Top sprinter Tayseer was put down Wednesday after sustaining a leg fracture, the Dubai World Cup's chief veterinarian told the Associated Press."It is true, this morning he was X-rayed and following confirmation of his injury, he was put down," Tom Morton said.Meanwhile, the draw and post positions held Wednesday left Bob Baffert, the trainer for the $6 million Dubai World Cup (UAE-I) favorite Captain Steve, pleased. Baffert, a winner here in 1998 with Silver Charm, picked out the number 11 in the draw."I wanted an outside draw and this is good for Captain Steve. But really the draw does not matter so much as the break is very important. When the turn (at Nad Al Sheba) comes, I hope he is in the right place. Anyway, the cream always comes to the top," he told The Associated Press.The seven-race card on Saturday is worth a total of $15.25 million, making it the richest race day in the world. It has attracted over 75 entries from 17 countries.Captain Steve main competition may be Sheikh Mohammed's Best of the Bests, who got what his connections say was the ideal draw after his trainer Saeed bin Suroor picked out number 10."This is the best draw for the horse as he prefers to run on the outside," said Suroor, bidding for his third successive World Cup win after Almutawakel and Dubai Millennium."But the horse we have to beat is Captain Steve while we cannot underestimate the other horses in the field," Suroor said.The field was reduced by one after Andre Fabre pulled out Kingsalsa, who was sore following his morning workout.Tayseer, from David Nicholls' stable, was to run in Saturday's $2 million Dubai Golden Shaheen (UAE-II) over six furlongs. Tayseer won eight races, four of them -- including the Bunbury Cup and Stewards' Cup -- since joining Nicholls."Tayseer was completing his final preparation before the Golden Shaheen when he sustained an irreparable fracture of his right near short pastern-bone and sadly had to be put down," said a spokesman for the trainer. "David and everyone at the stable is shocked and very upset."The post positions, with trainer, jockey, and country they represent, for the Dubai World Cup:
1--Early Warning, Saud Rezaiq al Shibani, Sebastian Madrid, Saudi Arabia
2--Broche, Saeed bin Suroor, David Flores, United Arab Emirates
3--Ekraar, Saeed bin Suroor, Richard Hills, United Arab Emirates
4--Aptitude, Bobby Frankel, Gary Stevens, U.S.
5--To the Victory, Yasuo Ikee, Yutaka Take, Japan
6--Regular Member, Shoji Yamamoto, Mikio Matsunaga, Japan
7--Aristotle, Malcolm Thwaites, J. Saimee, Singapore
8--Hightori, Philipe Demercastel, Gerald Mosse, France
9--State Shinto, John Sadler, Ted Durcan, United Arab Emirates
10--Best of the Bests, Saeed bin Suroor, Frankie Dettori, United Arab Emirates
11--Captain Steve, Bob Baffert, Jerry Bailey, U.S
12--Sei Mei, Jerry Barton, Chris McCarron, Saudi ArabiaEntries For World Cup Card--All Races (Click on Nad al Sheba, Saturday, March 24 and click on Show Races)Captain Steve in Fast Workout for World CupWorld Cup Simulcast ScheduleTVG To Air, Take Wagers on World CupAptitude Works Toward Saturday's RaceRelated story
World Cup joint favorite Captain Steve, winning the Donn Handicap.
Associated Press/Equi Photo, Bill Denver