Silvestre De Sousa delivers story of the evening at Dubai World Cup

DUBAI // They saved the best for last. As day turned to night Godolphin runner after Godolphin runner was beaten at Meydan Racecourse but, in the event that mattered most, African Story confirmed the long-held faith of his trainer Saeed bin Suroor to land the Dubai World Cup.
As African Story carried jockey Silvestre De Sousa past Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid's Mukhadram in the straight, the grandstand erupted as rider and racehorse powered home to win by two-and-three-quarter lengths in a record time.
Check out this video of the Dubai World Cup race
To complete a Dubai whitewash, Charlie Appleby's Cat O'Mountain filled third spot under Mickael Barzalona.
Cue mayhem. Racecards were thrown in the air, UAE flags were waved and there was even a victory jig from Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
On a nine-race card that threw up winners originating from Abu Dhabi, South Africa, Ireland, England, Hong Kong and South Africa, it was Brazil that came out on top.
De Sousa added to the tally of Joao Moreira, his fellow South American rider, who had struck earlier in the night with Amber Sky in the Al Quoz Sprint and Sterling City in the Dubai Golden Shaheen.
With rumours swirling through the corridors of the Dubai racecourse that the Tapeta surface on which the world's most valuable race is staged is to be replaced, it was a powerful advertisement for the global reach of the World Cup fixture.
"I am so happy that all of the other races were won by international horses," Sheikh Mohammed said.
"It is great that so many horses have come from all over the world to race at Meydan."
It was a sixth win for Godolphin in the World Cup, but a first for Bin Suroor at Meydan, having last lifted the World Cup on the dirt of Nad Al Sheba with Electrocutionist in 2006. For the long-serving trainer, it was a win that was perfectly timed.
"I wanted my luck to change," Bin Suroor said. "I thought Shuruq would do well in the Godolphin Mile, and Cavalryman in the Dubai Gold Cup, also.
"Everybody always focuses on Godolphin and after the Dubai Duty Free people were telling me I hadn't won anything.
"I told them to wait and now we have a brilliant result for Godolphin, Dubai and Sheikh Mohammed. Thank God we found the right horse."
As soon as the gates opened De Sousa pushed African Story to the front and he positioned his mount on the rail behind Hokko Tarumae, the Japanese horse.
On his first sight of Tapeta, Mukhadram set a solid pace under Paul Hanagan but De Sousa kept him in his sights and with 400 metres to run the two jockeys were at full throttle.
With 250 metres left they were level but a stride later African Story broke his rival and went on to augment his 2012 Godolphin Mile victory.
"For me it was a perfect race," De Sousa said. "I was travelling in second place on the inside where every jockey wanted to be.
"When I kicked for home I thought I would get Mukhadram, but at the same time I knew I had to get by him quickly as he is a tough horse that likes to fight."
In 2011, Paul Hanagan retained his British jockey's title on the final day of the season from De Sousa. It was a painful experience for him, but the biggest win of his career is just reward for one of the hardest-working riders in the business and underlines his growing reputation.
De Sousa revealed that as he crossed the line he experienced an overwhelming sense of relief.
His wife, Victoria, however, had to be told the result.
Embraced with Anna Hanagan for much of the race, it was the wife of Mukhadram's jockey who had to break the news.
"I couldn't watch," Victoria De Sousa said. "Anna had to tell me, it was just so exciting."
Great sport requires the vanquished to elevate their conqueror and Paul Hanagan was gracious in defeat.
"For a moment I thought we had nicked it but in the end we were beaten by a very good horse on the night," he said.
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