Dubai
DUBAI WORLD CUP
(US$10,000,000) Meydan G1 1¼m Tapeta 3-y-o and upwards (southern hemisphere), 4-y-o and upwards (northern hemisphere)
The world's richest race. First run in 1996, it has attracted runners from seven different countries from four continents and has been won by horses of the calibre of Cigar, Singspiel, Silver Charm and Pleasantly Perfect. Godolphin have been successful in this event on five occasions with Almutawakel, Street Cry, Moon Ballad, Dubai Milennium and most recently Electrocutionist (2006). The 2005 renewal went to the American owned and trained Roses In May. American horses have a good record in this race, having won seven of the thirteen runnings to date. Invasor registered a thoroughly convincing success in 2007 for his owner H.H. Sheikh Hamdan and trainer Kiaran McLaughlin. Ridden by nineteen-year-old jockey Fernando Jara, the son of Candy Stripes crossed the line one and three quarter lengths clear of his nearest rival, Premium Tap. 2008 saw another success for America when 2007 Breeders' Cup Classic winner, Curlin, scored easily. Trained by Steve Asmussen and ridden by Robby Albarado, the four-year-old colt stretched clear from the rest of the field two furlongs out to win by a massive seven and three quarter lengths from 2007 UAE Derby winner, Asiatic Boy. 2009 saw the winning margin stretch even more when Well Armed left his rivals for dead to land the world’s richest race. Trained by Eoin Harty and ridden by Aaron Gryder the six-year-old left no doubt who the winner was by taking the race by an astonishing fourteen lengths. French-trained Gloria De Campeao, runner up to Well Armed in 2009, was the victor of a three-way finish in 2010 when the race was held for the first time on the Tapeta surface of Dubai's new Meydan racecourse.
DUBAI DUTY FREE
(US$5,000,000) Meydan G1 1m 1f 3-y-o and upwards (southern hemisphere), 4-y-o and upwards (northern hemisphere).
Founded in 1996, and Godolphin has won the second, third, fourth and fifth runnings with Tamayaz, Annus Mirabilis, Altibr and Rhythm Band. The French captured two Dubai Duty Frees from cosmopolitan fields with Jim And Tonic in 2001 and Terre A Terre in 2002. Ipi Tombe, a Zimbabwe-bred mare, triumphed for South African trainer Mike de Kock in 2003, while 2004 produced the first dead-heat in the history of the Dubai World Cup day meeting when the judge was unable to separate Paolini and Right Approach. Australia celebrated their first success in Dubai when Elvstroem made all to win in 2005. The prize money for this race was increased to five million US dollars in September 2005, making it one of the richest races ever run on turf along with the Dubai Sheema Classic. So there was much to celebrate in 2006 when David Junior, with Jamie Spencer in the irons, pulled away to easily defeat his rivals by three and a half lengths. 2007 saw champion Japanese jockey Yutaka Take, secure his third success in the race after Admire Moon, trained by Hiroyoshi Matsuda, held off a late challenge from Linngari to prevail by half a length. The 2008 running was won in dramatic fashion by Jay Peg. Two furlongs from home the colt's saddle slipped, but a great display of riding by Anton Marcus saw the pair secure victory by half a length for South African trainer Herman Brown. It was a truly Emirati victory in 2009 when apprentice jockey Ahmed Ajtebi and first season trainer Mubarak bin Shafya landed a pillar to post victory with Gladiatorus for owner His Excellency Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed Al Maktoum. It was another strike for Dubai in 2010 when Al Shemali was the surprise half-length winner of the initial running at Meydan for local champion trainer Ali Rashid Al Raihe with regular rider Royston Ffrench in the saddle.
DUBAI SHEEMA CLASSIC
(US$5,000,000) Meydan G1 1½m and 3-y-o and upwards (southern hemisphere), 4-y-o and upwards (northern hemisphere).
Another race whose value shot up in 2005 to make it one of the richest races ever run on turf along with the Dubai Duty Free. Godolphin's Fantastic Light won decisively in 2000 but was denied a second victory the following year when the Japanese-trained Stay Gold swooped late to pip him on the line. In 2002, the Sheikh Hamdan-owned Nayef prevailed with Richard Hills in the saddle. Godolphin won the race again in 2003 when Sulamani was the impressive winner and in 2004, US jockey Gary Stevens rode Polish Summer to victory on his first ride as stable jockey to Andre Fabre in France. Dual Group One winner Phoenix Reach brought his tally to three when landing the 2005 event under Martin Dwyer. The 2006 renewal saw Japanese trainer Kojiro Hashiguchi secure his second win of the night when Heart's Cry soared past the line with Christophe Lemaire on board. The 2007 renewal saw Vengeance Of Rain become the first Hong Kong winner on Dubai World Cup night. Trained by David Ferraris, the New Zealand-bred gelding was given a confident ride by Anthony Delpech to clinch the race by one and a quarter lengths. Sun Classique, ridden by Kevin Shea, was successful in 2008. Trained by Mike de Kock, the Australian-bred filly kicked clear from the field a furlong out to win comfortably by two and three quarter lengths from Viva Pataca. The 2009 renewal saw trainer Mubarak bin Shafya and jockey Ahmed Ajtebi complete the Group One turf double when Eastern Anthem scored in a thrilling photo finish. Rookie British jockey William Buick,gave Dar Re Mi a ride more mature than his 21 years to win the 2010 running at Meydan. Trained in England by John Gosden, the gutsy mare held off Buena Vista's late swoop to win by three-quarters of a length.
DUBAI GOLDEN SHAHEEN
(US$2,000,000) Meydan G1 6f Tapeta 3-y-o and upwards
Increased in value in 2000, making it one of the richest sprints in the world, the Dubai Golden Shaheen has been dominated by American sprinters. Big Jag was successful in 2000, and Caller One triumphed in 2001 and 2002. State City was the 2003 hero for UAE handler Paddy Rudkin, while the 2004 renewal was won by another American horse Our New Recruit. Saratoga County secured the trophy once again for the USA when he was a length too good for Tropical Star in 2005. Mexican-born trainer Sal Gonzalez celebrated the biggest win of his career when Proud Tower Too, with David Cohen in the saddle, won comfortably by one and a quarter lengths in 2006. Kelly’s Landing outclassed his rivals in the 2007 renewal for trainer Eddie Kenneally. The six-year-old son of Patton flashed home under Frankie Dettori to beat Friendly Island by half a length. It was another American victory in 2008 when Benny The Bull crossed the line one and three quarter lengths ahead of Idiot Proof in second place. The win provided a race day double for trainer Rick Dutrow Jr and jockey Edgar Prado who were also responsible for the Godolphin Mile winner earlier in the day. A year later Big City Man held off a strong challenge from Indian Blessing to secure victory by one and a quarter lengths for trainer Jerry Barton and jockey Jose Verenzuela. US domination continued in 2010 when the race moved to Meydan. Kinsale King, never having competed in Group One company before, repaid the faith of his trainer, Carl O'Callaghan, to prevail by half a length under Garrett Gomez.
UAE DERBY
(US$2,000,000) Meydan G2 9f Tapeta 3-y-o
The richest Derby in the world was founded in 2000 and Godolphin won the first three - with China Visit in 2000, Express Tour in 2001 and Essence Of Dubai in 2002. The South African challenger Victory Moon was successful in 2003, with stable companion Lundy's Liability completing a double for Mike de Kock in 2004. Godolphin's Blues And Royals was the surprise victor in 2005 winning by 12 lengths with Kerrin McEvoy in the saddle. Discreet Cat, trained by Saeed bin Suroor and partnered by Frankie Dettori, won the 2006 contest by six lengths despite being eased down in the closing stages. His time of 1m 48.59s was the second fastest in the seven-year history of the UAE Derby, only bettered in 2001 by Express Tour. In 2007, Asiatic Boy showed a blistering turn of foot in the straight to demolish the field by nine and a half lengths. Ridden by Weichong Marwing, the four-year-old colt became the first horse to win the UAE Triple Crown for trianer Mike de Kock. 2008 saw Honour Devil and Royal Vintage give trainer Mike de Kock a 1-2 in the race and also a second consecutive win. Ridden by Johnny Murtagh, the Argentinian-bred colt, Honour Devil, won impressively by four and a quarter lengths from stable companion Royal Vintage. Godolphin sent out a second successive one-two of the 2009 meeting when Regal Ransom, partnered by Alan Garcia, held off Desert Party to win Godolphin’s sixth UAE Derby by half a length. Musir regained the title for South Africa at Meydan in 2010 - only Mike de Kock and Godolphin's Saeed bin Suroor have ever won the event in its ten-year history. Musir and Christophe Soumillon snuck through on the rail to deny stablemate Raihana with Godolphin runners filling the next three places.
GODOLPHIN MILE
(US$1,000,000) Meydan G2 1m Tapeta 3-y-o and upwards (southern hemisphere), 4-y-o and upwards (northern hemisphere).
Increased to its present value in 2001 when Godolphin's Festival Of Light was victorious. American-trained Grey Memo took the honours in 2002. Firebreak was victorious for Godolphin in 2003 and 2004 while Grand Emporium was the impressive winner in 2005. An authoritative performance by the Japanese horse, Utopia and jockey Yutaka Take, secured a four-length victory over nearest rival Win River Win in 2006. Spring At Last was given a determined ride by Garrett Gomez in the 2007 event. Threading his way through Mullins Bay and Parole Board inside the last two furlongs, the Doug O’Neill charge secured an easy victory by two and three quarter lengths. Diamond Stripes was victorious in the 2008 renewal. Headed in the final two furlongs, the five-year-old, trained in America by Rick Dutrow Jr and ridden by Edgar Prado, had to dig deep to regain the lead and hold on to win by one and a quarter lengths from Godolphin's Elusive Warning. Godolphin started their 2009 Dubai World Cup meeting off to a winning one when Two Step Salsa, ridden by Frankie Dettori, crossed the line two and a quarter lengths clear of stablemate Gayego. Mahmood Al Zarooni, Godolphin's newest trainer, saddled a winner from his first ever runner as a trainer when Calming Influence, who always looked the victor, took the 2010 renewal at Meydan under local jockey Ahmed Ajtebi. The trainer said afterwards: "This means everything to me. I would like to thank His Highness Sheikh Mohammed for giving me this chance."