The US$10-million Dubai World Cup, the world’s richest race, was established to raise Dubai’s global profile and turn the country into a premier racing venue, both of which objectives have been achieved with great success.
Traditionally run on the dirt of Nad Al Sheba, the 10-furlong contest enters a new era this year when Meydan plays host to the world’s most valuable race, which will be run on the synthetic Tapeta surface for the initial time on Saturday, March 27.
The inaugural running in 1996 went to the American-trained Cigar, who ran on gamely to defeat Soul Of The Matter by half a length under a fine ride from Jerry Bailey.
The third, L'Carriere, who was a further eight lengths in arrears, provided an American one-two-three. Cigar, then six, was making his only trip outside the United States and had won all his 10 starts in 1995 (eight of them Grade Ones).
He faced other top opponents from around the globe in the Dubai World Cup, such as Britain’s subsequent King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes winner Pentire, Australian star Danewin, the Japanese-trained Lively Mount and Godolphin’s dual Eclipse Stakes victor Halling.
Cigar, trained by Bill Mott and owned by Allen Paulson, was the perfect first winner of the Dubai World Cup as he was a true world champion.
HH Sheikh Mohammed’s globetrotting star Singspiel gave Jerry Bailey his second successive Dubai World Cup victory in 1997 when the five-year-old proved too powerful for American challengers Siphon and Sandpit.
Trained in Britain by Sir Michael Stoute, Singspiel had won the Japan Cup and the Grade One Canadian International at Woodbine before coming to Dubai, as well as being narrowly beaten in the Breeders’ Cup Turf.
After his Nad Al Sheba victory, which was achieved by a length and a quarter, Singspiel redorded two prestigious British Group Ones, the Coronation Cup at Epsom by five lengths and the Juddmonte International at York, to cap a great career.
Bailey said: “When it comes to looking for the best horse in the world at the moment, Singspiel heads the list,” while Frankie Dettori, who subsequently partnered the horse, described him as “the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world”.
There was drama before the 1997 Dubai World Cup as an incredible deluge of rain meant that the event could not take place as scheduled on Saturday, March 29, and the race was postponed until the following Thursday.
Godolphin was narrowly denied a first Dubai World Cup success in 1998 when Swain found the American star Silver Charm a short-head too good.
Few who witnessed this marvellous finish will forget the pulsating tussle between the two big guns. Gary Stevens just prevailed on the winner, the previous year’s Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes hero, over Mick Kinane on Swain.
Silver Charm’s success for trainer Bob Baffert and owners Bob & Beverley Lewis was the second for a US-trained horse.
The merit of the performance was tremendous. Swain won back-to-back King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot, England, while outstanding runners such as Behrens from the US, Japanese raider Kyoto City and German star Borgia were also beaten.
French raider Loup Sauvage, trained by Andre Fabre, filled third position with Behrens fifth, Kyoto City one place further back and Borgia eighth of the nine runners.
Bob Baffert commented: “In the last 100 yards, he was all heart. That’s what Silver Charm is all about. He has so much courage; he makes up for my training. This horse has been so good to me.”
Bob Lewis added: “Believe me, with this type of exhilaration, you realise that you have strength that you really didn’t think was possible. I could have stood there holding that magnificent trophy all night long.”
Emotional scenes accompanied Almutawakel’s victory in 1999. The four-year-old provided Godolphin with an initial Dubai World Cup victory, prompting remarkable scenes of joy as the home crowd gave the victorious colt a tremendous reception in the winner’s circle.
Richard Hills guided Almutawakel to the famous win over Malek, Victory Gallop (third), the winner of the 1998 Belmont Stakes, Central Park (fourth), successful in the previous year’s Italian Derby, Daylami (fifth), who subsequently won that year’s Breeders' Cup Turf, the previous year’s winner Silver Charm (sixth) and High-Rise (eighth), who had taken the 1998 Vodafone Derby.
Almutawakel was one of four starters for Godolphin's trainer Saeed bin Suroor and he put up a career-best performance. The Machiavellian colt, who was bred by HH Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum, had won the Group One Prix Jean Prat at Chantilly the previous summer.
Godolphin gained a second successive triumph in 2000, when Frankie Dettori enjoyed an armchair ride on the great Dubai Millennium to record a magnificent six-length success over Behrens - the widest margin of victory seen in the Dubai World Cup up until 2008 - in a record time of 1m 59.50s.
Dubai Millennium was taking on established dirt performers on only his second start on the surface, having already proved himself a turf champion with victories in the 1999 Prix Jacques le Marois and Queen Elizabeth II Stakes in Europe. He was subsequently the devastating winner of the Group One Prince Of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot.
After the Dubai World Cup triumph, HH Sheikh Mohammed, Godolphin’s founder, said: “You can wait 20 years and never get a horse like this. He is a true champion and I have never seen or owned a horse like him, the way he trains, the way he looks. He is quite outstanding - there is no horse like this horse.”
Dubai Millennium won nine of his 10 career starts before injury curtailed his career and then, during his first season at stud, grass sickness tragically took his life.
Bob Baffert recorded his second Dubai World Cup training success in 2001 when Captain Steve led entering the final furlong to beat the Japanese-trained To The Victory by three lengths, giving Jerry Bailey a third win in the great race.
Captain Steve confirmed the promise he had shown the previous season when third to Tiznow in the Breeders' Cup Classic at Churchill Downs.
The winner had landed the Grade One Donn Handicap at Gulfstream Park the month before lining up at Nad Al Sheba.
Jerry Bailey’s amazing record continued in 2002 when he partnered Godolphin’s Street Cry for a decisive victory over Sei Mi to provide the champion American rider with his fourth Dubai World Cup victory.
This was success number three for Godolphin who also sent out the third, Sakhee, winner of the previous season’s Juddmonte International Stakes in England and Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (France) as well as finishing a nose runner-up to Tiznow in the Breeders' Cup Classic at Belmont Park.
Street Cry had originally been trained in the United States by Eoin Harty for Godolphin and won the previous year’s UAE 2,000 Guineas. He beat stable companion State Shinto on his outing prior to the 2002 Dubai World Cup when landing the Group Two Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum Challenge Round III at Nad Al Sheba.
Street Cry went on to win the Grade One Stephen Foster Handicap at Churchill Downs in America but retired after his next start because of injury. He stands at Jonabell Farm in Kentucky and has done well at stud.
Moon Ballad’s five-length victory for Godolphin in the 2003 Dubai World Cup was a convincing one and the four-year-old followed in the footsteps of his sire Singspiel, winner of the 1997 renewal.
After finishing second to Storming Home in the previous year’s Emirates Airline Champion Stakes at Newmarket, England, Moon Ballad was described as ‘the young pretender’ and he lived up to that billing by winning the Dubai World Cup easily from Harlan’s Holiday, who had won a Grade One event at Gulfstream Park, USA, on his previous start.
The Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum-owned Nayef, already a three-time Group One winner, came third, while Moon Ballad’s stable companion Grandera, a short-head behind Nayef in fourth, was victorious in three Group One contests the previous year including the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Frankie Dettori, the successful rider, said: “Moon Ballad has improved so much this year and it would have taken a real good one to beat him. I got the same feeling as I had when I rode Dubai Millennium because when I turned for home, I couldn’t hear the other horses.”
Moon Ballad gave Godolphin and Saeed bin Suroor their fourth Dubai World Cup triumph.
There was a tremendous finish to the 2004 Dubai World Cup, with the 2003 Breeders’ Cup Classic first and second, Pleasantly Perfect and Medaglia d'Oro, re-opposing at Nad Al Sheba.
Medaglia d’Oro, under Jerry Bailey, went for home shortly after turning into the Nad Al Sheba straight but was joined by the Alex Solis-ridden Pleasantly Perfect two furlongs out.
They battled long and hard for supremacy with Pleasantly Perfect gaining the upper hand in the closing stages by three quarters of a length to thunderous cheering from the huge crowd.
David Carr wrote in the Racing Post newspaper: “For once the sequel lived up to the hype and surpassed the original.
“The rematch between Pleasantly Perfect and Medaglia d'Oro dominated the build-up to the Dubai World Cup from the moment it became clear that the US pair were set for a repeat of their duel in the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita, where there was only a length and a half between them at the line.
“Five months later, and the pair served up an even better contest, with Pleasantly Perfect confirming his superiority, but only narrowly, to claim an emotional victory in the world’s richest race, worth US$6 million.”
It was trainer Richard Mandella's first Dubai World Cup triumph after having placed horses for five years. Victory Moon, the South African-trained 2003 UAE Derby winner, was third, five lengths further adrift, with Godolphin’s Grand Hombre fourth.
America registered victory number five in 2005, as Roses In May, trained by Dale Romans and ridden by John Velazquez, proved too strong for his 11 opponents and gained a decisive victory.
Roses In May never looked in danger of defeat as he took up the running after halfway and quickened clear of his field over two furlongs out. He soon had matters in safe-keeping, eventually scoring by three lengths from Dynever, with fellow American hope Choctaw Nation a length and a quarter back in third place.
The only British challenger Jack Sullivan ran a great race for trainer Gerard Butler and jockey Darryll Holland, finishing fourth.
Dale Romans had been aiming for the Dubai World Cup ever since Roses In May finished an excellent second to American Horse of the Year Ghostzapper in the Breeders’ Cup Classic the previous October at Lone Star Park.
Electrocutionist followed the path taken by fellow Godolphin hero, Dubai Millennium, as he captured the Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum Challenge Round III at Nad Al Sheba en route to a breathtaking triumph in the 2006 Dubai World Cup.
The manner of the five-year-old’s victory on the big night, however, was very different to that of his trail-blazing predecessor.
Forced to overcome a disadvantageous number one draw, Frankie Dettori had to play catch-up through the race but, with less than a quarter of a mile to race, the Italian switched his mount to the centre of the track and the response was sensational.
Electrocutionist produced a searing turn of foot to sweep past his rivals and take the lead to give Godolphin trainer Saeed bin Suroor a fifth success in the world’s richest race.
Frankie Dettori called the winner “a great horse” before adding: “He didn’t win like Dubai Millennium but he showed tremendous courage.
“He had to fight really hard, drawn from an impossible barrier, missing the kick and then running wide. What a courageous horse.”
The 2004 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner, Wilko, took the runner-up spot for trainer Jeremy Noseda, with the Todd Pletcher-trained Magna Graduate the first home of the American challengers in third.
Electrocutionist raced twice more, finishing a courageous runner-up on both occasions in England, behind Ouija Board in the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot and to Hurricane Run in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes. The brave five-year-old sadly passed away not long after his Ascot effort.
When Invasor crossed the line seven lengths fourth to Discreet Cat in the 2006 UAE Derby at Nad Al Sheba, few watching could have predicted that he would return 12 months later ranked the best dirt horse on Earth.
Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum’s Argentine-bred lined up for the 2007 Dubai World Cup off the back of five straight victories Stateside. These included a brilliant length triumph over the Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum-owned Preakness winner Bernardini in the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Churchill Downs.
Having captured the Grade One Donn Handicap at Gulfstream Park prior to his departure for Dubai, confidence was high that Kiaran McLaughlin’s charge would not disappoint his fans in the desert.
Godolphin looked to its very own star turn, the brilliant hitherto unbeaten Discreet Cat, who had taken the Grade One Cigar Mile at Aqueduct, USA, on his previous start and was rated second only to Invasor on official world rankings.
The stage was set for a brilliant rematch with a strong supporting cast including Grade One Woodward Stakes hero Premium Tap, Hong Kong star Bullish Luck, Japanese Grade One winner Vermilion, Maktoum Challenge Round II victor Kandidate and Forty Licks.
As it transpired, Invasor put his six rivals to the sword with a powerful display under Panamanian rider Fernando Jara, holding Premium Tap by a length and three quarters in a time of 1m 59.97s, the second fastest in the history of the great race.
This was the sixth US-trained victor of the Dubai World Cup and the second for Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum, whose colours were carried by the Saeed bin Suroor-trained Almutawakel in 1999.
Winning trainer McLaughlin, who was four-time champion trainer in the UAE during a 10-year stint in Dubai, said: “Sheikh Mohammed hired me in 1993, but it was Sheikh Hamdan who adopted me. He’s been like family to me.
“That’s why coming back here and winning the Dubai World Cup for Sheikh Hamdan is something I won’t be able to beat.”
Unfortunately, Discreet Cat performed below par and trailed in last of seven. He was found to have a throat abscess.
American superstar, Curlin, consolidated his position as the best horse in the world in the 2008 Dubai World Cup.
The Steve Asmussen-trained four-year-old had enjoyed a phenomenal Classic campaign, progressing from a maiden victory at Gulfstream Park to Grade One victories in the Preakness Stakes and the Jockey Club Gold Cup.
His 2007 season had culminated with a comprehensive success in the Grade One Breeders’ Cup Classic at Monmouth Park and he warmed up for the Dubai World Cup with an equally impressive win under top-weight in the Jaguar Trophy at Nad Al Sheba at the end of February, 2008.
An international field lined up for the Dubai World Cup, including the previous year’s UAE Triple Crown winner Asiatic Boy, trained by South African Mike de Kock, Japanese raider Vermillion and Godolphin’s Jalil, unbeaten in his three previous appearances at Nad Al Sheba.
But none of them could match Curlin, who sauntered into the lead approaching the final quarter-mile and powered away to gain success by seven and three quarter lengths over Asiatic Boy.
Curlin returned to the United States and recorded further Grade One triumphs on dirt in the Stephen Foster Handicap, the Woodward Stakes and a repeat success before finishing his career on the artificial Pro Ride surface, coming home fourth behind Raven’s Pass in the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita.
Winning rider Robby Albarado was impressed: “What a horse. Curlin is like a limousine and I am just along for the ride.”
As the world said goodbye to Nad Al Sheba in March, 2009, it seemed fitting that the final race ever to be staged at the racecourse produced yet another spectacular performance as Well Armed romped to a record 14-length victory in the Dubai World Cup.
Despite not having lost his maiden tag until the eighth attempt, the six-year-old boasted some top-class international form, having been third behind Curlin in the previous year’s Dubai World Cup and landing the Grade One Goodwood Stakes at Santa Anita, USA, in September, 2008.
Aaron Gryder soon had his mount out in front and the pair never saw a danger as Well Armed stormed clear entering the straight leaving his rivals toiling to give Eoin Harty, who formerly trained for Godolphin in the US, a flagship success.
Gloria De Campeao made late headway to take second, while the Saudi Arabian-trained pair of Paris Perfect and Muller came home third and fourth respectively, one place ahead of Godolphon’s My Indy. Asiatic Boy, who had chased home Curlin 12 months earlier, was the disappointment of the race, trailing home 12th.
“Well Armed really showed everyone in the world how good he is. Who was second?" commented Aaron Gryder.
Eoin Harty added: “It is the biggest win of my career. I owe a lot to His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum who got me started and plucked me from relative obscurity.”
In 2010, Gloria De Campeao went one better as he took the initial running of the Dubai World Cup held at Meydan in dramatic fashion. The Pascal Bary-trained horse was a first Dubai World Cup winner for France. Ridden by Brazilian jockey TJ Periera, Gloria De Campeao made all to win the three-way finish, beating Lizard's Desire by a nose with Godolphin's Allybar a short head away in third.