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 Yuga Kawada aboard Ushba Tesoro wins the Dubai World Cup.
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The $12 million Emirates Airline Dubai World Cup (G1) celebrates its 27th renewal this year. Conditions were typical for late March in the Emirates, with clear skies, temperatures in the high 70's, the main track rated fast and the turf rated "good". Defending champion Country Grammer was sent off as the 2-1 favorite in the field of 15 off his second place finish in the Saudi Cup after winning the San Antonio (G2). In to challenge him included 5-2 second choice Algiers, winner of the first two rounds of the Al Maktoum Challenge (G2) local prep series, and 8-1 third choice T O Keynes, second in the Kawasaki Kinen after finishing fourth in the Champions Cup (G1).
 Ushba Tesoro in the stretch |
Jockey Yutaka Yoshida sent 9-1 fourth choice Panthalassa to the lead first time by while pressed by Remorse and stalked by 40-1 Bendoog and 49-1 Salute the Soldier. On the far turn Panthalassa tired allowing Bendoog to briefly inherit the lead. In the stretch, Algiers moved up to take over the front but 13-1 Ushba Tesoro, unhurried early under Yuga Kawada, rallied on the outside to win by 2 3/4 lengths over Algiers in 2:03.25. It was a head back to late-running 30-1 Emblem Road third, while favorite Country Grammer was midpack early under Frankie Dettori but failed to rally late finishing 7th beaten 13 3/4 lengths.
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9th RACE Meydan Racecourse - DUBAI WORLD CUP (Group 1) 14 Ushba Tesoro 28.30 9.30 1 Algiers 3.40 6 Emblem Road 16.80 Running time - 2:03.25 $1.00 QUINELLA 1-14 36.20 $1.00 EXACTA 14-1 72.70 $1.00 TRIFECTA 14-1-6 2,075.90 $1.00 SUPERFECTA 14-1-6-13 13,168.70
Results Chart for the race from Emirates Racing Authority which includes a link to the video replay.
Ushba Tesoro in the winner's enclosure. Winning trainer Noboru Takagi said, "It's a great feeling! After watching his previous run (when winning the Kawasaki Kinen last month), the Dubai World Cup was certainly on my mind for this horse. Everything went as planned. Actually when he first got here he was actually quite nervous and a bit toey but that was expected and as the days went by he gradually got used to his environment and ran a great race. This is by far the greatest honour of my career. We will go back to Japan as he's a bit vulnerable in hot weather and heat. We'll see how he is over the summer and come up with a plan for him."
Right: The trophy celebration. Winning jockey Yuga Kawada said, "He jumped quite well but the majority of the other Japanese runners ran towards the middle of the pack. I just tried to focus on maintaining the horse's rhythm and just to keep his rhythm from the middle of the pack. It was his first time running overseas and there were queries on whether he'd travel as well as the fact it was his first time on the surface. He was training quite well over here this week and I knew the horse was in good condition, so it was just a matter of the horse keeping his head in the race and he did that very well today."
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 Equinox in the stretch |
Jockey Christophe Lemaire sent Equinox to the lead first time by to set the pace while pressed by 14-1 Mostahdaf and stalked by 36-1 Botanik and 51-1 longest shot Zagrey. Into the lane Botanik tired as Equinox continued to lead. Kept to task by Lemaire, Equinox drew off to win by 3 1/2 lengths over late-running 12-1 Westover in a new course record time of 2:25.65. It was another 2 1/4 lengths back to Zagrey third.
Results Chart for the race from Emirates Racing Authority which includes a link to the video replay.
Left: Equinox in the winner's enclosure. Winning jockey Christophe Lemaire said, "I knew he was the best horse and so I was happy to make the pace. I'm really happy for all of the connections. It's been a long time since I won the Sheema, the last time was with Heart's Cry and he passed away two weeks ago. So I am very grateful for this horse and he has allowed me to pay tribute to Heart's Cry. Race after race, he's going up the rankings of the horses I have ridden. It was a great, great performance against these kind of horses at the top level. I couldn't be happier."
Right: Trophy presentation for the Sheema Classic. Winning trainer Tetsuya Kimura said, "Much like he did last year, he went straight to the lead so that got me a bit worried at the start but the horse travelled fine and everything went well. We didn't have a plan really and Christophe is just a very good jockey who knows how to ride these horses very well. He did a fantastic job in the saddle and Equinox is such a fine horse that knows how to get the job done. It was a tough field with some very strong horses but he's a champion and he was just the best. He got the job done and made it all look so simple. I am very happy with this performance."
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 Lord North in the stretch |
Jockey David Egan sent 41-1 El Drama to the lead and down to the rail exiting the chute to set the pace while pressed by 7-1 Nations Pride and stalked by 27-1 Alfareeq and 14-1 Order of Australia. Turning for home El Drama tired allowing Nations Pride to inherit the lead but Lord North, midpack early under Frankie Dettori, rallied to gain the lead at the 1/16 pole and held off late-running Danon Beluga to win by 3/4 length in 1:47.39. It was another head back to Nations Pride third, 2 more to 43-1 Shirl's Speight fourth, and a neck back to favorite Serifos fifth.
Results Chart for the race from Emirates Racing Authority which includes a link to the video replay.
Left: Lord North in the winner's enclosure. Winning jockey Frankie Dettori, celebrating his last ever win in Dubai before retirement said, "It's amazing to win once; three times, it's unreal. Thady has done an amazing job because he's a horse that gets sick quite easily, that's why he doesn't run that often. The boys got him ready for this race and full credit to them, they've done great with him. And Lord North himself, what a star. To just get one on the board at this beautiful place, in Dubai that has been my home for so many winters, it's pretty special."
Right: Trophy presentation for the Dubai Turf. Winning co-trainer Thady Gosden said, "The first time he won the race he showed a nice turn of foot and then last year his preparation wasn't quite as straightforward as this year. The lad who rides him out every day thought he was in much better form than coming into last year. Obviously you can't say that beforehand in case it all goes wrong. It was a little bit messy in the mid-part of the race and coming into the bend, but he missed any trouble and showed a great turn of foot to get to the front. He broke well from three and the strong pace up front definitely helped him; he got a nice tow into it and he picked up as we know he can. It's fantastic and thanks to everyone at home in the yard, to the horse and to Frankie as well. He's a homebred gelding and it's fantastic for him to come here and win a race of this quality three times on the trot."
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 Sibelius leads down the stretch |
Jockey Frankie Dettori sent Hopkins to the lead and was pressed by 32-1 Tuz and stalked by 6-1 fourth choice Gunite and 10-1 Sound Money. Turning for home Gunite gained the front but but 8-1 fifth choice Sibelius under Ryan Moore closed late to win by a nose over late-running Switzerland in 1:10.69. It was another 1/2 length back to Gunite third and 1/2 more to pacesetter Hopkins fourth, while favorite Lemon Pop was midpack early but failed to rally finishing 10th beaten 6 lengths.
Results Chart for the race from Emirates Racing Authority which includes a link to the video replay. Results for US wagering:
Left: Sibelius in the winner's enclosure. Winning trainer Jeremiah O'Dwyer said, "The race worked out quite the way I had predicted. You know you can read these races a hundred times but it will never go the same way. To be honest, he just sat back in the gates and was a bit slow but when you have a master rider like Ryan Moore, he gets you out of trouble. It really is a proud moment for us. I am grateful to the owners. They let me do what is best with the horse every step of the way and never interfere. He trains like a good horse, he acts like a good horse, he rides like a good horse. Junior Alvarado gave him his last breeze before we shipped out. He was not able to make it over and there's some Derby trials and big handicaps in America so he could not be here."
Right: The trophy presentation for the Golden Shaheen. Winning jockey Ryan Moore said, "I was very lucky to pick up the ride. He actually stepped a little slowly, I was a half-length further behind than I wanted to be. We had a charmed run, they just drifted off which meant we didn't have to change lanes and the horse dug in really deep. He showed a lot of courage and heart to get there. He has form over a little bit further which I think really helped too."
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Jockey Christophe Lemaire sent Derma Sotogake to the lead first time by to set the pace pressed by Dura Erede and stalked by Cairo and Continuar. On the far turn Cairo tired as Derma Sotogake continued to lead. Under a hand ride Derma Sotogake drew off to win by 5 1/2 lengths over Dura Erede in 1:55.81, just 0.63 seconds off the track record. It was another 4 1/2 lengths back to Continuar third, while favorite Cairo checked in tenth beaten 34 1/2 lengths.
Results Chart for the race from Emirates Racing Authority which includes a link to the video replay.
Left: Derma Sotogake in the winner's enclosure. Winning trainer Hidetaka Otonashi said, "It's my first time here and Derma Sotogake is my first ever runner. Now, I have one runner and one winner - it doesn't get much better than that! We didn't exactly plan to go straight to the lead but but he broke well. We were expecting him to improve and go well but you can never expect things to go that well. We had a different jockey and different ground so you can never be sure how well it works out, but it did. He will go straight to Kentucky (for the Derby) from Dubai. We'll discuss it but Christophe will probably keep it - he said he would anyway!"
Right: The trophy presentation for the UAE Derby. Winnng jockey Christophe Lemaire said, "He can break a little slowly so it was important he began well to use his gate on the rail and he did just that. He travelled nicely on the lead and he relaxed for me down the back stretch. He was still moving smoothly for me as we came into the home stretch and once I pressed the button he was very impressive and I could enjoy the finish on him. I hope he goes to America and I would love to ride him there. How could anyone refuse that?"
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45-1 Miqyaas was quickest away to set the pace out of the chute pressed by Sight Success and 26-1 The Astrologist and stalked by 68-1 Danyah and Al Suhail. At the 1/4 pole Miqyaas tired badly allowing Al Suhail to inherit the front, but Danyah under Dane O'Neill came through between horses in the final 1/16 to win by a head over The Astrologist in 1:08.61. It was another neck back to favorite Al Suhail third.
Results Chart for the race from Emirates Racing Authority which includes a link to the video replay.
Left: Danyah in the winner's enclosure. Winning trainer Musabbeh Al Mheiri said, "He had been running over seven furlongs and a mile and we had an invite for the Godolphin Mile but we thought we would try him over six (furlongs) in the Al Quoz. We felt he had enough speed to run well and maybe finish in the placings but to win is a very nice surprise. Great credit to Shadwell for how they planned it and it is a special day for us all."
Right: The trophy presentation for the Al Quoz Sprint. Winning jockey Dane O'Neill said, "I'd be lying if I said we were confident beforehand. We thought possibly prize money and that would be great as he has a good cruising speed. It was worth a chance but the low draw in gate five was a concern. It was funny they stayed away from the stands side and I got a great draft into the race behind the second horse and he finished very strongly like a horse that gets further."
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The $1 million Al Tayer Motors Dubai Gold Cup (G2) is the longest race on World Cup night, contested at 3200 meters (about 2 miles) on the turf. Nad al Sheba Trophy (G3) winner Siskany was sent off as the even-money favorite in the field of 15 over 6-1 second choice and 2021 winner Subjectivist, 12th in the Red Sea Turf Handicap (G3), and 7-1 third choice Quickthorn, fifth in the British Champions Long Distance Cup (G2).
Jockey James Doyle sent 23-1 Global Storm to the lead first time by to set the pace while pressed by 65-1 Al Qareem and stalked by 51-1 Al Nayyir and Subjectivist. On the far turn Global Storm tired allowing Subjectivist to inherit the lead. Into the lane, Siskany, midpack early, moved up to take the lead at the 3/16 pole but 13-1 Broome, midpack early under Ryan Moore, rallied 4 wide to get up by a neck in a new course record time of 3:16.83. It was a long 4 3/4 lengths back to Subjectivist third.
Results Chart for the race from Emirates Racing Authority which includes a link to the video replay.
Left: Broome in the winner's enclosure. Winning co-owner M.V. Magnier said, "Aidan (O'Brien, trainer) was very confident he would handle the trip. He's danced every dance and travelled around the world. We are lucky to have him."
Right: The trophy presentation for the Dubai Gold Cup. Winning jockey Ryan Moore said, "He's a very brave horse. He's a Group 1 winner, he's got high class form. The pace was strong and we just had to wait for a bit of room at the top of the straight. He's so brave, though, he puts his head down and he gave me everything. It's a pleasure to ride a horse like him. He's done a lot of racing and he always runs his race, but you're never quite sure how they will handle a step up in distance until they come out and do it. It's one of the biggest nights of the year, I'm always delighted to come out here. It's always tough to get a winner so I'm delighted to get one tonight."
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 Bathrat Leon leads in the stretch |
Results Chart for the race from Emirates Racing Authority which includes a link to the video replay.
Left: Isolate in the winner's enclosure. Winning trainer Doug Watson said, "I'm just thrilled for Sheikh Rashid (bin Humaid al Nuaimi) and the whole team at home. I've been here for almost 30 years, I've progressed from being in charge of the ambulance at the first Dubai World Cup to now having winners on the night. It's quite remarkable. It's unbelievable, he's big and long and you saw the way he broke, he didn't shoot out of the gates - you have to ride him along. Once he gets into his stride, he's pretty amazing. Tyler did a great job getting him out and going, getting a nice pace on and he stays a mile, we can definitely say that now. I wasn't quite sure until he turned in and there wasn't much going with him."
Right: The trophy presentation for the Godolphin Mile. Winning jockey Tyler Gaffalione, celebrating his first win in Dubai said, "I felt it going into the gate. He gave me this unbelievable feeling. He always breaks a step slow, but when I asked him he had so much power and the plan worked perfectly. That was amazing. I was supposed to ride here with Sir Winston in 2020 but obviously it didn't go ahead. I've always dreamed of winning here and to have achieved it, it's so special."
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