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2004 Dubai World Cup Undercard Results

Date: 03/27/2004

The Dubai World Cup isn't the only big race on the card. There were five other races for thoroughbreds worth at least $1 million each, most worth $2 million.


Paolini (inside) and Right Approach together at the wire in the Dubai Duty Free.
The Group 1 Dubai Duty Free featured the middle-distance turf horses. A field of eleven faced the starter in this 1777 meter (about 1 1/8 mile) event over the turf, going for the winner's share of the $2 million purse. Refuse to Bend made all the running early, leading the tightly packed field through slow initial fractions of 25.56, 50.27, 1:14.72, and 1:37.70 for the mile. Down the lane, the closers made their moves to the front, with late-runners Paolini and Right Approach coming on strong from as far back as eleventh early on. Those two hit the line together, and it was just 1/4 length back to Nayyir in third. After a lengthy deliberation by the judges examining the photo finish, a dead heat was declared between Paolini and Right Approach, having completed the distance in 1:49.36.

Paolini's trainer Andreas Wohler said, "Coming so late wasn't planned when I watched the finish it was up and down and I am very relieved about the result. Normally he is better with the fast race but at the end he was flying. He really deserved to win after two and a half years without a win, we don't know what next, probably Hong Kong or Singapore. He is not running in Germany because there are not the right races for him and will probably not go to Royal Ascot as he has been unlucky there twice."

Jockey Eduardo Pedroza added, "It feels super I have watched this race meeting before on TV and dreamt about just taking part here and now with winning this is a dream come true. I am sure going to sleep quite nicely on the plane on the way home."

Right Approach's trainer Mike de Kock said, "I didn't think we had won so I am delighted to have a dead-heat."

Results for US wagering from TVG: 

1st 5-Paolini (Ger)         $8.80     $6.40     -
1st 7-Right Approach (Gb)  $17.20     $8.20     -
2nd 4-Nayyir (Gb)                    $13.40 	-
3rd 11-Crimson Palace (Saf)

$2 EXACTA 5-7 $119.40
$2 EXACTA 7-5 $134.20
$2 TRIFECTA 5-7-4 $1,839.20
$2 TRIFECTA 7-5-4 $2,550.20
$2 PICK 3 3 of 3 9/9/5 $872.60
$2 PICK 3 3 of 3 9/9/7 $2,423.80

Our New Recruit became the first Maryland-bred to win a race in Dubai with this victory in the Golden Shaheen.
Sprinters took to the Nad al Sheba track in the $2 million Dubai Golden Shaheen, a 1200-meter (6 furlong) sprint down the home straightaway. With no turns, the field was strung out wide across the track most of the way. When the gate dispatched the field of twelve, Breeders' Cup Sprint winner Cajun Beat and Our New Recruit battled on the front end, going the initial quarter in 23.80 and the half in 45.98. At the midpoint of the stretch, Cajun Beat began to fade out of contention, while Alke, who had trailed back in fifth early, made his run towards the lead. Alke drew even with Our New Recruit with a furlong to go, but Our New Recruit battled back to win going away by two lengths in 1:10.30. The win was Alex Solis' second in the event, having won on Big Jag in 2000.

Winning trainer John Sadler said, "You feel relived, you hope to run well and if you don't its tough. He travels superbly. It's a credit to my staff. He needed time to build up, he's a very powerful horse and was unlucky in his last two starts."

Winning jockey Alex Solis said, "Down the straight Alke and Cajun Beat were very close but my horse felt really strong and I felt good about it."

Todd Pletcher, trainer of runner-up Alke, said, "We are taking him back home and gearing him up for the Breeders' Cup Sprint."

Jerry Bailey, aboard fourth place finisher Cajun Beat, said, "He got kicked by the lead pony. I got him checked by the vet and he felt okay but maybe this made the difference."

Results for US wagering from TVG: 

1st 9-Our New Recruit      $28.60     $6.80     -
2nd 1-Alke                            $2.60     -
3rd 4-Conroy
4th 2-Cajun Beat

$2 EXACTA 9-1 $137.60
$2 TRIFECTA 9-1-4 $2,436.40
$1 TRIFECTA Box $1,218.20

Polish Summer just gets up over Hard Buck in the Dubai Sheema Classic.
Distance horses took to the turf in the $2 million Dubai Sheema Classic at 2400 meters (about 1 1/2 miles). Thirteen went to post in this Group 1 event, the only race on the card that completes more than a lap of the course.

Warrsan and Hard Buck dueled on the front end for most of the race, and they controlled the pace, slowing the field through fractions of 28.23, 54.05, 1:18.77, and the mile in 1:42.52. Turning for home, Gary Stevens asked Polish Summer, who had sat back in eighth earlier, for his run and got it, as they stormed through the stretch and collaring Hard Buck in the final strides to win by 1/2 a length in 2:31.09 over the good to firm course. It was another 3/4 length back to late-running Scott's View, who rallied late from last to get third.

Winning trainer Andre Fabre said, "He has always been a big player. He always runs well fresh. We'll save him for the Coronation Cup at Epsom. He was given a brilliant ride and it was a fairytale start to our partnership [Stevens is the new stable jockey for Fabre]. I am a great supporter of racing in Dubai and I have had many starters here over the years."

Winning jockey Gary Stevens said, "The win has taken the pressure off and I can enjoy the evening now."

John Velazquez, aboard runner-up Hard Buck, said, "He settled perfectly and then this other horse [Razkalla] jumped to the bridle. He didn't relax enough early on but he ran great."

Mark Johnston, trainer of third place finisher Scott's View, said, "Because of the poor draw we had to be patient and wait for his chance. He got no run and when (jockey) Stanley (Chin) switched outside he flew home. The sky is the limit; Germany, Epsom (Coronation Cup), Canada, Hong Kong and particularly, he is the ideal type for Tokyo."

Results for US wagering from TVG: 

1st 9-Polish Summer (Gb)    $8.20     $3.00     -
2nd 6-Hard Buck (Brz)                 $3.40     -
3rd 12-Scott's View (Gb)
4th 11-Razkalla

$2 EXACTA 9-6 $37.00
$2 TRIFECTA 9-6-12 $1,005.40
$1 TRIFECTA Box $502.70
$2 SUPERFECTA 9-6-12-11 $10,579.40
$1 SUPERFECTA Box $5,289.7

Lundy's Liability and jockey Weichang Marwing celebrate after winning the UAE Derby.
The UAE Derby was originally written as the local prep for the American classics, but with its departure from the true definition of a derby, allowing southern hemisphere 4-year-olds to compete, it has become a race for them. Only nine went to post in the $2 million, 1800-meter (1 1/8 mile) event on the main track.

Lundy's Liability, Petit Paris, and Little Jim, all four-year-olds, battled on the front end the whole way, going the initial quarter in 25.37, the half in 48.56, six furlongs in 1:12.64. The threesome was much the class of the field, which they showed as they pulled away from the rest of the competition through the lane, getting the mile in 1:37.40. Lundy's Liability shook off his pursuers in the final strides, winning by 3/4 length ahead of Petit Paris in 1:50.83. It was another 3/4 back to Little Jim, but a widening 3 3/4 lengths back to Jack Sullivan, the first three-year-old under the wire.

Winning trainer Mike de Kock said, "We thought we would run very well. He improves with every start."

Jerry Bailey, aboard second place finisher Petit Paris, said, "He made he lead on his own power, then the horse who finished third (Little Jim) came after me in the middle of the race, which did not help my chances. But my horse showed real courage."

Ted Durcan, aboard third place finisher Little Jim said, "He has run a blinder. We had the run of the race. He might be better at a mile as he is a big long striding horse."

Results for US wagering from TVG: 

1st 2-Lundy's Liability (Brz) $10.20    $3.00     -
2nd 3-Petit Paris (Chi)                 $3.60     -
3rd 1-Little Jim (Arg)
4th 7-Jack Sullivan

$2 EXACTA 2-3 $71.60
$2 TRIFECTA 2-3-1 $140.80
$1 TRIFECTA Box $70.40

Firebreak and Frankie Dettori win the Godolphin Mile for team Godolphin.
The Godolphin Mile attracted a field of nine to go 1600 meters for a purse of $1 million. Local hope Firebreak won his second consecutive try in this event, stalking the early pace of During through a half in 47.82, then taking over on the turn and drawing away to win by 4 1/2 lengths over late-running Tropical Star in second. The time was 1:35.82 over the fast track. It was another 2 3/4 lengths back to Excessivepleasure in third. Bob Baffert trainee During faded in the stretch to finish fifth.

Winning jockey Frankie Dettori said, "That was brilliant, he is a very honest horse. We knew he was our best chance on the night and he won like one."

Godolphin racing manager Simon Crisford said, "Firebreak is better than ever. He has been a good servant to Godolphin. Frankie ran him a bit more patient, because there was plenty of pace. He might go back on turf to the Lockinge Stakes in May."

Jon Court, aboard third place finisher Excessivepleasure, said, "He usually breaks right in front but this time he broke up in the air. We were behind horses and we had to improvise. We got a strong rally down the lane and finishing third is a good paycheck."

Jerry Bailey, aboard beaten favorite During, said, "He was in a good position and he just died in my hands."

Results for US wagering from TVG: 

1st 7-Firebreak (Gb)        $9.60     $2.80     -
2nd 9-Tropical Star (Ire)             $6.80     -
3rd 6-Excessivepleasure
4th 5-Estimraar

$2 EXACTA 7-9 $131.20
$2 TRIFECTA 7-9-6 $948.00
$1 TRIFECTA Box $474.00

The opening race of the evening was the Group 1 Dubai Kahayla Classic for purebred Arabians, over 2000 meters with a purse of $250,000. Kaolino stalked the early pace of Daffaq through six furlongs in 1:20.40, then drew away from the competition to win by 3 1/4 lengths in a time of 2:16.42 over late-running Jiyush. It was another 3 3/4 lengths back to Van Nistelrooy in third.

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