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2002 Dubai World Cup Card Results

Date: 03/23/2002

Over 50,000 spectators from around the world congregated at Nad al Sheba Racecourse in Dubai for the seventh running of the Dubai World Cup, the world's richest horse race and the world's richest day of racing. $2.7 million was wagered in North America alone on the last four races on the card, an increase of 36.7% over the previous year, further demonstrating the increasing importance and popularity of the World Cup. Despite the unusually low turnout of American runners this year, the racing was still very competitive with a few surprises such as Val Royal's sound defeat in the Duty Free and Sakhee's dismissal by stablemate Street Cry. For races not listed below, check here.

UAE Derby
1 1/4 miles on the dirt 

Pgm  Horse              Jockey            Win   Place  Show
 6   Essence of Dubai   Dettori                 no wagering
 5   Total Impact       Stevens                            
 9   Ibn al Haitham     Hills                              


Essence of Dubai, winner of the UAE Derby.

Winning Time:  2:02:90
Results chart

The UAE Derby is the major prep race for the Kentucky Derby and the European classics for the Godolphin stable, and Essence of Dubai stamped his ticket to Louisville with an impressive last-to-first victory. Completing the distance in 2:02.90 under Frankie Dettori, he will be the only Kentucky Derby entrant with a win over 1 1/4 miles, half a length in front of Total Impact. It was another 2 1/4 lengths back to Ibn al Haitham. Dettori said: "He's a horse with a good heart, he never wins by very far and he likes to come from behind to catch a target. We know he will stay at Kentucky, it will just be a question of whether he is good enough."

Dubai Sheema Classic
1 1/2 miles on the turf 

Pgm  Horse              Jockey            Win   Place  Show
12   Nayef              Hills            6.00    3.80  3.40
 5   Helene Vitality    Mosse                   43.40 18.20
 1   Boreal             Fallon                        15.40


Nayef winning the Sheema Classic.

Winning Time:  2:29:64

$2 Exacta 12-5               348.00
$2 Trifecta 12-5-1         8,211.60
$2 Superfecta 12-5-1-All   7,465.40
Results chart

The Dubai Sheema Classic is for the turf distance specialists, and the British-trained Nayef did not disappoint his backers, with a convincing 2 length win over Hong Kong-based Helen Vitality and German representative Boreal. Jockey Richard Hills stalked the early pace, then charged to the front with 2 furlongs to go and drew off. Trainer Marcus Tregoning originally considered entering him in the World Cup but decided against. He said, "He stays one and a half miles well and personally I would love to see him go for something like the King George or the Coronation Cup. If he's still there at the end of the season then who knows? Maybe the Breeders' Cup."

Dubai Golden Shaheen
6 furlongs on the dirt 

Pgm  Horse              Jockey            Win   Place  Show
 2   Caller One         Stevens          8.40    6.00  3.40
 6   Echo Eddie         Valenzuela               6.20  2 40
12   Xtra Heat          Vega                           2.10


Caller One wins narrowly over Echo Eddie in the Golden Shaheen.

Winning Time:  1:09:91

$2 Exacta 12-5               348.00
$2 Trifecta 12-5-1         8,211.60
$2 Superfecta 12-5-1-All   7,465.40
Results chart

The Dubai Golden Shaheen, a 6 furlong straight run on the main track, attracted the most American runners and they raced to expectations. Defending champ Caller One was successful coming off an over 3 month layoff, dismissing favorite Xtra Heat with 1/4 mile to go and then outfinishing Echo Eddie who joined him in deep stretch. Jockey Gary Stevens said, "He put his head down and decided he wasn't going to get beat. Trainer Jim Chapman added, "We want to keep coming back to Dubai as long as we can."

Dubai Duty Free
1 1/8 miles on the turf 

Pgm  Horse              Jockey            Win   Place  Show
16f  Terre a Terre      Soumillon       25.60   10.00  6.20
 5   Noverre            Dettori                  6.60  5.20
15f  Hoeberg            Geroudis        25.60   10.00  6.20


French mare Terre a Terre upsets the boys in the Duty Free.

Winning Time:  1:48:75

$2 Exacta 14-5               135.00
$2 Trifecta 14-5-12          532.40
$2 Superfecta 14-5-12-11  13,954.00
Results chart

The Dubai Duty Free, the second turf race on the card, is for middle distance specialists who can't quite get the World Cup distance, and is run at the peculiar distance of 1777 meters. Breeders' Cup Mile winner Val Royal was the big favorite in the American pool, but he was a huge disappointment, finishing fifth after being in contention late. Instead, the French mare Terre a Terre came away with the victory over Noverre and Hoeberg. Val Royal's jockey Jose Valdivia made no excuses, saying that he just "flattened out" with a furlong to go.

Dubai World Cup
1 1/4 miles on the dirt 

Pgm  Horse              Jockey            Win   Place  Show
 9   Street Cry         Bailey          10.40    5.80  2.60
 7   Sei Mi             Velez                   62.80  7.40
 6   Sakhee             Dettori                        2.10


Street Cry surprises his favored stablemate Sakhee, who finished third, in the Dubai World Cup.

Winning Time:  2:01.18

$2 Exacta 9-7               523.80
$2 Trifecta 9-7-6         1,683.00
$2 Superfecta 9-7-6-3    48,520.00
Results chart

The Dubai World Cup was expected to be a coronation for 2001 Breeders' Cup Classic runner-up and Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Sakhee. However, jockey Jerry Bailey, aboard stablemate Street Cry, stole the show. Sakhee, unable to keep up with Street Cry in the stretch, faded as Sei Mi rallied from twenty lengths back to finish second. It was 4 1/2 lengths from Street Cry to Sei Mi and another 4 1/2 back to Sakhee. American invader Western Pride, leased to a Saudi prince for the one start, finished ninth after pressing the early pace. Racing manager Simon Crisford said, "I would say it is more than likely he will not be seen on turf this season. He will be based at Belmont in the summer and trained from there."

Jockey Jerry Bailey, having won four of the seven Dubai World Cups, said, "It's great to have a horse that has so much in front of him. This is the world's richest race, an amazing race and it will always get the headlines. The race went perfectly and he quickened brilliantly."

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