Frankie Dettori today named Japanese challenger Agnes Digital as his greatest danger in Saturday's US6million Dubai World Cup, the world's richest race. The popular Italian, who has been out in Dubai for more than a month, rides last season's champion middle-distance performer Sakhee for his Godolphin bosses in the Nad Al Sheba contest.
And judged by the market moves, punters clearly expect the pairing to record another success at the highest level. Sakhee's price for the race was today clipped further by Coral from 4-9 into 2-5, as confidence about his chance increased.
But next in the betting at 4-1 is Japan's big hope, Agnes Digital, who hasbe en off the course since defeating Sakhee's stablemate Tobougg in Hong Kong last December. 'Agnes Digital's form is rock-solid and the horse is red-hot,' Dettori said today. 'I will not be taking him lightly and anything below Sakhee's very best and we are going to be vulnerable to getting beaten.' he added.
Dettori went on to say that, while he felt Sakhee performed well on the dirt at the Breeders Cup in Belmont Park, his performance there was not up to the standards he set when running at Longchamp or York(on turf).
However, despite the doubts surrounding Sakhee's action on dirt and his tendency towards laziness at home, given his stellar form of last year the likes of Agnes Digital and Street Cry will surely find it almost impossible him in the world's richest race.
