Dubai: It was a struggle to find new superlatives after Godolphin's Electrocutionist, given a marvellously tactical ride by Frankie Dettori, repelled the challenge of American challenger Brass Hat to win the $6 million Dubai World Cup yesterday.
Electrocutionist went to post as the 11/10 favourite and justified his appeal with a courageous performance to win by one-and-a-half lengths.
Wilko, trained by former Godolphin assistant trainer Jeremy Noseda, ran a cracking race to take third, four- and-a-half lengths further back, while Japan's multiple Group 1 winner Kane Hekili finished a disappointing fourth.
"This is unbelievable, he's such a fantastic horse," said an ecstatic Dettori. "We had serious doubts about his ability to handle the dirt before the race, but he answered all the questions. He's up there with the best."
Making only his second career start on dirt, the ex-Italian horse was not the smartest out of the gates and Dettori soon found himself behind four horses, three of whom were feared American raiders.
Magna Graduate, fourth behind Brass Hat on a sloppy track in the Grade 1 Donn Handicap last month, made broke well and made the early running together with Super Frolic and Japan's Kane Hekili.
Electrocutionist was boxed in on the rails with Dettori desperately looking for an opening. It came at the first turn and the Italian extracted Electrocutionist from the rails and switched to the wide outside.
Into the clear the horse found his rhythm and began to close ranks on the front runners. John Velazquez held his advantage aboard Magna Graduate as the field straightened for home but Dettori had yet to make his move aboard Electrocutionist.
But when he did the five-year-old son of Red Ransom found another gear and stormed into the lead with Willie Martinez making threatening moves on Brass Hat. Electrocutionist, however held him off.
"It was a great result, he's a very good horse and I'm very happy," said trainer Saeed Bin Surour, who has now won the Dubai World Cup four times. His previous wins came with Almutawakel (1999), Dubai Millennium (2000), Street Cry (2001) and Moon Ballad (2003)."
Recalling the race Dettori said. "When we missed the break it felt as if I was under water and I couldn't breathe. But once we came into the straight he found another gear for me.|
"I didn't know I would win until the last 20 yards. Brass Hat kept coming at me and I couldn't shake him off."
Dettori won the race for the third time after Dubai Millennium in 2000 and Moon Ballad in 2003.
Godolphin Racing Manager Simon Crisford added: "Once he missed the kick I thought it was impossible to win the race. "But when he got his balance I thought he would have a chance. Things got better and better as the race progressed and in the end he did it very well. He's a horse that stays a mile and half."
Willie Martinez, rider of Brass Hat said: "He spotted the other horse [Electrocutionist] and he was coming back. What a race, what can I say?
"It's just hit me now. I'm so proud of what Brass Hat has done for us."
Commenting on Magna Graduate's performance trainer Todd Pletcher said: "The horse ran well, made the pace, got some outside pressure down the back straight and it was a little quicker than we wanted but he ran well."
| RESULTS |
| DUBAI WORLD CUP |
| US$6,000,000 sponsored by Emirates Airline |
| Place | Horse/DIRT rating | Trainer | Jockeys | G. No. |
| 1 | Electrocutionist (USA) ( 121 ) | S bin Suroor | L Dettori | 1 |
| 2 | Brass Hat (USA) ( 118 ) | W Bradley | W Martinez | 7 |
| 3 | Wilko (USA) ( 112 ) | J Noseda | G Gomez | 9 |
| 4 | Magna Graduate (USA) ( 113 ) | T Pletcher | J Velazquez | 8 |
| 5 | Kane Hekili (JPN) ( 118 ) | K Sumii | Y Take | 3 |
| 6 | Chiquitin (ARG) ( 110 ) | I Jory | M Kinane | 5 |
| 7 | Maraahel (IRE) ( 120 ) | Sir M Stoute | R Hills | 6 |
| 8 | Star King Man (USA) ( 113 ) | H Mori | O Peslier | 10 |
| 9 | Choctaw Nation (USA) ( 116 ) | J Mullins | V Espinoza | 4 |
| 10 | Shakis (IRE) ( 113 ) | D Watson | W Supple | 2 |
