10:09PM ANIMAL KINGDOM and jockey Joel Rosario take the big prize on the night, the US$10 million DUBAI WORLD CUP, delivering the United States's their second winner on the evening. RED CADEAUX ran to second and PLANTEUR came third.
Animal Kingdom is the first American winner since 2009 and the first time since the race moved to Meydan Racecourse, a scintillating success on Saturday.
No American horse had won the world's richest race since Well Armed in 2009, but all doubts about whether a US challenger could win were up to bed when Joel Rosario cruised home in the saddle two lengths clear.
Red Cadeaux stayed on to take second for England ahead of Planteur, his compatriot.
African Story was the best of the home defence and finished fifth for Godolphin.
FROM KHALED: Caught up with Olly Wood of Dubai-based duo Hollaphonic, who along with Seal are providing the after race entertainment.
“We’re very busy preparing for the show, but will keep an eye on the last race,” he said. “I’m hoping Hunter’s Light wins.”
Hollaphonic, made up of Woods and Grag Stainer, is the first dance act to sign up for EMI Music Arabia.
"We hope the fans enjoy our show as much as the races," he said.
REPORTS have GENTILDONNA trainer Sei Ishizaka saying the draw conspired against his horse as she had to start so wide. He also says the plan remains the same: return to Japan for one more race and then move the campaign to Europe.
9:30PM Next and final race: DUBAI WORLD CUP 10.05pm, 2,000 metres, Thoroughbred Group 1, US$10 millon
To review: RIDDLE (DULLAHAN); PASSELA (ANIMAL KINGDOM); BYRNE (HUNTER'S LIGHT)
9:26PM ST NICHOLAS ABBEY and jockey Joseph O'Brien pulls away from GENTILDONNA and VERY NICE NAME to take the DUBAI SHEEMA CLASSIC in record time.
St Nicholas Abbey made up for his narrow defeat to Cirrus des Aigles 12 months ago and provided a double on the night for trainer Aiden O’Brien.
Ridden by Joseph, the trainer’s son, St Nicholas Abbey took up the running on the turn for home and stayed on strongly to win from Gentildonna, the Japanese Horse of the Year, and in the process broke the two-year-old track record (2.29.01) of Rewilding.
Joseph O’Brien had the six-year-old by Montjeu tucked behind the early leader Shareta (Christophe Lemaire) for most of the 2,410m trip with Gentildonna under Yasunari Iwata in third.
The order of the top three didn’t change until they swept past the final bend. O’Brien kicked for home and was joined by Gentildonna as the two battled down the 400m home stretch. St Nicholas Abbey stayed the stronger to win.
8:50PM Next race: DUBAI SHEEMA CLASSIC 9.20pm, 2,140 metres, Thoroughbred Group 1, US$5 million
To review: RIDDLE (AWAIT THE DAWN); PASSELA (GENTILDONNA); BYRNE (GENTILDONNA)
FROM RIDDLE: Sheikh Mohammed watched SAJJHAA win the DUBAI DUTY FREE from trackside.
8:45PM SAJJHAA gives Silvestre De Sousa a third victory on the evening by taking the DUBAI DUTY FREE with THE APACHE running second and GIOFRA third.
FROM RIDDLE: Jockey Richard Mullen, after winning the DUBAI GOLDEN SHAHEEN: "I CAN DIE HAPPY NOW."
7:55PM Next race: DUBAI DUTY FREE 8.40pm, 1,800 metres, Thoroughbred Group 1 US$5 million
To review: RIDDLE (OCEAN PARK); PASSELA (SAJJHAA); BYRNE (MUSHREQ)
7:48PM REYNALDOTHEWIZARD holds on to win the DUBAI GOLDEN SHAHEEN with Richard Mullen aboard, followed by BALMONT MAST and KRYPTON FACTOR.
Reynaldothewizard proves his victory over Krypton Factor, the defending champion of the Dubai Golden Shaheen on Super Saturday two weeks ago at Meydan, was no flash in the pan. The seven-year-old gelded son of Speightstown, trained by Satish Seemar and given an enterprising ride from Richard Mullen, winning for the first time in 25 tries in the DWC meeting, reproduced that blistering run to win the US$2million Group 1 prize from Belmont Mast and Krypton Factor.
Mullen, who had ridden him to back-to-back victories over the course and distance in the DWC Carnival, drove him around a wall of horses to the front on the home stretch and stayed on strongly to win by a neck.
Trinniberg under Willie Martinez set the early pace but he soon faded. Mental, the Godolphin’s hope never came in with a blow and finished ahead of the American challenger in 10th.
7:22PM Next race: DUBAI GOLDEN SHAHEEN 7.45pm, 1,200 metres, Thoroughbred Group 1, US$2 million
To review: RIDDLE (MENTAL); PASSELA (TRINNIBERG); BYRNE (MENTAL)
FROM KHALED: Ramzan Kadyrov, Head of the Chechen Republic, is also at Meydan for the fifth race of the day. Kaydarov, who is racing enthusiast, was seen greeting Sheikh Mohammed, and had a horse, Dux Scholar, running in the race. In 2009, Kadyrov's horse, Mourilyan, finished third in the Melbourne Cup, winning close to US$380,000 in prize money.
7:08PM SHEA SHEA delivers a second win on the night for jockey Christophe Soumillon. JOY AND FUN finishes second and EAGLE REGIMENT third in the AL QUOZ SPRINT.
In the first of the Group 1 races, Shea Shea breaks his own track record to win the Al Quoz Sprint.
The five year old’s win gives owners Brian Joffe and Myron C Berzack the top prize of US$600,000, and trainer Mike de Kock his second win of the day.
FROM KHALED: Sheikh Mohammed, just seen walking out onto the winner's enclosure 20 minutes before the start of the next race, the Al Quoz Sprint sponsored by Emirates NBD. Dubai Sports Council ambassador Diego Maradona, as he did last year, has just made an entrance as well, smartly dressed in grey suit.
FROM RIDDLE: Aidan O'Brien confirms that Lines Of Battle will go for the Kentucky Derby. David Marnane aiming Elleval at the Secretariat Stakes.
6:32PM Next race: AL QUOZ SPRINT, 7.05pm, 1,000 metres, Thorougbred Group 1, US$1 million
To review: RIDDLE (SOLE POWER); PASSELA (SOLE POWER); BYRNE (SHEA SHEA).
6:30PM LINES OF BATTLE, with Ryan Moore aboard, wins the UAE DERBY, followed by ELLEVAL and SECRET NUMBER.
FROM RIDDLE: Sheikh Mohammed, AKA "The Boss" is now wearing olive green. He's ditched the desert yellow. #wardrobe
5:55PM Next race: UAE DERBY, 6.25pm, 1,900 metres, Thoroughbred Group 2, US$2 million
To review: RIDDLE (LINES OF BATTLE); PASSELA (SECRET NUMBER); BYRNE (SECRET NUMBER)
5:50PM CAVALRYMAN, with Silvestre De Sousa aboard, wins going away in the DUBAI GOLD CUP, followed by AHZEEMAH and VERENA.
Cavalryman is owned by Godolphin and trained by Saeed bin Suroor. The winner of the Dubai Gold Cup, sponsored by Al Tayer Motors, scooped the first prize of $600,000, while Godoplphin’s Ahzeemah took the second prize of $200,000. Third place, and $100,000, went to Verema.
The seven-year-old Cavalryman blew away the field in the last 300m to win comfortably and record a seventh career win.
REPORTS say jockey Declan McDonogh is stating the saddle slipped on SADDLER'S ROCK at the start of the race and put his ride out of sorts.
FROM RIDDLE: Paul Hanagan gets off the mark at @DRC_Meydan by winning Godolphin Mile. Royal Ascot and Diamond Jubilee?
5:25PM Next race: DUBAI GOLD CUP, 3,200 metres, Thoroughbred Group 3, US$1 millon.
To review: RIDDLE (TENENBAUM); PASSELA (CAVALRYMAN); BYRNE (AHZEEMAH)
5:14PM SOFT FALLING RAIN, ridden by Paul Hanagan and trained by Mike de Kock, wins the GODOLPHIN MILE.
5:05PM Next race: GODOLPHIN MILE, 1,600 metres, Thoroughbred Group 2, US$1 million
To review: RIDDLE (MOONWALK IN PARIS); PASSELA (MOONWALK IN PARIS); BYRNE (SURFER)
FROM RIDDLE: Barbecue Eddie has run at Meydan a total of 20 times. He was just adjudged to be the best turned out in the paddock ahead of his 21st start, which is in the Godolphin Mile.
4:40PM AL MAMUN MONLAU, ridden by Christophe Soumillon, wins the DUBAI KAHAYLA CLASSIC, followed by VERSAC PY and TM Fred Texas.
Al Mamun Monlau gave Qatar and the owner Sheikh Joaan Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani a second successive Dubai Kahayla Classic, the traditional opener and Arabian Showpiece on the Dubai World Cup card.
Christophe Soumillon got the five-year-old son of Munjiz right on the line to collar Versac PY in the 2,000m race at Meydan on Saturday.
Ahmed Ajtebi, the Godolphin’s Emirati rider, set a cracking pace on Areem. They went 10 lengths clear at the halfway mark before Sahib Du Clos under Richard Mullen closed in on the leader as they approached the final bend.
Paul Hanagan on Versav PY was prominent as the field turned for home and the pair was well clear and looked a winner until Soumillon came with a strong late run win in a photo finish. TM Fred Texas, last year’s winner, came from a long way back to take third under Olivier Peslier.
Result: Dubai Kahayla Classic Group 1 (for Purebred Arabians) US$250,000.
1. Al Mamun Monlau, Christophe Soumillon (jockey), Jean Francois Bernard (trainer). 2. Versac Py, Paul Hanagan, Erwan Charpy. 3. TM Fred Texas, Olivier Peslier, Hector Castellanos. Winning time: 2.20.26. Distances: Short head, 2-3/4 Lengths, 1-3/4L.
4:22PM Our man RIDDLE: With $US10m on the line in the World Cup, and with runners hailing from all around the world, you wouldn't have thought the most valuable race in the world needed much more drama.
Earlier this morning, however, Monterosso, the defending champion, was found to be lame in his left fore and will miss the race.
Mickael Barzalona was due to ride, but will now switch to African Story, jocking off Kieren Fallon, who now does not have a ride in the race.
Fallon rode Dullahan on Super Saturday, but was replaced by Gary Stevens in the build up to World Cup week.
A dirham for the thoughts of Mr Fallon ...
4:13PM Post time is 4.30pm for the first race, the DUBAI KAHAYLA CLASSIC.
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