Dubai: American Horse of the Year Curlin will always be remembered as one of the most imposing winners in the history of the Dubai World Cup (G1).
His 7 ¾ length victory over fellow American raider Well Armed and third-placed South African challenger Asiatic Boy, demonstrated the might of American dirt specialist.
Leagendary Irish jockey Johnny Murtagh, who was aboard Asiatic Boy described him as a ‘monster.’
Curlin was one of few challengers from the US to use a domestic race during the Dubai Racing Carnival as preparation for the World Cup, a race he comfortably won by 2 ¼ lengths.
His performance in the big race would be even more arresting.
After stalking the pace heading into the home straight, Robby Albarado just gave his horse a little reminder, and the response was devastating. Curlin switched his mighty engine into overdrive and scorched past Well Armed and Asiatic Boy, to win by a breathtaking margin.
The winning margin topped the six-length win by Dubai Millennium in the 2000 World Cup
The four-year-old son of Smart Strike was sent off as the huge 2-5 favourite, and he did not disappoint the 50,000-odd fans present at Nad Al Sheba with the performance of a lifetime.
“What a horse,” marveled Robby Albarado who pointed to the sky as he crossed the finish line. “Curlin is like a limousine and I am just along for the ride.”
“He’s thriving when he is running,” trainer Steve Asmussen said at Nad Al Sheba. “He’s a tremendous animal. He’s spoiled us with who he is.”
Curlin also became the fourth horse after Cigar, Pleasantly Perfect and Invasor, to add the Dubai World Cup trophy to his victory in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1).
Curlin earned $3.5 million (Dh12.8 million) for the victory and boosted his career earnings to $8,807,800 -- third place on the North American career list behind Cigar and Skip Away at the time. He would go on to earn over $10.5 million.
He was named after Charles Curlin, an African American slave from western Kentucky who fought for the Confederate Army in the American Civil War.
In August 2008, Timeform assigned a 134 rating for Curlin, naming him the best horse in the world on dirt.
Curlin was voted to the National Museum of Racing’s Hall of Fame in 2014.
On November 21, 2008, Curlin was retired to stud at Lane’s End in Versailles, Kentucky. At the end of the same year he was retired and paraded at Churchill Downs.
