Abu Dhabi: The 2010 Dubai World Cup went down to the wire with the winner being decided in a photo finish. Gloria De Campeao captured the $10 million (Dh36.7 million) world’s richest horse race at the spectacular new Meydan course by edging out long-shot Lizard’s Desire.
The famous 14 thundered into the straight with Gloria De Campeao pulling away from the pack but it looked as if Kevin Shea had just managed to sneak ahead at the finish. He was seen celebrating but the camera on the line had a different take.
Gloria De Campeao ridden by Tiago Pereira, was ahead where it mattered, a nose in front of Shea’s mount Lizard’s Desire, with Allybar and Ajtebi another short-head back in third. In the end, it was a fitting champion for the 15th Dubai World Cup as Gloria De Campeao had been beaten in this race for two seasons, and was a 16-1 chance with British bookies.
Fallon, riding Gitano Hernando, the favourite, never managed to find running room from a low draw, while Twice Over, trained by Henry Cecil, had the opposite problem, being caught wide from his outside stall for much of the race.
“Passing the post I thought I’d won but the other jockey started celebrating so I kept quiet and waited for the photo. The last 300 metres, I kept him going and kicked on and he’s given me the best win of my life.
“The race was really tight and going into the final straight was tricky with so many runners in top form,” said a jubilant winning jockey Pereira.
Owner Stefan Friborg was absolutely delighted with the upturn in the horse’s form. “I don’t have words for it, it was fantastic,” he said. “He [Pereira] rode it as planned, from the front. He is very tough, he enjoys to run and fight and he never gives up.”
Second placed Lizard’s Desire’s jockey Kevin Shea acknowledged that he missed a golden chance of victory. “I thought he had come good, but clearly he didn’t. This is a bitter pill to swallow,” said the South African who has twice in the past sampled success at the World Cup meeting.
Ajtebi with a third-place finish on Allybar felt that he did everything in his powers and so was happy with the showing.
“At least we picked up a win in the Godolphin Mile and flew the flag for Godolphin and trainer Mahmoud Al Zarouni. Hopefully we can get lucky next time,” he said.
