Big Race Perspective: The Dubai World Cup

Features / Timeform / 30 March 2010 / Leave a comment

Gloria de Campeao (blue and yellow silks) edged a thrilling photo finish in the Dubai World Cup

After a most-thrilling photo finish in the Dubai World Cup, the result of which was, unfortunately, missed on the terrestrial TV broadcast on Channel 4, Timeform reflect on the world's richest race.

"For the second year running it was won by a horse placed in the event the previous year, Gloria de Campeao having also contested the race in 2008, and this year he made all at a steady gallop, but that didn't prevent Lizard's Desire coming from off the pace to almost snatch the spoils."

Despite total prize money being increased to 10,000,000 US dollars, the race attracted a very smart, rather than a top-class field for its first running on the tapeta at Meydan. Breeders' Cup Classic heroine Zenyatta and this year's leading performer, the runaway Donn Handicap winner Quality Road, would have been valuable additions, though the Classic runner-up Gio Ponti still represented some of the best North American form and seven different countries were involved. All three winners of the Maktoum Challenge ran again, Round 3 (race 749) looking the strongest form, though the winner of that race, Red Desire, was below her best this time. For the second year running it was won by a horse placed in the event the previous year, Gloria de Campeao having also contested the race in 2008, and this year he made all at a steady gallop, but that didn't prevent Lizard's Desire coming from off the pace to almost snatch the spoils.

GLORIA DE CAMPEAO, eighth behind Curlin in 2008 and second to runaway winner Well Armed last year, went one better here, putting up marginally his best performance, making all, opening up a gap of 1½ lengths 1f out and holding on by the skin of his teeth as the placed horses ate into his lead in the final strides; he made only two appearances after last year's race, winning the Singapore International Cup at Kranji (held off Presvis) but finishing only seventh in the Arlington Million, so it is to be hoped he'll be able to put in a fuller season this time.

LIZARD'S DESIRE showed that he was better than the bare result last time, finding the gaps and coming with a strong run from off the pace, his jockey thinking they'd prevailed but the photo finish proving otherwise.

ALLYBAR, transferred from Saeed bin Suroor, was another to show he's better than the bare result in the Maktoum Challenge Round 3, tracking the winner on the inside, having to be switched over 1f out and staying on well, though Lizard's Desire finished stronger. Being a 4-y-o, he emerges as the best horse at the weights taking into account weight-for-age, and his form on tapeta at Meydan this year is now on quite a different level to his form on turf in France as a 3-y-o.

GIO PONTI had the best form going into the race (runner-up in last year's Breeders' Cup Classic) but had been beaten a nose by Karelian in a non-graded event at Tampa Bay when 5/1-on last month (lost out only on the nod) and was again below form here, finding the steady pace against him, staying on towards the outside in the final 1f without being able to find the turn of foot possessed by the two who finished immediately in front of him. Effective at 1m, he should prove fully stay an easy 1½m, and he acts on pro-ride, firm and good to soft going.

MASTERY ran creditably over a trip that looked sure to be on the sharp side, not having the clearest of runs but finding no extra in the closing stages. Last year, he was successful in the Derby Italiano at Rome and the St Leger at Doncaster (beat stable-companion Kite Wood ¾ length, wearing down the runner-up in the final 1f). He stays 2m, and also acts on firm and good to soft going, probably on polytrack/pro-ride as well.

GITANO HERNANDO, favourite on the betting in Britain, never posed a serious threat, staying on late from mid-division after being short of room early in the straight. A more strongly-run race would have helped too.

CROWDED HOUSE wasn't discredited in this better company, staying on from the rear without ever threatening. At least he confirmed he's almost back to the form he showed as a 2-y-o.

TWICE OVER was below form, racing a bit freely on the outside of the pack but still managing to put in a challenge 1½f out until fading in the closing stages. He improved into a high-class performer in 2009, winning three times, including the Champion Stakes at Newmarket and finishing third to Zenyatta in the Breeders' Cup Classic at Santa Anita. Effective at 1m/1¼m, he acts on firm and good to soft ground.

RED DESIRE, who'd beaten Gloria de Campeao, Mr Brock, Allybar and Lizard's Desire in Round 3 of the Maktoum Challenge, was disappointing, eased off after being unable to quicken.

VISION D'ETAT, who had to undergo an examination by the vet on the morning of the race (had been suffering from stiffness problems as he'd done in Hong Kong), was never a threat, racing freely despite getting cover in the middle of the pack and unable to quicken under pressure in the straight. Successful in 2009 in the Prix Ganay at Longchamp, the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot and the Hong Kong Cup at Sha Tin, he's effective at 1¼m/1½m, and acts on soft and good to firm ground.

Sent in loose-leaf parts throughout the season, Timeform Perspective builds up into an in-depth account of the racing year.