The Dubai World Cup Comes of Age

THE DUBAI WORLD COME COMES OF AGE 
According to the Oxford dictionary, the definition of ‘the world’ is ‘the earth, together with all its countries and peoples’. The first Dubai World Cup took place in 1996, and Cigar’s name was etched in history as the first winner of the coveted gold trophy. Since then, horses from several countries have won on World Cup night. The Americans were dominant for a while, South Africa also had numerous successes and the powerful Godolphin stable collected their fair share of trophies. Yet no World Cup meeting since Cigar’s famous victory can really be called truly international. 
That all changed on a hazy Saturday at Meydan on Mar. 29, 2014. For after 18 years, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s dream of a race meeting where the countries of the world bring their best horses to compete against one another has finally come to fruition. For on this Saturday evening, the nine races on the card were won by six different countries. Never in the history of the Dubai World Cup has there been such a diversity of winners and finally the word “World” in the Dubai World Cup rang true. After all, as Silvestre De Sousa put it so beautifully: “Who does not want to win on World Cup night?” 
The meeting opened with a UAE victory in the G1 Dubai Kahayla Classic for Arabians, as Rabbah De Carrere (FR) (Bibe De Carrere {Fr}), ridden by Olivier Peslier and trained by Majed Al Jahouri for owner Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, crossed the line in first. Next up it was the turn of South Africa, with a quick one-two in the G2 Godolphin Mile as Dual Horse of the Year, Variety Club (SAf) (Var) dominated from start to finish to win effortlessly by a length from Soft Falling Rain (SAf) (National Assembly). 
The Europeans countered with a one-two of their own, as Certerach (Ire) (Halling), trained by Michael Halford in County Kildare, held off a flying Cavalryman (GB) (Halling) to win the G2 Dubai Gold Cup for the Irish. The English could certainly not let the Irish take all the glory, and hence it was down to Jamie Spencer to bring Toast of New York (Thewayyouare) home in style as the colt powered clear by 2 1/2 lengths in the G2 UAE Derby. 
With the G1 Al Quoz Sprint up next, all eyes were on last year’s winner and track record holder Shea Shea (SAf) (National Emblem {SAf}), waiting to see if the powerful gelding could notch up win number two for 
South Africa. Sadly, it was not to be, as “Magic” Joao Moreira rode a breathtaking double to win both sprints for Hong Kong. The Ricky Yiu-trained Amber Sky (Aus) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) set a new track record when he crossed the line in :56.21 seconds, with Ahtoug (GB) in second and Shea Shea in third. The cumulative margin between the three was a mere quarter-length. Moreira then backed up as he brought John Moore’s Sterling City (Aus) (Nadeem {Aus}) home in the G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen, with another Hong Kong entrant, Michael Chang’s Rich Tapestry (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) in second. 
Once in a while, a horse comes along that just blows you away, and Just A Way (Jpn) (Heart’s Cry {Jpn}) is such a horse. The stallion had not caught the eye at morning trackwork, but as he blazed down the turf in the G1 Dubai Duty Free, the eyes of the entire world were certainly upon him. Just A Way bettered Sajjhaa (GB)’s track record by almost 2 1/2 seconds as he put 6 1/4 lengths between himself and the chasing Vercingetorix (SAf) (Silvano {Ger}). To put matters into perspective, I need to point out that Vercingetorix also broke the track record. It was a memorable moment for Japan indeed. 
And another was soon to follow, especially seeing as it was a night made up of doubles in all forms and fashions. Japanese super mare Gentildonna (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) had to settle for second in the 2013 running of the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic behind St Nicholas Abbey (Ire), but in 2014 there was no stopping her. Once Ryan Moore pushed the button, it was game over, as Gentildonna held off a game Cirrus Des Aigles to win by 1 1/2 lengths, giving Japan a double as well. 
Then it was time for the World Cup. Sixteen horses, representing six countries paraded before the packed grandstand. Who would return as Champion? As the field turned for home, a chestnut with a blaze emerged from the pack, yet it wasn’t the much vaunted Ruler Of The World (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Instead, it was Godolphin’s African Story (GB) (Pivotal {GB}), winner of the 2012 Godolphin Mile. Silvestre De Sousa started his celebrations a long way out, standing in the stirrups and saluting the crowd. He really did want to win. To end a great evening, the UAE horses filled the first three spots as Mukhadram (GB) (Shamardal) finished second for Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and Cat O’Mountain (Street Cry {Ire}) finished third for Godolphin. 
The host nation, the United Arab Emirates, started proceedings and then ended it in perfect fashion, with Sheikh Mohammed holding the heavy World Cup trophy aloft, before gently lowering it so that his daughter could also assist. It was a night of stars, a night where the best in the world competed for the glory of being crowned champion. A night where the nine races were won by six different countries, the world was in attendance and the Dubai World Cup finally came of age.