Get ready for the electrifying $12,000,000 Dubai World Cup, proudly presented by Emirates Airline! The anticipation reached a fever pitch as the draw unfolded at the luxurious Armani Hotel. The spotlight falls on the magnificent Ushba Tesoro, the crowd favorite, who secures the coveted fifth position. The American challenger Senor Buscador, isn`t backing down. He`s aiming to make history by clinching both the Saudi Cup and the Dubai World Cup titles. The clash between these titans injects an extra dose of adrenaline into the already pulsating event.

Senor Buscador, trained by the Tod Fletcher, narrowly edged out Ushba Tesoro in the recent Saudi Cup, setting the stage for an epic showdown. While Ushba Tesoro aims to follow in the footsteps of Thunder Snow with two success in the history of the Dubai World Cup, Senor Buscador, stationed at the challenging outside post of 10, is poised for yet another epic showdown.

Does the draw hold the key to victory in a race of this caliber? It`s a question worth pondering, but when it comes to champions of this stature, they possess an innate ability to surmount any obstacle in their path. Yet, in a matchup as evenly matched as this, the draw could indeed play a pivotal role, where even the slightest hiccup might tilt the scales in favor of one steed over the other. Get ready for a spectacle where every spectacle where every moment counts and every stride resonates with the thrill of victory!

The Noboru Takagi-trained Ushba Tesoro`s name was the first to be picked out with the positioning assigned at random. Despite facing off against the formidable Senor Buscador, who triumphed over Ushba Tesoro in Saudi Arabia last month, the latter retains the spotlight due to his familiarity with the Dubai track, having clinched victory in the event last year. While Ushba Tesoro` prowess might not have been at the brightest on the Saudi track, the connections exude unwavering confidence. Jockey Yuga Kawada, echoing this sentiment, expressed that the fifth stall holds no concern, given Ushba Tesoro`s knack for rallying from behind. To him, the draw from one to twelve holds no sway over their fortunes. Such unyielding confidence is truly remarkable.

Todd Fincher`s Senor Buscador, the pride of his breeder and co-owner Joe Peacock Jr, was the second name selected and will break from stall 10.

"Very happy," Peacock Jr said. "We wanted outside and we got outside."

Kabirkhan, the sensation from Kazakhstan who is trained in the UAE by Doug Watson, drew two.

"I kind of wanted the middle," Watson said. "If he always broke really well I`d be delighted but he hasn`t done that. We`ve been working on it, but we hope he can do it on the night. At least it`s a shorter way around."

Owner Tlek Mukanbetkaliyev added: "Happy to get an inside draw and hopefully he can be comfortable near the lead."

Japan has brought a formidable contingent for the 2000m showdown. , Jockey Christophe Lemaire is back aboard Derma Sotogake (stall eight), a stunning victor of the UAE Derby at this very event last year and subsequently the runner-up in the Breeders` Cup Classic.

Trainer Hidetaka Otonashi expressed, "We didn`t mind any stall really. Eight is considered a lucky number in Japan so that`s pretty good."

Lemaire echoed Otonashi`s sentiments, describing stall eight as "a very good draw in the middle which allows me to go forward into the first bend without burning up too much gas."

Meanwhile, Frankie Dettori reunites with Bob Baffert`s rising star Newgate, a recent Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap winner. Assistant trainer Jimmy Barnes, overseeing operations, observed as the horse was assigned stall six.

The local hopes soar high with Juddmonte`s Laurel River, trained by Bhupat Seemar, who entered the Dubai World Cup picture after a resounding victory in the Burj Nahaar Sponsored By Emirates SkyCargo earlier in the month. However, the challenge looms larger as Laurel River must contend from the widest stall of all in 12. Readers may recall that Shea rode in India during the early part of the winter season but left midway through, not happy at the way things turned out.

The lineup is completed by Crupi (1), alongside other Japanese contenders Dura Erede (3) and Wilson Tesoro (11), Defunded (9), Military Law (4), and Clapton (7).

Trainer Chad Summers expressed his preference for Clapton, saying, "We were hoping to be drawn in the middle."

Alex Solis, representing the owners of Crupi, expressed optimism, saying, "We`re drawn inside so hopefully we can save all the ground."

Wilson Tesoro`s jockey, Yusuke Hara, noted, "The last two starts the jockey asked him to take a position early, so I`m expecting him to be a little bit keen. So that stall is ideal."

(The interview inputs from Dubai Racing Club)