SUMMARY OF DUBAI WORLD CUP DAY - 28 MARCH 2015
GROUP 2 GODOLPHIN MILE
The South African horse, PYLON, trained by Mike De Kock, raced mid division throughout the race and never really looked like winning. The race was fought out in the last 50 metres where TAMARKUZ, ridden by Paul Hanagan just held off LOANE AVENUE, ridden by Frankie Dettori, who did his best work late.
GROUP 2 DUBAI GOLD CUP
The nine year old South African horse trained by Mike De Kock and ridden by Christophe Soumillon, STAR EMPIRE, finished well to run second to the favourite, BROWN PANTHER. The winner is owned by legendary footballer, Michael Owen. MUSHREQ, also trained by Mike De Kock, set a good pace but weakened in the latter stages and finished well down field. STAR EMPIRE has been a consistent sort and this is his best race to date in Dubai to a quality stayer.
GROUP 2 UAE DERBY
South African trainer, Mike De Kock, tasted success on Dubai World Cup Day when he won the UAE Derby in emphatic style with joint favourite, MUBTAAHIJ. Racing handily throughout, jockey Christophe Soumillon let him loose at the top of the straight and he went on to win by eight lengths in what was the most emphatic win of the day. MAFTOOL finished well for second.
The lovely looking colt had the run of the race as he teaches the leaders throughout the event and had a trouble free run in an impressive field that also contained a South American Triple Crown winner. The victory was all the more impressive as the jockey eased the classy colt down in the final 100m to win in a canter. The manner of victory even had De Kock stunned.
According to Mike De Kock, he is likely to be headed next to the Kentucky Derby in Louisville, Kentucky, on May 2.
GROUP 1 AL QUOZ SPRINT
South African sprint champion, VIA AFRICA, trained by Mike De Kock, looked to have a decent chance in this field but that never materialised. She was outpaced early on and never found any extra late on. The winner, SOLE POWER, sat off the pace but found the necessary finish late on to win going away.
GROUP 1 DUBAI GOLDEN SHAHEEN
There was an exciting finish to the Golden Shaheen when the USA bred six year old, SECRET CIRCLE, ran on to just pip the Tony Millard trained SUPER JOCKEY, on the line. The former South African trainer is now based in Hong Kong. He maintained that he always had a decent chance but concerned by the draw. The horse ran accordingly and was an unlucky loser.
GROUP 1 DUBAI TURF
The short-priced faviourite, THE GREY GATSBY had no chance with the winner, SOLOW. The winner raced midfield through the larger part of the race and was always handily placed. At the 300m marker he took over the lead and the result was never in any doubt from there on. THE GREY GATSBY left his challenge too late and had to settle for second spot. The early leader EURO CHARLINE maintained her pace and finished fourth. The ex South African horse, UMGIYO, trained by Mike De Kock, did not break well and never looked as though he was going to finish closer to the front than the back.
GROUP 1 DUBAI SHEEMA CLASSIC
DOLNIYA ran out an easy winner of the penultimate race on the card. She was always handily placed and easily went past the long-time leader, JUST THE JUDGE, around the 300m marker. Also running on was the well fancied FLINTSHIRE. The favourite HARP STAR failed to show.
PRINCE BISHOP WINS $10 MILLION DUBAI WORLD CUP
Prince Bishop pulled away from race favourite, California Chrome, on the home straight to win by two and three-quarter lengths at Meydan on Saturday.
Starting from the rail, William Buick rode Prince Bishop to the horse's first victory on dirt, at his fourth attempt at the world's richest horse race.
Buick said he felt numb.
"I can't express what I am feeling right now," he said. "It's very surreal. We were detached last, but ended up traveling very well in the last turn. I didn't look back, but I imagine we won well because I could hear the commentator. I feel a bit numb at the moment, but I'm sure when I get home and relax it will sink in."
The 8-year-old Prince Bishop was bred in Ireland, but has been trained by Saeed bin Suroor in the Emirates.
In third place came another American, Lea, who was saddled by William Mott, the U.S trainer who led Cigar to victory at the inaugural Dubai World Cup in 1996.
California Chrome, the U.S. horse of the year, has not won on dirt since the Preakness Stakes last year. The 4-year-old 2014 Kentucky Derby winner, ridden by Victor Espinoza, was running in second behind Hokko Tarumae going into the final leg, but could not keep pace when Prince Bishop attacked.
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