The new Millennium Stand at Nad Al Sheba

Dubai World Cup Results

Dateline: 03/24/01
By: Terence Dulay

In the sixth running of the Group 1 Dubai World Cup, the world's richest horse race with a purse of $6 million, highly regarded American invader Captain Steve did not disappoint. The win was trainer Bob Baffert's second and jockey Jerry Bailey's third in the 1 1/4 mile

Captain Steve drawing away from To The Victory in the Dubai World Cup courtesy of Bill Selwyn

desert classic. Early in the contest, jockey Yutaka Take sent Japanese mare To The Victory to the lead to set the pace and looked to be in position to steal the race in gate to wire fashion, having pulled away from the pack by 2 lengths early in the stretch. However, Bailey had Captain Steve in striking position to the outside in fourth early on, made his move on the far turn, and was able to collar To The Victory in mid stretch to draw off for a three length victory. Bailey commented on the clean trip afterwards, saying "When he finished third in the Breeders' Cup he didn't have a free run. This time he had a clear trip and didn't have to overcome any major obstacles."

Jerry Bailey celebrates his third Dubai World Cup win courtesy of Bill Selwyn

Trainer Baffert said that he would not give Captain Steve a rest after the win, commenting that it was a "mistake" giving Silver Charm a vacation after his win in 1998. Godolphin representative Best Of The Bests finished a disappointing eighth, and was booed by some in the crowd of 50,000 as he and jockey Frankie Dettori returned. The other American entrant, Aptitude, finished sixth.

Captain Steve wins! courtesy of Bill Selwyn

Dubai World Cup

Pgm  Horse              Jockey            Win   Place  Show
 5   Captain Steve      Bailey           5.20    3.40  2.40
12   To The Victory     Take                    11.80  5.40
 8   Hightori           Mosse                          4.60

Winning Time:  2:00.40

$2 Exacta 5-12               89.00
$1 Trifecta 5-12-8          435.20

Chart

The connections of 7 year old Jim and Tonic celebrate his win courtesy of Bill Selwyn

In the 1 1/8 mile Group 2 Dubai Duty Free over the turf course, 1999 Hong Kong Cup winner Jim And Tonic and jockey Gerald Mosse had to battle the New Zealand-bred champion mare Sunline who led most of the way, and hold off Fairy King Prawn for the victory, his 11th in 30 career starts. Winning trainer Francois Doumen said "He is 7 years old now, but that turn of foot never disappoints,"

Dubai Duty Free

Pgm  Horse              Jockey            Win   Place  Show
 6   Jim and Tonic      Mosse           11.80    5.40  3.00
 4   Fairy King Prawn   Fradd                    7.60  3.60
15   Sunline            Childs                         3.00

Winning Time:  1:47.83

$2 Exacta 6-4                66.60
$1 Trifecta 6-4-15           95.40

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Caller One dominated the field

The Group 3 Dubai Golden Shaheen, a straight 6 furlong dirt sprint, featured California-based gelding Caller One, and, as expected, won the race easily. Under jockey Corey Nakatani, he took the lead early on and never looked back, drawing off to a 4 1/2 length win over fellow Californian Men's Exclusive, setting a new track record of 1:03.38, a second faster than Big Jag last year. The winning trainer James Chapman said "He ran great. Corey did a good job, just letting him do what he wants to do. He was very relaxed. Obviously the Breeders' Cup will be the main target this year." Nakatani called Caller One "awesome, the best sprinter in the world."

Dubai Golden Shaheen

Pgm  Horse              Jockey            Win   Place  Show
 4   Caller One         Nakatani         4.20    3.60  3.00
 8   Men's Exclusive    Stevens                  4.80  3.40
 2   Bertolini          Dettori                        8.60

Winning Time:  1:08.38

$2 Exacta 4-8                18.00
$1 Trifecta 4-8-2           124.90

Chart

It took a photo to separate Stay Gold and Fantastic Light at the finish courtesy of Bill Selwyn

The Group 2 Dubai Sheema Classic, the marathon race of the night at 1 1/2 miles over the turf, featured the closest finish of the night when local favorite and defending champ Fantastic Light was beaten in a photo finish by Japanese longshot Stay Gold. Godolphin racing manager Simon Crisford said of the tough defeat, "Our horse has run a super race and I still can't believe he's been beaten. It could be that the lack of a recent run made a difference."

Dubai Sheema Classic

Pgm  Horse              Jockey            Win   Place  Show
14   Stay Gold          Take            33.00    8.40  4.40
 5   Fantastic Light    Dettori                  3.40  2.40
13   Mutafaweq          Hills                          8.00

Winning Time:  2:28.23

$2 Exacta 14-5               84.60
$1 Trifecta 14-5-13         442.80

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In the Group 3 UAE Derby for three year olds at 1 1/8 miles, the two main Godolphin hopes for the Kentucky Derby and Triple Crown finished 1-2 but not in the expected order, as UAE 2000 Guineas winner Street Cry was beaten by Express Tour, unraced since October in Florida. Winning jockey David Flores said afterwards, "I was hoping we could hold onto the lead, and he just fought like a professional. To beat Street Cry is great, and I am looking forward to the Kentucky Derby now. Express Tour will get the extra trip without any problems."

UAE Derby

Pgm  Horse              Jockey            No wagering
 8   Express Tour       Flores                       
15   Street Cry         Dettori                      
 1   Lido Palace        Bailey                       

Winning Time:  1:47.04

Chart

The Group 3 Godolphin Mile was won by local horse Festival of Light, over stablemate Curule.

Godolphin Mile

Pgm  Horse              Jockey            No wagering
 7   Festival of Light  Flores                       
 3   Curule             Bailey                       
 5   Conflict           Delpech                      

Winning Time:  1:35.42

Chart

All photos by author except where noted.

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