Yoshito Yahagi on Dubai World Cup: A very hard race just became harder for Panthalassa

The Japanese have certainly made their intentions clear for Saturday's Dubai World Cup where they provide more than half the field at Meydan Racecourse for the big race. And their bid for glory in the UAE will be spearheaded by last month’s $20 million Saudi Cup winner Panthalassa.

But the six-year-old son of Lord Kanaloa will have to deal with the widest draw of the 15 runners with last year’s winner Country Grammer and Algiers, potentially the form local horse in the race, starting in the next two stalls in 14 and 13, respectively.

With the trio breaking widest in the $12 million main race, the battle appears to have given an element of the unknown with horses drawn in the inside a glimmer of hope in the 2,000-metre run on the dirt surface at Meydan.

Panthalassa made every yard of the running from gate 1 to hold on gamely to win from the fast-finishing Country Grammer.

“I honestly think it will be a very hard challenge for my horse from draw 15,” Panthalassa’s trainer Yoshito Yahagi, said at the media conference at Meydan on Thursday.

“The Dubai World Cup is a very hard race and now this is making more difficult to challenge from barrier 15. Fortunately, for us, Panthalassa is really doing well since he got here.”

Joining Panthalassa in the line-up are seven other Japanese runners and Yahagi does not believe they are here to make up the numbers.

“For me, they are all with a chance,” he said when asked of his pick from the remaining Japanese contingent.

“If I have to pick anyone, it is Ushba Tesoro and T O Keynes, because we came up against these two horses. I was asked the same question at the Saudi Cup and it’s so difficult to answer.”

Panthalassa is also stepping up on the Saudi Cup distance of 1,800m trip in the