Paolini's trainer Andreas Wohler said, "Coming so late wasn't planned when I watched the finish it was up and down and I am very relieved about the result. Normally he is better with the fast race but at the end he was flying. He really deserved to win after two and a half years without a win, we don't know what next, probably Hong Kong or Singapore. He is not running in Germany because there are not the right races for him and will probably not go to Royal Ascot as he has been unlucky there twice."
Jockey Eduardo Pedroza added, "It feels super I have watched this race meeting before on TV and dreamt about just taking part here and now with winning this is a dream come true. I am sure going to sleep quite nicely on the plane on the way home."
Right Approach's trainer Mike de Kock said, "I didn't think we had won so I am delighted to have a dead-heat."
Sprinters took to the Nad al Sheba track in the $2 million Dubai Golden Shaheen, a 1200-meter (6 furlong) sprint down the home straightaway. With no turns, the field was strung out wide across the track most of the way. When the gate dispatched the field of twelve, Breeders' Cup Sprint winner Cajun Beat and Our New Recruit battled on the front end, going the initial quarter in 23.80 and the half in 45.98. At the midpoint of the stretch, Cajun Beat began to fade out of contention, while Alke, who had trailed back in fifth early, made his run towards the lead. Alke drew even with Our New Recruit with a furlong to go, but Our New Recruit battled back to win going away by two lengths in 1:10.30. The win was Alex Solis' second in the event, having won on Big Jag in 2000.
Winning trainer John Sadler said, "You feel relived, you hope to run well and if you don't its tough. He travels superbly. It's a credit to my staff. He needed time to build up, he's a very powerful horse and was unlucky in his last two starts."
Winning jockey Alex Solis said, "Down the straight Alke and Cajun Beat were very close but my horse felt really strong and I felt good about it."
Jerry Bailey, aboard fourth place finisher Cajun Beat, said, "He got kicked by the lead pony. I got him checked by the vet and he felt okay but maybe this made the difference."
Distance horses took to the turf in the $2 million Dubai Sheema Classic at 2400 meters (about 1 1/2 miles). Thirteen went to post in this Group 1 event, the only race on the card that completes more than a lap of the course.
Warrsan and Hard Buck dueled on the front end for most of the race, and they controlled the pace, slowing the field through fractions of 28.23, 54.05, 1:18.77, and the mile in 1:42.52. Turning for home, Gary Stevens asked Polish Summer, who had sat back in eighth earlier, for his run and got it, as they stormed through the stretch and collaring Hard Buck in the final strides to win by 1/2 a length in 2:31.09 over the good to firm course. It was another 3/4 length back to late-running Scott's View, who rallied late from last to get third.
Winning trainer Andre Fabre said, "He has always been a big player. He always runs well fresh. We'll save him for the Coronation Cup at Epsom. He was given a brilliant ride and it was a fairytale start to our partnership [Stevens is the new stable jockey for Fabre]. I am a great supporter of racing in Dubai and I have had many starters here over the years."
Winning jockey Gary Stevens said, "The win has taken the pressure off and I can enjoy the evening now."
John Velazquez, aboard runner-up Hard Buck, said, "He settled perfectly and then this other horse [Razkalla] jumped to the bridle. He didn't relax enough early on but he ran great."
On to the rest of the card
Back to the Dubai World Cup
Dubai World Cup Links:
- Results Charts for the card from Emirates Racing Association
- Free Past Performances for the entire card from the Fair Grounds
- Free Past Performances for the World Cup from DRF.
- Current Odds from William Hill for all the races plus props like Dettori winners and USA winners.
- Current Odds for the World Cup from Ladbrokes
- Official Site
- 2003 Dubai World Cup results and photos
- 2002 Dubai World Cup results and photos
- Past Year's Results
