Well Armed blasts the artillery in 14-length World Cup romp

Well Armed, whose life was imperiled by injuries in 2006, dominated the world's richest race (Dubai Racing Club)

Making sure that Nad al Sheba went out not with a whimper, but a bang,

WinStar Farm's homebred WELL ARMED (Tiznow) romped to a record-shattering

14-length triumph in Saturday's $6 million Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1). The Eoin

Harty charge was a fitting winner of the final race ever staged at Nad al Sheba,

for he first garnered attention here as a sophomore in 2006; he finished third

to Curlin in last year's World Cup; and he has always thrived in the Dubai

atmosphere.

With regular rider Aaron Gryder aboard, Well Armed broke like a shot, secured

the early lead, and was never headed. As the bay gelding traveled well within

himself through splits of :25 1/5, :48 3/5 and 1:12 2/5, he was chased by a rail-skimming Gloria de Campeao (Impression).

Albertus Maximus (Albert the Great), who was initially reserved farther

off the pace, soon moved up into a close stalking position on the

outside. Godolphin's hope My Indy (Indygo Shiner) likewise crept up to keep watch on the

pacesetter. In contrast, Paris

Perfect (Muhtafal) was close up early, but he faded from contention. Asiatic Boy (Not for Sale) was uncharacteristically far back and came under

pressure before the field left the backstretch.

A jubilant Aaron Gryder heads to the winner's circle (Dubai Racing Club)

"Here we go boys, the last race at Nad al Sheba and we won it!" Gryder

exclaimed when he weighed in. "I was able to control the race which I couldn't

do last year. He's such a good horse, I can drop the reins and he wastes no

energy. He showed his class this year."

By finishing the about 1 1/4 miles in 2:01 on the fast track, Well Armed kept

the World Cup trophy in the United States. American-based horses have now won

three straight World Cups, and eight of its 14 runnings overall.

"It's the biggest win of (my) career," Harty said. "I owe a lot to His

Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, who got me started and plucked me

from relative obscurity."

Harty, a former assistant to Bob Baffert, was hired away by the Godolphin

operation to develop its juveniles. Among his early pupils was Street Cry (Ire),

who went on to glory in the 2002 World Cup for Saeed bin Suroor.

Harty went on to talk about how much Well Armed has overcome during his life.

"This horse chipped a bone in the (2006) U.A.E. Derby ([UAE-G2] when

trained by Clive Brittain), and then he

fractured his pelvis and the vets wanted to put him down. Two years on he's won

the richest race in the world," Harty marveled.

Gloria de Campeao garnered runner-up honors by 4 1/2 lengths from a resurgent

Paris Perfect. Muller (El Compinche) checked in a clear fourth. My Indy,

Albertus Maximus, Snaafy (Kingmambo), Casino Drive (Mineshaft), Happy Boy (Ski

Champ), Muhannak (Ire) (Chester House), Arson Squad (Brahms), Asiatic Boy, Joe

Louis (Lode) and Anak Nakal (Victory Gallop) brought down the curtain.

"(My Indy) ran a super race for me," Frankie Dettori said. "The extra furlong

was always the fear, and so it proved."

Well Armed struck another blow on the world stage for his sire Tiznow, who twice thwarted international stars in the Breeders' Cup Classic (Dubai Racing Club)

"I had a pretty rough trip," Edgar Prado recapped about Arson Squad. "He was

getting bumped left and right. Casino Drive came out on me and it was just lucky

my horse didn't get hurt. I am very happy about that."

"(Asiatic Boy) is a horse who needs to get organized early on and we got shuffled back,"

Johnny Murtagh said. "After that we were flat to the

boards and always struggling."

Well Armed has now amassed $5,179,805 in earnings from a 23-7-4-1 line. He

was scoring his first victory since the Goodwood S. (G1) last September, having

finished ninth in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile, a troubled fourth in the San

Pasqual H. (G2) and runner-up in the San Antonio H. (G2) in his subsequent

starts. His resume also includes scores in last year's San Antonio and San Diego

H. (G2), the latter in track-record time at Del Mar, as well as runner-up efforts in the 2008 Pacific Classic (G1) and San Pasqual.

Well Armed was highly regarded by his first trainer, Brittain, and stamped

himself as a leading contender for the Dubai classics, only to have his

sophomore campaign go awry and suffer his aforementioned injuries.

The Kentucky-bred was produced by the stakes-winning Well Dressed (Notebook),

making him a half-brother to the Grade 1-placed Helsinki (Distorted Humor),

smart debut maiden-winning sophomore Witty (Distorted Humor) and a yearling

filly by Speightstown. He also has a juvenile full sister named Life Well Lived.

This is the family of two-time Japanese Horse of the Year Symboli Kris S (Kris

S.).