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26th March, 2001
DUBAI WORLD CUP MEETING RESULTS
From Martin Talty - Emirates Racing Association
US$6,000,000 Dubai World Cup (Group I). 4YOs+. SW.
2,000m (Dirt)
1. CAPTAIN STEVE (USA) (Fly So Free - Sparkling Delite (Vice Regent))
2. TO THE VICTORY (JPN) (Sunday Silence - Fairy Doll (Nureyev))
3. HIGHTORI (FR) (Vettori - High Mecene (Highest Honor))
Captain Steve corrected the shift away from American-trained winners
of this event when securing Jerry Bailey his third Dubai World Cup.
After American-trained winners in 1996 and 1998, Godolphin secured the
last two however Captain Steve returned the trophy to America in an
international finish with America leading home Japan, then France and
the UAE. Bailey's ride was perfect on the horse, Captain Steve settling
back in about fifth position a little off the fence to avoid kickback
behind the early leader To The Victory. Godolphin's main hope Best Of
The Bests trailed Captain Steve while State Shinto and Hightori settled
at the rear in what was a compact field. To The Victory established
a break on the point of the home turn and set sail for home however
Captain Steve always had him within his sights. Best Of The Bests was
beginning to struggle while State Shinto and Hightori were beginning
to make ground. Captain Steve got to To The Victory and established
a break and from there on he had the race won. To The Victory held on
very well to finish second while Hightori secured third narrowly from
a very brave State Shinto. Best Of The Bests was a little disappointing
in finishing eighth, one place behind stablemate Ekraar.
US$2,000,000 Dubai Duty Free (Group II). 4YOs+. SW.
1,777m (Turf)
1. JIM AND TONIC (FR) (Double Bed - Jimka (Jim French))
2. FAIRY KING PRAWN (AUS) (Danehill - Twiglet (Twig Moss))
3. SUNLINE (NZ) (Desert Sun - Songline (Western Symphony))
A magnificent spectacle saw three old rivals go head to head and fight
over the Group II Dubai Duty Free with Jim And Tonic prevailing over
Fairy King Prawn and Sunline. This was the perfect advertisement for
international racing with one of the best horses in France defying the
challenges of the best horse from Hong Kong and Oceania. These three
have met before in Hong Kong with honours even all around and nothing
can be taken away from either of the trio. Jim And Tonic settled sixth
on the inside, about three lengths off the leaders, Slickly and Sunline
while Fairy King Prawn settled further back nearer the tail. Sunline
sat outside Slickly until assuming command at the 800m mark but was
held together by her rider until well into the straight. Mahfooth made
and a charge and then Prolix however Sunline beat them off. She then
was grabbed by both Jim And Tonic and Fairy King Prawn with the latter
getting to the front. Jim And Tonic was not to be denied however and
he kept kicking back and right near the line got his head in front to
win. Sunline was gallant in defeat in finishing third while Golden Silca
got to the line very well to finish fourth. Arkadian Hero was another
who ran very well and he looks in very good order for yet another successful
European campaign.
US$2,000,000 Dubai Golden Shaheen (Gr III ). 4YOs+.
SW. 1,200m (Dirt)
1. CALLER ONE (USA) (Phone Trick - Baltic Sea (Danzig))
2. MEN'S EXCLUSIVE (USA) (Exclusive Ribot - Men's Number (Menevel))
3. BERTOLINI (USA) (Danzig - Aquilegia (Alleged))
He didn't go as fast as what Big Jag did 12 months ago but Caller One's
dominance over his rivals in this renewal of the Dubai Golden Shaheen
was similar to his compatriot last year. It was unfortunate that Big
Jag wasn't around to defend his crown, having gone amiss in the weeks
leading up to this event. Caller One always had the race under control
and when Corey Nakatani asked him the question he accelerated to put
the race beyond doubt in a matter of strides. Bertolini, second in the
race last year, and another American Men's Exclusive, tried hard to
bridge the gap created by Caller One however it was all in vain. Nuclear
Debate had his chance and while he got to the line well he was never
close enough to challenge, he did want to lay in in the concluding stages.
Serenita ran well and was there to issue a challenge however she couldn't
match the power of Caller One.
US$2,000,000 Dubai Sheema Classic (Group II) 4YOs+.
SW. 2,400m (Turf)
1. STAY GOLD (JPN) (Sunday Silence - Golden Sash (Dictus))
2. FANTASTIC LIGHT (USA) (Rahy - Jood (Nijinsky))
3. SILVANO (GER) (Lomitas - Spirit Of Eagles (Beau's
Eagle))
Reigning Emirates World Series champion Fantastic Light came within
a nose of becoming the first thoroughbred to defend his title on Dubai
World Cup night however the seven-year-old entire Stay Gold got the
stride in right on the line to become the first Japanese-trained winner
in the Emirates. Fantastic Light settled in perfectly behind the early
leaders and when angled for a run at the top of the straight and kicking
clear he did appear certain to defend the title he won last year when
defeating Caitano and High-Rise. However, Stay Gold, who followed him
through the gap and then got held up slightly, kept coming at him and
grabbed him right on the line. The photo finish proved deceptive as
to the naked eye it appeared certain that Fantastic Light had held on
however Stay Gold won by the shortest of margins. The German runner
Silvano continued his good form against international competition finishing
third, this coming after his win in the Singapore Gold Cup. Endless
Hall was given the perfect ride and held on to finish fourth, just ahead
of another Godolphin runner in Give The Slip. Caitano, second behind
Silvano in Singapore and placed in the past two runnings of the Dubai
Sheema Classic, secured further prizemoney with his sixth place finish,
just in front of Daliapour. The English filly Miletrian was disappointing
never being in the hunt after settling near the tail of the field. She
was pulled out at the top of the straight to make her run but didn't
finish on as expected.
US$2,000,000 UAE Derby (Group III) 3YOs. SW. 1,800m
(Dirt)
1. EXPRESS TOUR (USA) (Tour d'Or - Express Fashion (Private Express))
2. STREET CRY (IRE)(Machiavellian - Helen Street
(Troy))
3. LIDO PALACE (CHI) (Rich Man's Gold - Sonada (Quick Decision))
Street Cry looked set to add the UAE Derby to the UAE 2000 Guineas crown
he earned on March 1 when he raced up to Express Tour at the 200m however
Express Tour refused to give in an fought back gallantly to defeat his
stablemate in this second renewal of the UAE Derby. Last year's running
proved to be one of the form races of the year and it is interesting
to note that subsequent French and Irish 2000 Guineas winner Bachir
won the Khor Dubai, now the UAE 2000 Guineas, before finishing second
to China Visit in the Derby. Whether Street Cry can emulate that remains
to be seen however he is clearly a racehorse of immense ability. Where
does this put Express Tour then? He is also a horse well above average,
racing on the speed, creating a gap at the top of the straight and then
holding off all challengers. Express Tour was winning his fourth race
on end here after finishing second on debut and defeated a quality field
here. Lido Palace is well thought of and did run well though Street
Cry did come from behind and went past him. The Saudi Arabian Nae Eem
produced a fantastic performance to finish fifth, in much the same way
as Markhan did last year, while Celtic Silence, bought by Godolphin
after his victory in the Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot last year, finished
fourth in his first effort on dirt and will no doubt improve. He looks
a nice horse to represent the Stable during the European season in 2001.
A number of top class performers emerged from the unplaced brigade in
last year's UAE Derby and judging by the time this year, almost 2.5
seconds faster, the same looks almost certain to be the case for the
2001 crop.
US$1,000,000 Godolphin Mile (Group III). 4YOs+. SW.
1,600m (Dirt)
1. FESTIVAL OF LIGHT (USA) (A P Indy - Auroa (Danzig))
2. CURULE (USA) (Go For Gin - Reservation (Cryptoclearance))
3. CONFLICT (FR) (Warning - La Dama Bonita (El Gran Senor))
Any horse coming into an event with a combined winning margin from his
previous two starts of 17 lengths would usually be considered one of
the toughest to beat however Festival Of Light's name wasn't among those
chosen as leading contenders for this event. This was a strong renewal
of the Godolphin Mile but Festival Of Light did it the hard way, sharing
the lead and then holding off all challengers to win well. This is a
horse that continues to improve, he won his Maiden only two starts back,
and it wouldn't surprise to see him graduate further than Group III
class. Curule, the minor placing in last year's UAE Derby battled on
well for second while Conflict, winner of the Godolphin Mile last year,
had his chance to win but couldn't get to Festival Of Light. China Visit
produced a very good performance to finish fourth, he stayed on particularly
well from a long way back. Cliquot was up with the pace and had his
chance but only managed to stay on at the one pace down the straight.
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