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 Yuichi Fukunaga celebrates aboard Just a Way after winning the Dubai Duty Free.
Dubai World Cup results |
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. A field of 13 older horses went to post, with Breeders' Cup Turf (G1) and Hong Kong Vase (G1) runner-up The Fugue sent off as the 5-2 favorite. In to challenge her included 3-1 second choice Just a Way, winner of the Tenno Sho Autumn (G1) andthe Nakayama Kinen (G2), and 7-2 third chioice Vercingetorix, winner of the Jebel Hatta (G1), the local prep for this event.
 Just a Way draws off in the stretch |
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7th RACE MEYDAN - DUBAI DUTY FREE (Group 1) 2 Just a Way $8.60 $3.20 - 11 Vercingetorix - $3.80 - 10 Dank - $4.20 - Running time - 1:45.52 $1.00 EXACTA 2-11 $23.10 $1.00 TRIFECTA 2-11-10 $114.80 $1.00 SUPERFECTA 2-11-10-1 $1,003.10
Left: Just a Way in the winner's enclosure. Winning trainer Naosuke Sugai said, “We had two tactics: one was to get in a good position from gate 2 or Plan b was to sit behind in midfield as we did in the Tenno Sho. The jockey went for Plan B and gave him one of the best rides I’ve seen.”
Right: Just a Way heads out for the post parade. Winning jockey Yuichi Fukunaga said, “He didn’t start well and I wanted to take a midfield position but Vercengetorix was where I wanted to be. I decided to follow him and when I got to the straight he accelerated very well – as I thought he would."
Left: Second place finisher Vercingetorix warms up before the race. Jockey Christophe Soumillon said, “I thought I’d win when we turned for home so I was left speechless when the Japanese horse came flying past me.” Trainer Mike de Kock added, “I thought ours ran a huge race but like everybody else I was left gobsmacked by the winner. Without him, we would still have broken the track record."
Right: Third place finisher Dank warms up before the race. Jockey Ryan Moore said, “The winner was alongside me for the first half of the race. I was caught in traffic and felt (Dank) was the second-best horse in the race. She ran a great race after her five-month absence (from the track).”
Beaten favorite and 11th place finisher The Fugue warms up before the race. Jockey William Buick said, “I’m speechless. I can’t explain it. I've never known her like that. She ran very flat. We'll just put a line through it. She just wasn't at the races today."
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