2003 was Dettori's year of domination

Dubai: Frankie Dettori dominated the 2003 Dubai World Cup card — saddling three winners for Godolphin on what would be one of the most successful outings for the stable owned by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

Dettori was outstanding on the night and so were his rides. He got the festivities under way in the second race of the night, the $1 million (Dh3.67 million) Godolphin Mile, leading Firebreak to victory on dirt. It was the first running of the Godolphin Mile as a Group 2 race and Firebreak's success meant the title was won back by Godolphin, who had ruled the first four editions of the race and had won the title a staggering six out of the eight times.

Following his breakthrough in Dubai, Firebreak, who won by a length, went on to claim the Group 2 Challenge Stakes in Newmarket and the 2004 Group 1 Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Mile, a race in which he had finished fifth a year earlier.

While Firebreak's night ended well, more success lay in store for Dettori, who had two more rides atop Sulaimani and Moon Ballad in the Dubai Sheema Classic and Dubai World Cup, respectively.

Meeting expectations

Bought at the end of his three-year-old season, Sulaimani had shown good form heading into the Sheema Classic and Dettori himself had described him as "absolutely awesome" ahead of his first race in Godolphin's legendary blue. And he didn't disappoint as the gates opened to let the runners do battle. Sulaimani started slow and remained at the end of the group in the early stages, but showed incredible acceleration mid-way to surge ahead and oust another favourite, Ange Gabriel of France, by a length at the post.

His performance earned him the respect of the jockeys, including Thierry Jarnet, the rider of Ange Gabriel, who said: "I enjoyed the perfect run, I had cover and he tried hard, but he was beaten by a champion."

Meanwhile, Sulaimani's stablemate Moon Ballad would go on to complete Dettori's hat-trick a few hours later, winning the $6 million Dubai World Cup by five lengths over American runner Harlan's Holiday.

Ipi Tombe, under Kevin Shea, won the $2 million Dubai Duty Free, while State City claimed the $2 million Dubai Golden Shaheen, sponsored by Gulf News. Victory Moon won the UAE Derby, pipping Songlark at the post and Bopp Moon netted the Dubai Kahayla Classic.