Dubai: Finally it had to be the Godolphin Mile in which Godolphin ended their two-year barren run on Dubai World Cup night and they did it in style.
Two Step Salsa under Lanfranco Dettori and Gayego under Ted Durcan raced home to give a 1-2 for Godolphin and trainer Saeed Bin Surour in the Group 2 Godolphin Mile, the duo proving too good for their rivals in the 15 horse field.
Two Step Salsa and Gayego had won their UAE debuts earlier here in the Carnival and though those wins were over 6 furlongs, the two stars from Godolphin proved the extra distance was no problem.
Don Renato from Jerry Barton's yard, finished third for the second successive year in this US $ one million with Peruvian jockey Alan Garcia warming up the the big race on the favourite Albertus Maximus with a fourth place finish on Doug Watson's Summer Doldrums.
Godolphin had last won a race in 2006 when Electrocutionist under Dettori had won the Dubai World Cup itself but since then they had failed to win a single race over the last two editions.
It was a superb display by the Godolphin dup, who started yesterday's mile's contest on dirt with a high reputation and ended it that way reducing the others to bit players.
"It was a long straight for him. I thought he was running out of petrol but it seemed he had enough to win race. I was a bit lucky as I didn't have anyone close, so we were able to relax," said the Italian ace.
"I'm absolutely excited; this is the last World Cup at Nad Al Sheba and I'm a bit sad about that, but I'm also excited about the new Meydan and I hope people can enjoy this last run here," he added.
"Both have run and won at Nad Al Sheba and they were ready to go. I had told both Frankie [Dettori] and Ted [Durcan] to keep them close to the pace and if they finish in a nice position I will be happy with that," said Bin Surour.
"The horse kept good pace. I really liked the way Frankie rode him. I had told him to just keep him close and he was happy and comfortable in front," he said.
The next step for Two Step Salsa will be in the US, according to the Godolphin trainer.
"We will now try and take him to New York and try and find a Group 1 race for him to run in," Bin Surour said.
Commenting on his second-placed star, Bin Surour said, "Gayego was good as well. He came from behind and it was a good trip for him."
Third-placed Don Renato's jockey Wigberto Ramos said, "My horse had a good start and we went very easy in the first part. I knew that he couldn't keep up with the speed. But he did give me a good run in the end."
Race 2. Godolphin Mile (Group 2)
Sponsored by etisalat
Thoroughbreds
Purse: $1000,000
Distance: 1,600m (8f)
1. Two Step Salsa (trained by Saeed Bin Suroor) ridden by Lanfranco Dettori
2. Gayego (Saeed Bin Suroor) Ted Durcan
3. Don Renato (Jerry Barton) Wigberto Ramos
4. Summer Doldrums (Doug Watson) Alan Garcia
Also ran: Al Morhij, Art Of War, Blue Ksar, Brave Tin Soldier, Cat Junior, Dijeer, Golden Arrow, Green Coast, Informed, Kalahari Gold, Lucky Find, Tiz Now Tiz Then.
Distances: 2.25 lengths, 1.75L, Short Head.
Time: 1min 36.82 secs.
Winner owned by Godolphin and trained in Dubai.
