Five time Gr1 winner and favourite for the richest race on the planet in Florida on Saturday, Gun Runner drew an awkward 10 draw in the final field of 12 for the $16 million Pegasus World Cup.
Gun Runner walks on the track after winning the Breeders’ Cup Classic (Photo by Kazushi Ishida/Eclipse Sportswire/Breeders Cup)
The Gr1 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner’s trainer, Hall Of Famer Steve Asmussen, was philosophical and upbeat: “I’ve always said, you don’t know to complain about the post position until after a race is run. It might work out perfectly for him. The horse is doing extremely well and in the capable hands of Florent Geroux. Hopefully we’ll have a big day Saturday and send the 2017 Horse of the Year out on top.”
The Pegasus World Cup is run over 1800m and requires that each set of owners contributes $1 million, with the organizers adding the rest. First prize is $7 million, second scoops $1.6 million and the sliding scale drops down to $650,000 for finishing sixth to 12th.
The Pegasus World Cup was introduced in 2017 by US racecourse giants the Stronach Group, usurping the Dubai World Cup as the richest race in the sport with an initial purse of $12 million.
The big-money showdown, which unlike many other big races is open to four-year-olds and above, was won by the Bob Baffert-trained Arrogate after a final duel with old rival and two-time Horse of the Year California Chrome.
“Our goal is to elevate the sport of horse racing, to modernize it and bring this sport to a whole new fan base,” said Canadian Belinda Stronach, president of the Stronach Group.
