The Rest of the Card on Dubai World Cup Day
Dominance of USA and South Africa Trainers
It is may be difficult to get past the excitement of Curlin USA (Smart Strike USA) winning the Dubai World Cup, but there were six other great races on the day that started at 5PM.
Despite fortification from Starbuck's and Armani try-ons, getting to the racecourse proved the biggest problem of the day: getting the press buses to leave the hotel (45-minute stall of two half-filled buses-- without any reason), getting through traffic jams to reach the right parking/drop-off entrance and getting through hightened security.
It would have been infuriating if the Arabs themselves were not so gracious and laid back.
Regardless of the cock ups, I managed to arrive in time to see the glorious six-year-old mare Mizzna Fr (Akbar Fr) deny Madjani Fr (Tidjani Fr) his fourth Emaar Dubai Kahayla Classic for Purebred Arabians (Group 1) (Total Purse $250,000), 2000m or 10f, on dirt.
Trainer Eric Lemartinel brought the beauty to peak form to take the title held for three years running from 1997 by her remarkable dam Unchainedd Melody USA (Zt Ali Baba USA) who raced under the name Alunudd in the UAE for owner Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
Sheikh Mansoor bred Mizzna and is one of the most knowledgeable horsemen in the UAE. He is both in charge of the President's horses and the President's Office.
Jockey Tadgh O'Shea said "She was very good and brave just like her mother."
Madjani, under Richard Hills, lost out in the final 200m where Mizzna overtook and sunk him.
The USA may not get its first woman President, but DWC Day had two remarkable winning fillies and several who came very close. We shall be seeing more of them as they compete internationally.
The Etisalat Godolphin Mile (Group 2) (Total Purse $1,000,000) on dirt was the target for Godolphin's top older horse, Ramonti Fr (Martino Alonso Ire). He was their best shot for a win in any of the races, but suffers from a persistent foot infection.
Instead, trainer Richard Dutrow Jr and jockey Edgar Prado took their first of two races with the handsome gray/roan Diamond Stripes USA (Notebook USA) in a thunderous 1-1/2 lengths win over Godolphin's third choice Elusive Warning USA (Elusive Quality USA) ridden beautifully by Kerrin McEvoy.
Godolphin's lead jockey Frankie Dettori had no winners on the day for Godolphin as he preferred Blackat Blackitten Ire (Inchinor) who came in sixth and rode My Indy Arg (Indygo Shiner USA) in the next race. It was also sixth.
In fact, Godolphin had no winners on the Dubai World Cup day. Its best hope was on filly Cocoa Beach Chi (Doneraile Court USA) ridden by Ted Durcan, in the Al Naboodah UAE Derby (Group 2), 1800m (a9f) for three-year olds on dirt.
South African trainer Mike de Kock won his fourth Derby with Honour Devil Arg (Honour And Glory USA) ridden forcefully by Johnny Murtagh to a 4-1/4 lengths over stablemate Royal Vintage SAf (Rich Man's Gold USA) in second.
Cocoa Beach came third by another 3-3/4 lengths narrowly beating the only other filly in the race Light Green Brz (Blush Rambler USA) trained by Pedro Nickel Filho and ridden by Michael Kinane. Filho got "a nice feeling" in placing.
The Dutrow/Prado duo struck again in an emphatic 1-3/4f Benny The Bull USA (Lucky Lionel USA) victory over Idiot Proof USA (Benchmark USA) trained by Clifford Sise Jr and ridden by David Flores in the Gulf News Dubai Golden Shaheen (Group 1), 1200m (a6f), on dirt.
Benny's overtaking burst was just 0.6 out of Big Jag's mark set in 2000; time was l.08.7 in this favourite sprint usually dominated by US horses. It won him $1,200,000 of the $2,000,000 Purse.
Dutrow was in Florida as in Florida preparing his brilliant prospect for the Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park. Big Brown USA (Boundary USA) won brilliantly by 5 lengths and has been installed as a first or second favourite for the Kentucky Derby.
No colt, no matter how well he has done in winning his three starts, has ever won the Derby with so little experience. He may be an exception.
Tension built even higher with the first of two turf races: the Dubai Duty Free (Group 1) 1777m (a8.89f) with a Total Purse of $5,000,000.
Jay Peg SAf (Camden Park USA) did not disappoint when the four-year-old brown colt fought off two fillies, Darjina Fr (Zamindar USA) and Vodka Jpn (Tanino Gimlet Jpn), to prevail and make a new course record of 1.46.20.
His popular trainer Herman Brown said "I really didn't think they went that fast.....I knew this horse would fight when it came to a battle."
Anton Marcus, who rode Jay Peg, appreciated that the horse liked a scrap and that he was able to stay on the horse after the saddle slipped 1-1/2f out.
Archipenko USA (Kingmambo USA), bought from Coolmore and trained by Mike de Kock, stole third from Vodka.
They were followed by two other super fillies, Finsceal Beo Ire (Mr Greeley USA) and Seachange NZ (Cape Cross Ire) who will be seen competing in Europe.
The finale was so fierce, the winner worthy, but it was a shame to see Darjina go down as she fought so bravely.
The Nakheel Dubai Sheema Classic (Group 1), 2400m (a12f), on turf with a Total Purse of $5,000,000 was kinder to the distaff.
Sun Classique Aus (Fuji Kiseki Jpn), four-year-old chestnut filly trained by Mike de Kock of South Africa, effortlessly took first by 2-3/4l just 0.5 outside of record time in beating more experienced six-year-old horses--Viva Pataca (Marju Ire), Doctor Dino Fr (Muhtathir) and Quijano Ger (Acatenango Ger).
Jockey Kevin Shea said "This is heaven on earth. She had the prefect trip, she had weight in her favour and was right at the top of her game. What more can I say...she must be one of the best turf fillies in the world."
Luckily for the rest of the world, the Dubai World Cup Day's leading trainer, Mike de Kock, intends to travel her.
Sun Classique is formidable.
What an exciting lead in for Curlin's tour de force in the Dubai World Cup!
It is may be difficult to get past the excitement of Curlin USA (Smart Strike USA) winning the Dubai World Cup, but there were six other great races on the day that started at 5PM.
Despite fortification from Starbuck's and Armani try-ons, getting to the racecourse proved the biggest problem of the day: getting the press buses to leave the hotel (45-minute stall of two half-filled buses-- without any reason), getting through traffic jams to reach the right parking/drop-off entrance and getting through hightened security.
It would have been infuriating if the Arabs themselves were not so gracious and laid back.
Regardless of the cock ups, I managed to arrive in time to see the glorious six-year-old mare Mizzna Fr (Akbar Fr) deny Madjani Fr (Tidjani Fr) his fourth Emaar Dubai Kahayla Classic for Purebred Arabians (Group 1) (Total Purse $250,000), 2000m or 10f, on dirt.
Trainer Eric Lemartinel brought the beauty to peak form to take the title held for three years running from 1997 by her remarkable dam Unchainedd Melody USA (Zt Ali Baba USA) who raced under the name Alunudd in the UAE for owner Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
Sheikh Mansoor bred Mizzna and is one of the most knowledgeable horsemen in the UAE. He is both in charge of the President's horses and the President's Office.
Jockey Tadgh O'Shea said "She was very good and brave just like her mother."
Madjani, under Richard Hills, lost out in the final 200m where Mizzna overtook and sunk him.
The USA may not get its first woman President, but DWC Day had two remarkable winning fillies and several who came very close. We shall be seeing more of them as they compete internationally.
The Etisalat Godolphin Mile (Group 2) (Total Purse $1,000,000) on dirt was the target for Godolphin's top older horse, Ramonti Fr (Martino Alonso Ire). He was their best shot for a win in any of the races, but suffers from a persistent foot infection.
Instead, trainer Richard Dutrow Jr and jockey Edgar Prado took their first of two races with the handsome gray/roan Diamond Stripes USA (Notebook USA) in a thunderous 1-1/2 lengths win over Godolphin's third choice Elusive Warning USA (Elusive Quality USA) ridden beautifully by Kerrin McEvoy.
Godolphin's lead jockey Frankie Dettori had no winners on the day for Godolphin as he preferred Blackat Blackitten Ire (Inchinor) who came in sixth and rode My Indy Arg (Indygo Shiner USA) in the next race. It was also sixth.
In fact, Godolphin had no winners on the Dubai World Cup day. Its best hope was on filly Cocoa Beach Chi (Doneraile Court USA) ridden by Ted Durcan, in the Al Naboodah UAE Derby (Group 2), 1800m (a9f) for three-year olds on dirt.
South African trainer Mike de Kock won his fourth Derby with Honour Devil Arg (Honour And Glory USA) ridden forcefully by Johnny Murtagh to a 4-1/4 lengths over stablemate Royal Vintage SAf (Rich Man's Gold USA) in second.
Cocoa Beach came third by another 3-3/4 lengths narrowly beating the only other filly in the race Light Green Brz (Blush Rambler USA) trained by Pedro Nickel Filho and ridden by Michael Kinane. Filho got "a nice feeling" in placing.
The Dutrow/Prado duo struck again in an emphatic 1-3/4f Benny The Bull USA (Lucky Lionel USA) victory over Idiot Proof USA (Benchmark USA) trained by Clifford Sise Jr and ridden by David Flores in the Gulf News Dubai Golden Shaheen (Group 1), 1200m (a6f), on dirt.
Benny's overtaking burst was just 0.6 out of Big Jag's mark set in 2000; time was l.08.7 in this favourite sprint usually dominated by US horses. It won him $1,200,000 of the $2,000,000 Purse.
Dutrow was in Florida as in Florida preparing his brilliant prospect for the Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park. Big Brown USA (Boundary USA) won brilliantly by 5 lengths and has been installed as a first or second favourite for the Kentucky Derby.
No colt, no matter how well he has done in winning his three starts, has ever won the Derby with so little experience. He may be an exception.
Tension built even higher with the first of two turf races: the Dubai Duty Free (Group 1) 1777m (a8.89f) with a Total Purse of $5,000,000.
Jay Peg SAf (Camden Park USA) did not disappoint when the four-year-old brown colt fought off two fillies, Darjina Fr (Zamindar USA) and Vodka Jpn (Tanino Gimlet Jpn), to prevail and make a new course record of 1.46.20.
His popular trainer Herman Brown said "I really didn't think they went that fast.....I knew this horse would fight when it came to a battle."
Anton Marcus, who rode Jay Peg, appreciated that the horse liked a scrap and that he was able to stay on the horse after the saddle slipped 1-1/2f out.
Archipenko USA (Kingmambo USA), bought from Coolmore and trained by Mike de Kock, stole third from Vodka.
They were followed by two other super fillies, Finsceal Beo Ire (Mr Greeley USA) and Seachange NZ (Cape Cross Ire) who will be seen competing in Europe.
The finale was so fierce, the winner worthy, but it was a shame to see Darjina go down as she fought so bravely.
The Nakheel Dubai Sheema Classic (Group 1), 2400m (a12f), on turf with a Total Purse of $5,000,000 was kinder to the distaff.
Sun Classique Aus (Fuji Kiseki Jpn), four-year-old chestnut filly trained by Mike de Kock of South Africa, effortlessly took first by 2-3/4l just 0.5 outside of record time in beating more experienced six-year-old horses--Viva Pataca (Marju Ire), Doctor Dino Fr (Muhtathir) and Quijano Ger (Acatenango Ger).
Jockey Kevin Shea said "This is heaven on earth. She had the prefect trip, she had weight in her favour and was right at the top of her game. What more can I say...she must be one of the best turf fillies in the world."
Luckily for the rest of the world, the Dubai World Cup Day's leading trainer, Mike de Kock, intends to travel her.
Sun Classique is formidable.
What an exciting lead in for Curlin's tour de force in the Dubai World Cup!
Comments