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Jockey James Doyle and Cityscape after winning the Dubai Duty Free.

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2012 Dubai Duty Free Results

Date: 03/31/2012

The $5 million Dubai Duty Free (G1) is an 1800-meter (about 1 1/8 mile) trip around one turn of the turf course at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai. Hong Kong invader Ambitious Dragon was sent off as the 9-5 favorite in the field of 15, off consecutive wins in the Stewards Cup (G1) and Hong Kong Gold Cup (G1). In to challenge him included 5-1 second choice Mutahadee, third in the Jebel Hatta (G1) last out, and 7-1 third choice Dark Shadow, second in both the Tenno Sho Autumn (G1) and Kyoto Kinen (G2).

Cityscape draws off in the stretch

Jockey Joseph O'Brien sent 8-1 Await the Dawn to the lead exiting the chute and he set fractions of 25.55 and 48.64 down the backstretch while stalked by 11-1 Cityscape and 10-1 Musir. On the turn, Await the Dawn tired allowing Cityscape to inherit the lead through 3/4 in 1:36.12. Cityscape opened up a 5 1/4 length lead in mid-stretch through 1 mile in 1:36.12, and cruised past the post 4 1/4 lengths in front of late-running Mutahadee in a new course record 1:48.65 over the good turf. It was a head back to 16-1 City Style third.

Results Chart for the race from Racing Post which incluces a link to the video replay. Results for US wagering: 

7th RACE MEYDAN - DUBAI DUTY FREE (Group 1) 
11    Cityscape (GB)       $24.60    $6.60    -
10    Mutahadee (Ire)                $3.80    -
13    City Style                     $9.40    -

Running time - 1:48.65

$1.00 EXACTA 11-10                 $99.10
$1.00 TRIFECTA 11-10-13         $1,654.00
$1.00 SUPERFECTA 11-10-13-15   $33,795.90

Left: Cityscape in the winner's enclosure with trainer Roger Charlton on the far left. Charlton said, "Everyone keeps telling me the horse needs soft ground but he goes on anything. What he really enjoys is racing on a flat, level track. If we'd stayed at home we'd have had to keep avoiding Frankel (who is also owned by Prince Khalid Abdullah). It made sense to come here. I thought it was the most competitive race on the card and I didn't think he'd break the track record and win by 4 1/4 lengths."

Right: The trophy presentation with Juddmonte's racing manager Lord Grimthorpe holding the big trophy.


Left: Cityscape in the walking ring. Winning jockey James Doyle said, "Early on when I settled in and got my position, I thought it would take some catching. When we turned into the straight, I couldn't believe the turn of foot he had. He kept finding more. It's amazing."

Right: Cityscape heads back to the barn with his new winner's blanket.

Left: Second place finisher Mutahadee in the walking ring before the race. Jockey Christophe Soumillon said, "In the straight I knew I was beaten because the winner just took off and left me behind. I could see how well he (the winner) was going and I knew he wasn't going to come back to me. He gave everything he had and I'm happy because maybe Master of Hounds will now have a better chance in the Dubai World Cup than I thought."

Right: Third place finisher City Style in the walking ring. Jockey Mick Barzalona said, "I'm really very happy. I didn't think there would be any pace in the race, but there was which suited us. When I asked him to quicken, he gave me everything and I'm really delighted with his performance."

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