3 minute read
This has to be one of the best meetings overall in our 20+ years of Dubai World Cup attendances.
5 new race records were established out of the 8 thoroughbred races which is pretty remarkable in itself.
Undoubtedly the star attraction of the race was the win of Equinox in the Sheema – an outstanding performance and reinforces our belief that the Sheema is the best race on the card and should have equal billing with the Cup since it is on turf and the Cup on dirt.
From an Aussie point of view the run by The Astrologist (apologies for calling him Astrologer at times) was an excellent result and they will now be continuing on their journey to Royal Ascot to form part of a big Aussie raiding party.
Although he's not an Aussie he's by Australian and Broome's win in the Gold Cup and the record time over 3,200 metres sent us rushing to connections to plea for him to be entered in the Melbourne Cup. The O'Brien runners did no special trackwork in the mornings, just cantering round as Los Tres Amigos with Broome leading followed by Order of Australia and Cairo. Cairo to us seemed a bit uncertain about where he was and why and stuck very close to his stablemates.
Lord North's third win of the Dubai Turf also was memorable and it provided Frankie Dettori for his last flying dismount at Meydan!
Hong Kong should have been very happy with their results as Sight Winner and Duke Wai finished 4th and 5th in the Al Quoz Sprint and Russian Emperor 8th in the Sheema which gave him prize money of US$ 60,000 to add to his prize money from Doha.
Some of the big names didn't sparkle for various reasons – the draw in the Cup proved a killer for both Country Grammar and Panthalassa who also may not have got the trip.
However it was a very successful meeting for the Japanese runners and of their contingent of 27 horses 16 took home prize money which for this meeting is paid through to the 8th placed horse. What augurs well for their future is that the finished 1-4 in the Derby so some promising 3yos on show. One of them at least – Derma Sotogake – will be going to the Kentucky Derby!
Everything went very smoothly and once again we have to thank all the DWC personnel who made this event so successful.