Abu Dhabi: Homebred Street Cry created a major surprise in 2002 by producing a superb turn of foot to win the $6million (Dh22 million) Dubai World Cup horse race at Nad Al Sheba.
Sakhee, winner of the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and runner-up in the Breeders Cup Classic, was tipped as the firm favourite for the title but Street Cry gave Godolphin trainer Saeed Bin Surour his third win in the world’s richest race, while jockey Jerry Bailey landed his fourth title and second in a row.
Bailey had won the inaugural Dubai World Cup with Cigar and then went on to victories in 1997 with Singspiel and with the Bob Baffert-trained Captain Steve in 2001.
The second place was bagged by Japanese raider Sei Mi, who leapfrogged from the back of the field and Sakhee a further four and a half lengths back settled for the third spot.
A beaming Bailey speaking about the triumph said: “It’s great to have a horse that has so much in front of him. This is the world’s richest race, an amazing race, and it will always get the headlines. I have been very lucky in this race as I have had some really good horses to ride, winning the world’s richest race always means alot to me.”
Western Pride, trained by James Chapman held the early lead and Street Cry raced in middle in the eleven runner field. Approaching the final bend Bailey switched the son of Machiavellian to the inside and took the lead from a fading Western Pride into the home straight. World Champion Frankie Dettori was challenging for second place aboard the race favourite Sakhee with Royal Tryst. Street Cry, runner-up in the UAE Derby a year ago, staved off his opponents to take the 2,000 metre race by four and a quarter lengths.
Street Cry, Darley’s leading sire whose progeny included Zenyatta and classic winner Street Sense was euthanized in 2014 after succumbing to complications relating to a neurological condition.
“Street Cry epitomized everything that Darley and Godolphin aim to achieve. He was bred by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, in Ireland, excelled at the very highest level on the racecourse in Dubai and the U.S and then became the lynchpin of our stallion operations in both America and Australia,” said Shaikh Mohammad’s bloodstock adviser John Ferguson.
