Determined Ajtebi remains hungry for success
Emirati jockey's spirit not dampened despite losing out when it seemed the world's richest race was in his hands
Dubai: For the second time in three years, Emirati jockey Ahmad Ajtebi just came up short in his bid to win the Dubai World Cup but he has no regrets about missing out on victory.
Riding Capponi for Emirati handler Mahmoud Al Zarouni, Ajtebi finished a dramatic second to the Mickael Barzalona-ridden Monterosso in Saturday's 17th running of the world's richest race.
Capponi briefly appeared to be heading to victory when he took the lead from Transcend and So You Think approaching the final turn, but it was Monterosso who found another gear to sweep past the front runners and claim a three-length win.
Speaking to Gulf News yesterday afternoon, Ajtebi sounded upbeat as he recalled what he describes as the "best two minutes of my life".
"Races like the Dubai World Cup are what we jockeys live for, work for and are prepared to die for.
"Riding in the Dubai World Cup is the best two minutes of my life.
"I may have finished second but I feel like a winner. Most jockeys just dream of riding in races like the Dubai World Cup or the Derby or the Arc, but to come so close to winning gives you a kind of buzz that is hard to describe.
"I'm so happy for Mahmoud and Mickael and that in a way I helped Monterosso to run his best race by creating a strong pace which suited him.
‘Fantastic achievement'
"I thought my horse ran a fantastic race. To start the season as a handicapper and to run second in the best race in the world is a fantastic achievement.
"This was not just a team effort for Marmoum Stables, this was a team effort by the Emirates. Eventually we won the race and proved that horses trained in the UAE are the best in the world and can beat the best in the world."
Asked whether he would ride the race differently if he had a second chance, Ajtebi said: "Not in a lifetime. I rode Capponi the way he needs to be ridden. I stuck to the plan.
"If we were to run the race ten times I would ride him the same way every time. There was nothing wrong with the way I rode him and he did not do anything wrong. He ran his heart out.
"It's just that he got beaten by another very good horse and I'm happy that it was one of our horses and not a horse from America, England or France."
Recalling how he finished third to Gloria de Campeao in the 2010 Dubai World Cup, Ajtebi said: "One of these days I'm going to win the race. I thought I should have won it with Allbar that year and believed that I could win it with Capponi, but I did not. It does not worry me, but has made me more determined as a jockey.
"I'm not finished; I'll be around until I win the Dubai World Cup. I'm even hungrier now than I was before."
