Dubai: American Horse of the Year Curlin joined an illustrious club of great champions in the Dubai World Cup (Gr 1) when he delivered a performance of enormous proportions to win the $6 million race by a widening seven and three quarter lengths on Saturday.
The Breeders Cup Classic (Gr 1) hero showed he has an abundance of class and ability when taking control of the race entering the Nad Al Sheba straight and going on to become first horse in Dubai World Cup history to win from stall 12.
Asiatic Boy, the winner of last year's UAE Triple Crown, battled past pace-setter Well Armed to snatch second place and a tidy $1.2 million for his owner Shaikh Mohammad Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum.
American horses A.P. Arrow and Great Hunter finished fourth and fifth, while Godolphin hope Jalil, a $9.7 million purchase as a yearling, could only come home in seventh place behind Maktoum Challenge winner Lucky Find.
Jockey Robby Albarado, who was completing his third Group 1 victory aboard Curlin, described winning the Dubai World Cup as an "unbelievable" experience. "He's such an amazing horse," said the Louisiana-based rider."I'm just honoured to ride him. He gives you such a great feeling."
Albarado paid tribute to the team that has handled Curlin's preparations in Dubai and said: "They are just fantastic. They do all the hard work. I just get to ride him and show off.
"It's an unbelievable feeling coming over here and winning this great race."
Trainer Steve Asmussen was equally ecstatic. "He's a tremendous animal. For him to produce an effort like this, far away from America, is just fantastic.
Brilliant effort
"He's spoiled us with his consistency and brilliance. Pre-race the horse was in great shape and he stepped from the stalls and just spoiled us again. Since his Breeders Cup Classic win, he's shown us that he can do things quicker and I think he's proved that again tonight.
"For someone from a racing family to have the best horse in the world is really awesome. It's a dream come true," Asmussen said.
With Godolphin's Happy Boy a late withdrawal, a field of 12 was sent off in the 2,000-metre contest.
Well Armed led the field around the final turn before Albarado pushed Curlin into second from the outside and quickly assumed the lead at the four-furlong marker. At this stage there was no doubt who would win, it was only a question of how big the winning margin would be.
Godolphin's Jalil failed to find the form that saw him win the third round of the Maktoum Challenge (Gr 2), but jockey Frankie Dettori sprang to his defence. "He was too young. It was a year too early for him – we will have to wait for next year."
| RESULTS |
| RACE 7 Dubai World Cup Emirates Airline (Group 1) |
| Thoroughbred (Dirt) |
| Form |
Horse/DIRT rating |
Trainer |
Jockeys |
G. No. |
| 1 |
Curlin (USA) ( 129 ) |
S Asmussen |
R Albarado |
12 |
| 2 |
Asiatic Boy (ARG) ( 117 ) |
M de Kock |
J Murtagh |
9 |
| 3 |
Well Armed (USA) ( 116 ) |
E Harty |
A Gryder |
2 |
| 4 |
A P Arrow (USA) ( 115 ) |
T Pletcher |
R Dominguez |
13 |
| 5 |
Great Hunter (USA) ( 110 ) |
D O'Neill |
G Gomez |
5 |
| 6 |
Lucky Find (SAF) ( 115 ) |
M de Kock |
K Shea |
10 |
| 7 |
Jalil (USA) ( 118 ) |
S bin Suroor |
L Dettori |
8 |
| 8 |
Gloria De Campeao (BRZ) ( 115 ) |
P Bary |
C Lemaire |
11 |
| 9 |
Premium Tap (USA) ( 115 ) |
J Gardel |
S Madrid |
6 |
| 10 |
Sway Yed (KSA) ( 110 ) |
S Alkahtani |
O Peslier |
1 |
| 11 |
Kocab (GB) ( 113 ) |
A Fabre |
S Pasquier |
4 |
| 12 |
Vermilion (JPN) ( 118 ) |
S Ishizaka |
Y Take |
7 |
