The Dubai World Cup comes of age

INTERNATIONAL FEATURE

MARCH 31, 2014

The Dubai World Cup comes of age

by Liesl King

According to the Oxford dictionary, the definition of

"the world" is "the earth, together with all its countries and peoples."

The first Dubai World Cup

took place in 1996, and Cigar's name was etched into history as the

first winner of the coveted gold trophy. Since then, horses from

several countries have won on World Cup night. The Americans

were dominant for a while, South Africa also had numerous

successes and the powerful Godolphin stable collected their fair

share of trophies. Yet no World Cup meeting since Cigar's famous

victory can really be called truly international.

That all changed on a hazy Saturday at Meydan on March

29, 2014.

For after 18 years, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum's dream of a race meeting where the countries of the world bring their best

horses to compete against one another finally came to fruition. For on this Saturday

evening, the nine races on the card were won by six different countries. Never in the history

of the Dubai World Cup has there been such a diversity of winners and finally the word

"World" in the Dubai World Cup rang true.

After all, as Silvestre de Sousa put it so

beautifully: "Who does not want to win on World Cup night?"

The meeting opened with a UAE victory in the Dubai Kahayla Classic (G1) for Arabians, as Rabbah

de Carrere (Bibe de Carrere), ridden by

Olivier Peslier and trained by Majed Al Jahouri for owner Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan,

crossed the line in first. Next up it was the turn of South Africa, with a quick

one-two in the Godolphin Mile (UAE-G2) as dual South African Horse of the Year Variety Club (Var) dominated from start-to-finish to win effortlessly by a length from Soft Falling Rain (National

Assembly).

The Europeans countered with a one-two of their own,

as Certerach (Halling), trained by Michael Halford in

County Kildare, held off a flying Cavalryman (Halling) to win

the Dubai Gold Cup (UAE-G2) for the Irish. The English could certainly

not let the Irish take all the glory, and hence it was down to Jamie

Spencer to bring Toast of New York (Thewayyouare) home in style as the

colt powered clear by 2 1/2 lengths in the U.A.E. Derby (UAE-G2).

With the Al Quoz Sprint (UAE-G1) up next, all eyes were on

last year's winner and track record holder Shea Shea (National

Emblem), waiting to see if the powerful gelding could notch

up win number two for South Africa. Sadly, it was not to be, as "Magic" Joao Moreira

rode a breathtaking double to win both sprints for Hong Kong.

The Ricky Yiu-trained Amber Sky (Exceed and Excel) set a new track record when he crossed the line in :56.21, with Ahtoug

(Byron) in second and Shea Shea in third. The cumulative margin

between the three was a mere quarter-length. Moreira then backed up

as he brought John Moore's Sterling City (Nadeem)

home in the Dubai Golden Shaheen (UAE-G1), with another Hong Kong

entrant, Michael Chang's Rich Tapestry (Holy Roman Emperor), in second.

Once in a while, a horse comes along that just blows you

away, and Just a Way (Heart's Cry) is such a horse.

The stallion had not caught the eye at morning trackwork, but

as he blazed down the turf in the Dubai Duty Free (UAE-G1), the eyes of

the entire world were certainly upon him. Just a Way bettered Sajjhaa's track record

by almost 2.5 seconds as he put 6 1/4 lengths between himself and the chasing Vercingetorix

(Silvano).

To put matters into perspective, I need to point out that

Vercingetorix also broke the track record. It was a memorable moment for Japan indeed.

Another was soon to follow, especially seeing as it

was a night made up of doubles in all forms and fashions. Japanese super mare Gentildonna

(Deep Impact) had to settle for second in the 2013 running of the Dubai Sheema Classic

(UAE-G1) behind St Nicholas Abbey, but in 2014 there

was no stopping her. Once Ryan Moore pushed the button, it was

game over, as Gentildonna held off a game Cirrus des Aigles (Even Top) to

win by 1 1/2 lengths, giving Japan a double as well.

Then it was time for the World Cup. Sixteen horses,

representing six countries paraded before the packed grandstand. Who would return as

champion?

As the field turned for home, a chestnut with a blaze emerged from the pack, yet it

wasn't the much vaunted Ruler of the World (Galileo). Instead, it was Godolphin's

African Story (Pivotal), winner of the 2012 Godolphin Mile.

Silvestre de Sousa

started his celebrations a long way out, standing in the stirrups and saluting the crowd. He

really did want to win. To end a great evening, the U.A.E. horses filled the first three spots as

Mukhadram (Shamardal) finished second for Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and Cat O'Mountain (Street Cry) finished third for Godolphin.

The host nation, the United Arab Emirates, started

proceedings and then ended it in perfect fashion, with Sheikh Mohammed

holding the heavy World Cup trophy aloft, before gently lowering it so

that his daughter could also assist.

It was a night of stars, a

night where the best in the world competed for the glory of being crowned

champion. A night where the nine races were won by six different

countries, the world was in attendance and the Dubai World Cup finally

came of age.