Dubai: Godolphin maintained their dominance in the $1 million (Dh3.67 million) Dubai Gold Cup (G3) when Cavalryman ran out a hugely impressive winner of the gruelling 3,200m contest at Meydan racecourse on Saturday.
Given an inspired ride by Brazilian-born jockey Silvestre de Sousa, the seven-year-old son of Halling outclassed a strong field to win by three lengths from stablemate Ahzeemah, while French raider Verema was a quarter of a length back in third for jockey Christophe Lemaire.
Imperial Monarch, the international favourite, could finish no better than sixth as the locally-trained Jutland gave former UAE champion trainer Doug Watson a deserving fourth place in the contest, which was first run in 2009.
Cavalryman, a game globetrotter who even travelled as far at Australia to contest the Melbourne Cup (G1) last November, has been a useful servant to Godolphin handler Saeed Bin Surour, who was winning the Gold Cup for the fourth time following his past successes with Veracity (2009), Sabotage (2010) and Whispering Gallery (2011).
“This was a great race and I was always confident what he could deliver,” Bin Surour said. “This was his race. The horse was so great and he responded so well that I think this is just the beginning of things for him.
“After this race and the way he ran, I can see him in the Ascot Gold Cup over two-and-a-half miles. Last year the ground went against him.
“A word of thanks to [Ahzeemah jockey] Kieren Fallon as he has done a great job for the team by injecting some real pace into the race, which helped Cavalryman. Azheemah has run a big race to place second.
“Things didn’t work out for him when he went to Australia when he ran in the Melbourne Cup [finishing 12th].”
De Sousa was overwhelmed by the occasion. He said: “I hope this is the start of something great. The idea was to drop him behind and wait for the right time to move as it is such a long run.
“I am convinced this horse is capable of bigger things and I’m really looking forward to riding him again in all the big staying races. He’s a proper stayer and I knew he would come on from his last race.
“The horse felt full of confidence and he gave his best tonight. It is really great to have my first World Cup meeting winner in my new job [retained rider to Godolphin].”
Godolphin Racing Manager Simon Crisford added: “I am absolutely delighted with this performance. This horse has shown perfect composure for such a demanding race. I am thrilled and he deserves this win. He simply loves this trip and the Meydan straight.”
Six-time British champion jockey Fallon was full of praise for Ahzeemah, who was a winner of the Group 3 Nad Al Sheba Trophy at Meydan earlier this month. “It was a tough race and I am glad he just hung in there. It was tough going throughout, but he just made it,” he said.
With inputs from Alaric Gomes, Senior Reporter