DWC Flashback — 1996: Cigar set crowds on fire with smoking-hot show

Dubai: A pulsating homestretch battle between Cigar, the greatest horse in the world, and his surprise adversary Soul Of The Matter, gave the $4 million (Dh14.7 million) Dubai World Cup the perfect lift-off in its inaugural running in 1996.

The 2,000m contest on dirt, which was extensively promoted as the quintessential, heavyweight championship of the world, more than lived up to its claim by delivering one of the most exhilarating horses races ever seen at Nad Al Sheba racecourse, or anywhere in the world during that year.

Cigar, the great American thoroughbred who was unbeaten in 13 races, puts his reputation on the line when he travelled more than 6,000 miles (9,656 kilometres) from his base in North America to take on some of the world’s best middle distance horses from the USA, Europe, Asia and the UAE for a winner’s prize of $2.4 million.

As the horses broke from the starting gates, Cigar — with Hall Of Fame jockey Jerry Bailey in the saddle — slipped on the way out and lost a forward position which was taken by fellow American raider L’Carriere.

As the horses began to negotiate the long three-furlong homestretch Cigar, took the lead but was soon challenged by Soul of the Matter, who Gary Stevens had produced with a rattling run from the back of the field. The battle was on — both horses and riders, fought tooth and nail, stride for stride, as they raced to the finish.

True champion

And with the 40,000-strong crowd on the edge of their seats the two protagonists flashed past the finished in a blur. As the dust settled, there was a deafening silence, Cigar had shown himself to be the true champion that he was with a heroic half-length victory.

Bailey would say later: “I had no idea what to expect going in, I don’t know if anybody did. Even watching the rerun, it looks like Soul Of The Matter is going to run right by him.

“But I was never concerned at that moment because I could feel Cigar starting to get his motor revved up again. But I could also look at the wire and tell how much distance we had to travel and I could feel Cigar moving again, and I was never worried that he wasn’t going to accelerate and draw back off again. And that’s who he was, what he did.

Cigar was retired to stud at the end of 1996 with a record of 19 wins from 33 starts and of $9,999,815 (Dh36,732,219), a record at that time.

On October 8, 2014, Cigar at 24 sadly succumbed to complications following surgery for severe osteoarthritis in his neck.