Dubai: On a golden day for UAE sport, two world legends left an indelible mark on the country’s sporting fans when they made vastly contrasting appearances in Dubai on Thursday.
While legendary Brazilian football player Pele was unveiled as the global ambassador for Emirates at a high-profile function, Sir Lester Piggott, regarded by many as the greatest jockey ever, effortlessly evaded scrutiny as he made a surprise visit to Meydan racecourse.
In an era shorn of larger-than-life sports personalities like Pele, Piggott and Muhammad Ali, perhaps neither of the sporting icons would have been aware of each other’s presence in Dubai on the same day.
Piggott, who in a glittering career steered home 30 Classic winners and nine Derby champions and saw himself being crowned champion jockey no less that 30 times, could not have picked a better day to come racing than on day two of the Dubai World Cup Carnival, where his long-time friend Dhruba Selvaratnam secured one of the best wins of his career.
Piggott, who retired in 1995, famously rode four out of five winners for Selvaratnam at the first official race meeting at Jebel Ali Racecourse in 1991 and was thrilled to be present at Meydan on Thursday night to cheer on Selvaratnam’s United Color, who won the inaugural running of the Listed Dubawi Stakes.
“It’s a nice feeling to have won this race with Lester here,” said Selvaratnam. “We go a long way back and share so many special memories.
“That was a good performance by United Color and James rode a terrific race. He was taking on Group 1 horses at level weights, so it was a big step up for him. I’m really pleased the way it went considering we’ve had so many close seconds this season. Hopefully, they will all run better from now on.”
Selvaratnam confirmed that the $2 million (Dh7.34 million) Group I Dubai Golden Shaheen on Dubai World Cup night, a race in which the son of Ghostzapper finished a close fifth last season, was his principal target for the season.
“It has always been his [United Color’s] main target, but we’re not sure what kind of races we’ll take in en route,” he said. “I don’t have to run him in races like the Mahab Al Shamal but I’ll play it by ear. Let’s see how he comes out of this race first.”
United Color won by a neck from the late-finishing Russian Soul, who has having his first run in the UAE for Irish trainer Michael Halford.
It was another good night for Godolphin who won three races, including both the UAE 1,000 Guineas and UAE 2,000 Guineas Trial with Wedding Ring and Emirates Flyer respectively.
Ridden by Silvestre de Sousa, the latter delivered a gutsy performance to beat fellow Godolphin colt Safety Check, the mount of Mickael Barazalona, by a neck.
“I was very pleased with his effort, he ran a big race tonight,” said trainer Saeed Bin Surour. “We will look at the UAE 2,000 Guineas [February 13] for him now. I think that a mile will be a better distance for him.”
Meanwhile, Martin Lane provided Britain with its first Carnival winner when delivering a masterful ride aboard the Mohammad Jaber Abdullah-owned Sheikhzayedroad.
The winner was trained by David Simcock, whose wife Jenny said: “We’ve obviously very happy with that performance because it gives us hope that he can improve for his next run.
“He will probably run in a similar handiap next month and then take in the Dubai City of Gold on Super Saturday [March 8]. All going well the dream is the (G1) Dubai Sheema Classic on Dubai World Cup night.”
Former UAE champion trainer Ali Rashid Al Raihe opened his 2014 Carnival account when stable jockey Royston Ffrench rode an absolute blinder to win the Dubai Duty Free Finest Surprise Handicap over 1,600m on the all-weather with the Royal Cavalry of Oman-owned Zain Shamardal.
It was the cavalry’s first Carnival winner.
