Dream start for Godolphin on Dubai World Cup night

Frankie Dettori continued his love affair with the Godolphin Mile posting an emphatic victory aboard African Story for his seventh success in the 1,600m all-weather feature at Meydan on Saturday.

It was a dream start for Godolphin in the second race of the 17th running of the Dubai World Cup giving trainer Saeed bin Suroor his 10th triumph in the Group 2 $1 million race sponsored by Etisalat.

The five-year-old son of Pivotal was clocked in 1:37.52 marking the fourth straight win for the Al Quoz stable and ninth overall in the Dubai World Cup night fixture..

Sitting in third in the early going, African Story rallied to the lead near the 1,200m mark before drawing off to a four-length victory, his fifth in 12 starts overall.

“It was my banker of my night and it was very easy,” said an elated Dettori after surging ahead of the pack in the final 400 metres to win by four lengths.

“I’ve always said this was our best chance of the night,” added trainer Saeed bin Suroor, an eight-time winner in this race. “I was really pleased how he looked coming into the race.”

The Mike de Kock-trained Viscount Nelson rallied for second while pacesetter Red Jazz held the third spot after making the pace through sectional times of :25.54 for the first 400m and :48.93 for 800m.

“Never going to beat the winner, so finishing second was as good as a win,” said Kevin Shea, who rode the runner-up. “Really excited about the run.”

“He was third last year, so pound for pound it was almost an identical run,” said Michael Hills, who was aboard Red Jazz.  “He’s been off for a very long time, he didn’t lack race fitness, just that racing edge, but he battled on well when he was headed.”

Richard’s Kid, Haatheq, First City, Shamalgan, Sandagiyr, Derbaas, Dux Scholar, Snaffy and Do It All completed the order of finish.

However, the euphoria following African Story's victory turned to tragedy after fellow Godolphin runner Fox Hunt broke down passing the stands for the first time in the Group 3 $1 million Dubai Gold Cup.

Because the fatally injured horse could not be moved, and posed a safety concern, the race was called off as the rest of the field made its way onto the backstretch.

The Dubai Racing Club announced later that they will re-run the Dubai Gold Cup sponsored by Al Tayer Motoros following the Dubai World Cup.

In the opening stages, Japanese raider Makani Bisty showed the way from his rail post. Mikhail Glinka and Irish Flame were in close attendance on the outside. Hung out widest of all was Fox Hunt, who appeared to be a bit overeager seeing all of the daylight in front of him. Just to his inside, and drafting behind the front rank, was Opinion Poll.

Then Fox Hunt broke down badly, and the way that he plunged to the turf suggested that his injury was indeed a bad one. Jockey Silvestre de Sousa apparently escaped injury in the spill.

The loss of Fox Hunt was a bitter blow to Godolphin.

The opening Group 1 $250,000 Dubai Kahayla Classic went to Qatar for the second time after the US import TM Fred Texas stormed clear in the straight. He beat Seraphin Du Paon by one and three quarter lengths, while Timadit Al Mels finished a further three quarter lengths back in third place.

Two years after Jaafer took the Group 1 PA Dubai Kahayla Classic for the first time to Qatar, the grey TM Fred Texas proved that the Qatari Purebred Arabian racing is in rude
health.

The five-year-old son of Burning Sand and Queen Kong had sweated up a bit before the start of the 2,000m race, which was run on the all-weather track. Winning Dutch jockey Adrie De Vries, who usually rides in Germany, but who spends his winters in Doha, was over the moon to lift this prestigious race again.

He said: “I had a lovely race. It is great to win it again as this is such an important race.” Adrie De Vries has a great affinity with Purebred Arabians and although he wasn’t favoured by draw number 13, he certainly knew how to ride the track. Albar Lotois, trained by Eric Lemartinel in Abu Dhabi, had taken the lead after no one else seemed to want to go and set the pace. He was closely followed by Fryvolous and Dariya, while the eventual winner TM Fred Texas sat patiently in mid-field.

Coming into the final straight, the order remained much the same, but once they straightened up Richard Hills made his move on Versac PY. TM Fred Texas also quickened and while the His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum owned colt got tired in the last stages, the US import just proved too strong.

Adrie de Vries added: “I was a little bit concerned about the draw, but I could settle him behind Richard Hills. He brought me a long way and I was travelling so well, it was great and I was really never that concerned.”

TM Fred Texas, trained by Ronald Martino, got a little bit hot before the race, but his jockey continued: “He is a bit long in his coat, but it wasn’t too hot today, so he didn’t lose too much energy. This horse only came to Qatar a month ago from America and I was chuffed to ride him and to win this race again.”

The Group 3 $1 million Dubai Gold Cup, sponsored by Al Tayer Motors was declared a no race when stewards stopped the field when the track could not be cleared of the fallen horse Fox Hunt, who suffered a mishap as the field went past the 300 metre on the first lap.

Follow Emirates 24|7 on Google News.