Epsom Derby-winning rider Mickael Barzalona steered Monterosso to victory in the Dubai World Cup at Meydan to lead home a famous one-two for Sheikh Mohammed's Godolphin operation and trainer Mahmood Al Zarooni.

Capponi finished second, with Marco Botti's Planteur third and the Aidan O'Brien-trained favourite So You Think in fourth after having every chance.

Monterosso (20-1) was third in this race 12 months ago but was off the track after that until returning only three weeks ago. Both he and the runner-up were formerly with Mark Johnston.

Joseph O'Brien edged So You Think in front before the home turn and he was collared by Capponi, but Monterosso had too many guns and quickly pulled clear, with Barzalona celebrating before the line, just as he had done at Epsom on Pour Moi last June. Monterosso won by three lengths.

Al Zarooni said: "I'm very happy that we won the race and got a one-two. The whole team worked very hard. We lost a horse in the beginning (Fox Hunt in the Dubai Gold Cup) so I thought our bad luck had gone."

Sheikh Mohammed added: "This is great for the whole team. I thought someone would come and get them both! Mark Johnston did a good job with these horses as well, he brought them up very well.

"Frankie Dettori is a great jockey, but we have horses running right and left, so we need more than one jockey." Asked about what he thought of Barzalona's extravagant celebration, he added: "Out of this world."

Post Race Quotes for the Group 1 US$10 million Dubai World Cup, sponsored by Emirates Airline

Mickael Barzalona (Monterosso, 1st) – “I couldn’t believe when no one was coming after me. This is a dream. I have no words to describe what I feel right now. (Asked about his celebration which mirrored the Epsom Derby celebration, he said: “I just had to. I had no choice.”)

Ahmad Ajtebi (Capponi, 2nd) – “It was a great effort. I was confident he’d finish in the first three and he ran up to his best. I beat the winner the last time we raced but obviously he’s improved and he ran third in this race last year, so it’s great for the team. My horse has come from handicaps to running second in the World Cup after a very good Carnival, so I’m delighted with that.”

Marco Botti (trainer of Planteur, 3rd) – “Ryan (Moore) said the horse got a bump at the start and was further back than he wanted to be. If not for that, he’d have been closer.”

Joseph O’Brien (So You Think, 4th) – “I had the ideal position behind the leader but he just didn’t quicken on that surface. It was too dead for him.”

Olivier Peslier (Zazou, 5th) – He ran well. I had a good position. He had his chance and I have no complaints.”

Chrsitophe Lemaire (Eishin Flash, 6th) – “He was nervous in the gate and didn’t start well, but he got a rhythm and ran well during the trip but I was too far back in the stretch.”

Frankie Dettori (Prince Bishop, 7th) – “It was a great performance and we tried to get him placed. I thought I’d finished sixth, but it was seventh and he’s done really well.”

Christophe Soumillon (Master of Hounds, 8th) – “I had a lovely trip and it was a great run.”

Jose Lezcano (Royal Delta, 9th) – “We had a good position but in the middle of the turn, the horse in front of me quit so I had to wait a little longer than I wanted to. She gave me a good run at the end but this surface is a little different – it’s a little sticky.”

Yutaka Take (Smart Falcon, 10th) – “He couldn’t run his race.”

Silvestre De Sousa (Mendip, 11th) – “My trip was good but not good enough for the race.”

Chantal Sutherland (Game On Dude, 12th) – “It was a good trip considering everything that happened. The horse next to him was acting up in the gate, so he thought they were going to break. At home we break quicker, so he went to go forward and then he sat down. He just got a little frazzled after not breaking so great. Then he relaxed. He was good and on the backside he just wanted to get into his rhythm. So I did what I always do, and let him try to get there and I waited. The track is very tiring.”

Shinji Fujita (Transcend, 13th) – “He was boxed in between two horses in the first stage of the race which lost his spirit.”