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.