World Racing / Stephen Molyneux / 02 April 2012 / 1

With the sand having settled, Dubai Handicapper Stephen Molyneux brings you his fourth and final World Cup Diary entry...

I confess to feeling a little deflated and low on inspiration as I sit in the airport awaiting my departure, recalling the events of the past four days. Recalling events of Dubai World Cup Day itself is easier said than done following a late invitation to join a Betfair hospitality group that included free bar and food, in return for a quick chat through the card and trying to point Betfair's clients in the direction of a few winners. Things were looking pretty desperate for me after two races, Western Aristocrat pulling up and Fox Hunt, well we all saw what happened there. I duly stayed away until the victory of Krypton Factor and all of a sudden I was everyone's best friend.

The meeting itself took place amidst a strange atmosphere if I am being honest, events of the Dubai Gold Cup not exactly helping and the merits of the staging the race later on in the card unfortunately brought into question following another fatality and an injury to Grand Vent (subsequently put down). I have no strong opinion other than to say that everyone involved in the race seemed more than happy to restage it following the necessary veterinary checks carried out on each horse.

The firework display and opening ceremony after about six races lifted things, and there was a shared delight amongst the local racing community following the victory of Cityscape and James Doyle, who has really put his name on the map this winter. It was good to meet James in the bar following racing, his flight back to Britain swiftly cancelled in preference to a night of savouring the moment. He was certainly a lot easier to talk too than a certain jockey's wife who was well and truly bungalowed, as she so delicately put it. I was feeling a touch semi-detatched myself but was still able to hold a reasonable conversation without needing the aid of a chair to stay upright.

I also met an old friend from Abu Dhabi who I had not seen since my time in Dubai 12 years ago. After the standard conversation about racing and football etc we somehow got onto talking about cartoons. I asked him if he liked the Flintstones to which he said no, a bit surprising really as most residents of Abu Dhabi do. Budum ching.

So with my four days in the desert at an end, here are a few highlights and lowlights from my ultimately fantastic and hopefully to-be-repeated trip to Dubai.

Most Satisfying Moment - probably hails all the way back to the flight out here. The ability to recline your chair, particularly in a cattle truck, should be banned as it leaves the person behind with no room at all. Unfortunately I was drawn behind a particularly obnoxious, and more than a tad overweight, lady who insisted on reclining throughout the flight. My annoyance was diluted slightly as not only did she spill her red wine all down her nice white shirt at the beginning of the flight, but she then proceeded to drop the entire contents of the fluorescent curry we were served for lunch. That will teach her.

The Buffet Breakfast - A concept that was seemingly lost on a foreign couple who sat next to me one morning. I'd already filled my boots, it wasn't hard they were food stations all around the room and you simply piled your plate up with breakfasts from around the world. After about half an hour they lambasted the poor waiter saying that were still waiting for their food and the service in this place was appalling. The customer is not always right it seems.

Biggest Winner(s) - James Doyle and Mahmood Al Zarooni. The former obviously for his ride on Cityscape but Al Zarooni provided proof, if indeed proof were needed (it probably wasn't) that he is now the main man at Godolphin. A 1-2 in the richest race of the world was some statement and he must go down as being Sheikh Mohammed most significant appointment yet.

Biggest Loser(s) - The Americans must rank pretty highly here and in truth it is hard to see them flooding back to Dubai unless the surface is changed back to dirt. Giant Ryan finished fifth in the Golden Shaheen, their highest placing from what was considered to be their strongest challenge in years.

Unluckiest Connections - those of Dubawi Gold, withdrawn at the start ahead of the Dubai Duty Free. He probably wouldn't have beaten Cityscape and he wasn't sure to stay nine furlongs, but there hadn't been much between them in the Hong Kong Mile last year and they would surely have picked up some prize money, not that Mr A Tinkler is short of a bob or two!

Don't Forget - Andre Fabre and Mark Johnston, and the significant role they now play in Godolphin's success. African Story, Monterosso and Capponi all began their careers with the afore-mentioned duo and, whilst it must be slightly frustrating knowing that their best horses are cherry-picked by Godolphin, it surely must give them immense satisfaction to see them win some of the biggest races in the world.

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1. Sonic_Lady | 02 April 2012

   Loved your Dubai World Cup diary, although I don't think I'll ever be able to see Prohibit's name on a racecard again without a grin!

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