DUBAI - Wow! There were not enough superlatives to go around in the press room at Nad Al Sheba last Saturday night during an electrifying 2009 Dubai World Cup meeting – the final race meting at the UAE's flagship course.
Emotion was high throughout the night, commencing with a tearful Rod Simpson after his Fryvolous won the opening Kahayla Classic – the only Purebred Arabian race.
One of the sport's real characters, this was an undoubted highlight of a career spanning over 35 years. Jerry Barton was only slightly less emotional after opening his World Cup night tally and that of Saudi Arabia in the Golden Shaheen with Big City Man, while the big race itself went to America and the Eoin Harty-trained Well Armed.
It was hard to tell if Harty was crying as the rain had set in by then but it was an impressive performance. No Godolphin winner would have been a disappointment at Nad Al Sheba's big farewell and Saeed Bin Surour's team did not disappoint and saddled 1-2s in both the Godolphin Mile and UAE Derby.
Frankie Dettori was on the right one, Two Step Salsa, in the Mile but was forced to watch Alan Garcia land the Derby on Regal Ransom – whom he chased home on Desert Party. And then there was the fairytale; the Ahmad Ajtebi/Mubarak Bin Shafya $10 million Group 1 turf brace.
Ajtebi, still an apprentice though unable to claim in the UAE (or Group races anywhere for that matter) produced Eastern Anthem from last to lead on the line in the Sheema Classic in total contrast to his previous victory in the Dubai Duty Free.
I think we were all rubbing our eyes in disbelief as he and Gladiatorus swung into the straight clear of Japan's Vodka – and then quickened away. This was where the superlative bank emptied as it was surely the most amazing world Cup night performance I have seen – in a field containing 10 previous Group 1 winners. I think Johnny Murtagh summed it up best: “The winner is a monster.''
Punters speak: Thanks nad, bring on meydan
Dubai - Racing fans braved the light showers to soak in every moment of Nad Al Sheba's swansong at the Dubai World Cup.
As the venue makes way for Meydan, the new home of the world's richest horse race next season, regular Thursday night racegoers as well as fans from overseas took an emotional trip down memory lane.
Australian Abraham David hasn't missed a World Cup night at the venue since his first visit in 2001. “My best moment was Invasor's win two years ago,'' said the business consultant who is now eagerly awaiting the opening of Meydan.
“I think Meydan could set the benchmark for world racing for the next 50 years, although it will be interesting to see what the prices are,'' he said with a smile. Muhsin Emirsoy, a president of a shipping company in Turkey, with a passionate love for horses also reserves the last Saturday of March to attend the showpiece.
And he hopes to see the same effervescent atmosphere of Nad Al Sheba at Meydan as well. “We'll miss it. It's a very nice place,'' he said.
“Every year you have a lot of people attending the Dubai World Cup from different countries. And those who love racing really enjoy it. As long as it remains like that, I'll come every year.'' Mohammad Shamsuddin, a Nad Al Sheba regular, is anticipating the dawn of a new era at Meydan, but he insisted: “Old is gold! You can never forget [Nad] because it has seen the birth of horseracing here.''
