Red-hot Dubai World Cup favourite Curlin had a last-minute change to his eve-of-race preparations but assistant trainer Scott Blasi is bullish about the odds-on chance.

Blasi took the Breeders' Cup Classic winner to the Nad Al Sheba training track in the morning rather than appearing on the main track in the hope of keeping things a bit more low-key.


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"I just decided that we're ready and what's done is done, and that a quiet day would be good for the horse. My job is to get him to the race as best as we can," Blasi said.

"We just took him out to give him a little exercise and keep him happy."

Curlin's big-race pilot Robby Albarado arrived in Dubai on Thursday while trainer Steve Asmussen was due to land in Dubai on Friday evening.

The colt is currently priced around 2/5 to land the $6million showpiece.

Meanwhile, leading Dubai Carnival trainer Mike de Kock insists Asiatic Boy remains a contender, despite suffering a surprise defeat in the earlier this month.

"He'll be a lot fitter, a lot tighter and a lot sharper," said De Kock, who also saddles Lucky Find in the race.

"He was carrying some condition and was lethargic when beaten last time.

"He's in better shape now and definitely readier, but the question is whether he's good enough.

"If the old Asiatic Boy turns up then you know he'll run a good race but I guess the reality is that Curlin will have to run below his best if anybody else is going to win."