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INTERNATIONAL
NEWS - JULY
31st July, 2001 2002 Dubai World Cup date confirmedFrom Martin Talty The Dubai World Cup Committee Chairman, Mr Les Benton, has confirmed that the date of the seventh running of the US$6million Group I Dubai World Cup, sponsored by Emirates, as Saturday March 23, 2002. The Dubai World Cup meeting is expected to continue its outstanding reputation as a programme of international quality, recent promotions to the majority of the races on the card suggesting that the 71 overseas runners in 2001 may well be bettered. The Group I Dubai World Cup, sponsored by Emirates and the first leg of the 2002 Emirates World Series Racing Championship, was joined at racing's highest level recently when the International Cataloguing Standards Committee promoted the US$2million Dubai Duty Free, sponsored by Dubai Duty Free, and Dubai Sheema Classic, sponsored by the Jebel Ali Free Zone and Dubai Ports Authority, from Group II to Group I and the Dubai Golden Shaheen, sponsored by Gulf News, went from Group III to Group I. The Godolphin Mile, sponsored by the Jebel Ali Hotel and Golf Resort, and the UAE Derby were also promoted to Group II after their 2001 status of Group III. 14th July, 2001 Argentina: Horse of the Year awardsFrom Jamie Duncan Right at the back end of the racing season, a month later than last year, the Carlos Pellegrini awards for best performances on the turf were given the other night in Buenos Aires. The awards relate to the calendar year 2000, which means for example that three year-olds of the crop of 1996 who ran in the autumn competed alongside runners of the crop of 1997 who contested events such as the Derby in November having turned three in July. This crop is also the only one eligible for the two year-old awards as the season for that age group is from January to June. This anomaly of judging according to calendar rather than age sometimes makes for results in which good performers get left out. Nevertheless, this year's Pellegrinis were met with general approval. Jockey Pablo Falero, a Uruguayan active here for some years, took the Pellegrini of the Year award for outstanding performance and this was well deserved as he has been the best rider around for the last few months. Tapatio was Horse of the Year based on his Derby win and Gran Premio Carlos Pellegrini 2nd, with stiff competition coming from Sei Mi, who dominated the autumn scene. Sei Mi took the Best Stayer and Best Older Horse categories, even though he technically disappeared off the scene to Saudi Arabia at the end of his three year-old days. Miss Linda took three year-old filly award from an excellent crop and also took Best Female despite the competition from Feet of Clay, one of the better mares to have raced here in some time. Most other wins were well deserved, Candy Stripes (Blushing Groom) pipping Southern Halo for Sire of the Year on the basis of wealth of top winners like Tapatio and City West. Notably, of all the winners the only runners still in Argentina are Feet of Clay and Estambul. Top Two year-old colt: Lord Jim (Lode) |