Dubai : Captain Steve, the 2001 Dubai World Cup (DWC) champion, lost his form after winning at Nad Al Sheba and subsequently retired at the end of the 2002 season. However, his rider, the champion American jockey Jerry Bailey, became part of the folklore in this part of the world.
It was the year, Bailey, became the most successful jockey in the history of the race. Not only did Bailey win his fourth DWC under Street Cry in 2002, but he cemented his status as the only man to have successfully defended the title — no other rider has achieved the feat till date.
In fact, it was the second back-to-back DWC win for Bailey, who won the first-ever running of the race saddling Cigar in 1996 and then Singspiel the following year.
Godolphin's Frankie Dettori is the second most successful with three wins.
Bailey seemed happy with keeping Street Cry close to the fence and amidst the leading pack, which included the Frankie Dettori saddled Sakhee.
But the moment he sensed Dettori and Sakhee were about to change gears, he signalled to Street Cry to kick clear and the four-year-old responded straightaway zipping to a commanding four length lead in the final furlong, which he maintained until the finish.
Bailey was modest as he won and said: "It's great to have won this race four times, but it's because I've had some nice horses to ride."
Blame game
In contrast, third-placed Dettori, who was denied a winning double (he had won the UAE Derby on Essence of Dubai earlier in the day) did not hide his disappointment and was quick to blame Sakhee.
He said: "That is not Sakhee, it may look like him, but I can tell you it wasn't him."
French runner Terre A Terre claimed a close victory over Noverre in the Group 1 Dubai Duty Free, while Nayef — owned by Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance — claimed the Dubai Sheema Classic.
Caller One, the 2001 Dubai Golden Shaheen champion under Corey Nakatani, gave jockey Gary Stevens his winning double of the meeting when he stuck his head in front of Echo Eddie at the finish. Stevens had earlier won the Godolphin Mile on Grey Memo.
Nez D'Or stormed to victory under Wayne Smith in the Dubai Kahayla Classic.
