MIKE de Kock’s runners on Dubai World Cup night, Saturday, with their jockeys and draws, are:

Race 2: Godolphin Mile (Gr 2), $US1 million, 1600m on dirt
Prayer for Relief (Christophe Soumillon) 8-16
Pylon (Johnny Geroudis) 12-16

Race  3: Dubai Gold Cup (Gr 2), $US1-million, 3200m on turf
Mushreq (Dane O’Neill) 4-15
Star Empire (Christophe Soumillon) 6-15
Almoonqith (Paul Hanagan) 9-15

Almoonqith (right): Dubai Gold Cup hopeful. (Andrew Watkins).

Race 4: UAE Derby (Gr 2), $US2-million, 1900m on dirt
Mubtaahij (Christophe Soumillon) 1-10

Race 5: Al Quoz Sprint, $US1-million
Via Africa (Christophe Soumillon) 4-16

Race 6: Dubai Turf, $US6-million, 1800m on turf
Umgiyo (Johnny Geroudis), 2-10

Meanwhile Dubai World Cup favourite California Chrome drew 9 for the big race and his connections declared themselves “very happy”.

Last year’s Kentucky Derby winner, who is 7-4 market leader, will break from the widest possible stall in the $10 million race, not typically a coveted position but one that is expected to play to the four-year-old’s strengths.

Art Sherman, California Chrome’s trainer, said: “I love it. Nine is a perfect position for our horse. I’ve got all the speed horses to the inside of me and he loves to run from the outside.

“The surface is not a concern – good horses can run on anything even tarmac. Victor [Espinoza, jockey] knows him really well. I’m just really glad to be here. We’ve gotten a lot of texts. He’s a rock star all around the world.”

Full draw for the Dubai World Cup: Prince Bishop 1,  Hokko Tarumae 2, African Story 3, Side Glance 4, Lea 5, Candy Boy 6, Long river 7, Epiphaneia 8, California Chrome 9