Dubai World Cup 2013: Saeed Bin Surour ends 13-year Dubai Duty Free drought

Dubai: Brazilian pilot Silvestre de Sousa emphatically ended Godolphin handler Saeed Bin Surour’s long wait for a fifth victory in the $5 million Dubai Duty Free (G1) when he delivered a masterclass aboard Sajjhaa to win what has come to be one of the most competitive races on the Dubai World Cup card.

An authoritative winner of the Jebel Hatta (G1) over course and distance earlier in the month, the revitalised King’s Best mare reprised that performance to score by a length and three-quarters from the South African-trained The Apache, with French raider Giofra three-quarters of a length further back in third.

Sajjhaa set a new track record of 1 minute 47.93 seconds in supplying Bin Surour with another Dubai Duty Free Trophy — his first since Rhythm Band in 2000.

The winner is unbeaten this year in three races at Meydan, including the Cape Verdi (G2) and the nine-furlong Jebel Hatta, where he also beat The Apache by three-quarters of a length.

Celebrating his second winner of the night, Bin Surour said: “At the end of the year she was looking her best physically. She looked primed for a race. She’s won two Group 1s now and this is a great result for her. The plan now is to take her back to England and see if we can find a race for her there.”

De Souza added: “Four out of four is brilliant, as she deserves it. I would love to see her in another Group 1 for sure. She is just so good. She’s just a really good filly.

“Winning on this night means everything to me. This is the dream of every racer and every jockey and to come and win here twice is so much more.”

Mike de Kock, who had three runners in the race, including runner-up The Apache, said: “I think it was a cracking race. It can’t get better than this and I can’t win everything.”

Dual Carnival winner Trade Storm ran a big race under Jamie Spencer to finish in the money, while American hopeful Little Mike, winner of three Grade 1 races last season including the Breeders’ Cup Turf, could finish no better than 12th.

As the 14 runners entered the home straight, things got busy, with The Apache and stable companion Igugu looking to take a strong hold of the race. But De Sousa found the gap that he was looking for on the rails and, when he asked Sajjhaa for her effort, the Darley-bred mare responded in brilliant fashion to register his eighth career win in 17 lifetime starts.