He worked very well yesterday but seems to have tweaked or pulled something. We cannot actually put our finger on it immediately but it is enough to rule him out.
"It is a great shame as he is a genuine World Cup horse. It has not been easy with him this seasonbut we will be back next year.
"At least we have back up and Golden Sword will now get to take his chance in the World Cup. It was a shame he did not get in originally so at least he gets his chance in the highest grade on a surface he clearly loves."
Victor Chandler responded by cutting Twice Over to 9-4 (from 11-4) for the World Cup. Cape Blanco is 9-2 (from 5-1).
The latest setback is not the first to have afflicted Bold Silvano in Dubai. The Durban July winner suffered a bruised foot at the start of March which ruled him out his intended prep race and cost him several days work. He was reported over that setback and in "really good form" by De Kock on Sunday.
Ali Rashid Al Raihe: runs stable star
PICTURE: Edward WhitakerWith Golden Sword switching from the Sheema Classic to the Dubai World Cup, last year's 1m1f Dubai Duty Free winner Al Shemali is the recipient of a late invite to the 1m4f turf race.
Champion trainer Ali Rashid Al Raihe had hoped to campaign last year's stable star towards a crack at the World Cup but his promising fourth to Bold Silvano in Maktoum Challenge II on his return was not built on.
He was seventh in the 2007 Irish Derby on one of his few attempts at the longer trip but connections are pleased to get the chance.
Assistant trainer Jilani Siduqqui said: "Obviously we are delighted to get another chance on the big night with last year's star. We think he will stay okay and that is four runners on the night now for us to look forward to."
Godolphin will have 14 runners on World Cup night with Poet's Voice (Frankie Dettori) and Prince Bishop (Ahmed Ajtebi) seeking to give Saeed bin Suroor his sixth win in the world's richest horse race, the $10million Dubai World Cup.
Monterosso will represent fellow Godolphin trainer Mahmood Al Zarooni who saddled Allybar to finish a close third last year. He will be ridden by Mickael Barzalona.
Dettori will partner Al Zarooni's Rewilding in the Sheema Classic with Ajtebi on stable companion Calvados Blues, while the Italian partners Bin Suroor's Mendip in the Dubai Duty Free with Ajtebi on Debussy for Al Zarooni.
Skysurfers (Bin Suroor/Dettori) and Rileyskeepingfaith (Al Zarooni/Ajtebi) clash in the Godolphin Mile but Bin Suroor only has one runner in the UAE Derby, UAE Oaks heroine Khawlah (Barzalona).
However, Al Zarooni has three in the race and Dettori will ride UAE debutant Xin Xu Lin with Ajtebi on Introvert and Johnny Murtagh on Splash Point.
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