Dubai: It was a night to cherish for UAE racegoers when Godolphin handed His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, a 1-2 finish in the Dubai World Cup yesterday.
Monterosso, ridden by Mickael Barzalona, stormed home ahead of another Godolphin runner, Capponi, with Emirati jockey Ahmad Ajtebi. Planteur (owned by Ahmad Al Falasi of the UAE) was third and former Australian champion So You Think was fourth.
President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan congratulated Shaikh Mohammad on the victory of UAE horses.
A smiling Shaikh Mohammad told the media: "It's great. You know we had a chance like everybody but now this horse pulled it out and I'm very happy. I know he [jockey Barzalona] gave him a great ride. I am so happy, I am so happy."
A staggering crowd of 65,000 thronged the state-of-the-art Meydan to witness the 17th running of the Dubai World Cup, which saw some exhilarating races.
Fox Hunt, one of the favourites for the new Dubai Gold Cup, broke down during the race, tossing jockey Silvestre De Sousa, and the race was declared null and void. It was run later.
Barzalona, who rode Pour Moi to victory in last year's Epsom Derby, produced his much criticised trademark celebration of standing up in the saddle 60 metres before the finish on the 20/1 Mahmoud Al Zarouni-trained winner.
