Medaglia d'Oro Draws Post 11, Pleasantly Perfect 7 in World Cup

The connections of Medaglia d'Oro were downhearted Wednesday after the gallant 5-year-old received an unfavorable draw for Saturday's $6-million Dubai World Cup (UAE-I), sponsored by Emirates Airline.

While trainer Richard Mandella had no complaints about big rival Pleasantly Perfect's draw of post 7 out of 12, Medaglia d'Oro is out wide in post 11.

"We wanted to be in the middle," said Bobby Frankel's assistant Jose Cuevas.

Owner Edmund Gann was the man who stepped up to decide Medaglia d'Oro's draw in an elaborate ceremony in which the post positions were picked out of randomly placed coffee pots at the latest edition to Dubai's list of swanky hotels, the Mina A 'Salam. "It was a weak pick of mine," Gann said. "Bobby (Frankel, who is absent from Dubai) said we should be looking for the middle.

Medaglia d'Oro and Gerald Ford's Diamond A Racing's Pleasantly Perfect have been installed co-favorites for the race at 9-4 according to the British bookmaker William Hill.

Japan Cup Dirt (Jpn-I) winner Fleetstreet Dancer will race from post 10, next to South African challenger Victory Moon in post 9, who in turn drew drawn next to Godolphin's only runner, the former U.S. runner Grand Hombre, in 8.

"I wanted to be on the outside, so I am happy," said Victory Moon's trainer Mike de Kock. "We have Medaglia d'Oro on the outside and Pleasantly Perfect on the inside of us. That will suit us. We can watch them."

Co-owner Charles Winner was also disappointed with the post 1 draw for Domestic Dispute, after sending up his partner David Bienstock to pick a coffee pot for the 4-year-old.

"We would have preferred another position," Winner said. "It is what it is and it is the shortest way around and I am sure the horse will do fine.We would have preferred a better draw but we have what we have and we'll have to win from there."

William Hill's prices for the Dubai World Cup:
Medaglia d'Oro, Pleasantly Perfect: 9/4
Victory Moon, 7-2
Admire Don, 9-1
Fleetstreet Dancer, Grand Hombre, 10-1
Domestic Dispute, Silent Deal, 16-1
Dinyeper, Regent Bluff, 33-1
State Shinto, 50-1
Kings Boy, 66-1