African Story wins Dubai World Cup for Godolphin

Racing round-up: Saeed bin Suroor's magic in the Dubai World Cup came to the fore once again as the world's richest race remained in the possession of Sheikh Mohammed.

It was the sixth time the Godolphin trainer has saddled the winner, and while African Story had not looked an obvious contender, he was ridden with perfection by Silvestre de Sousa to wear down the front-running Mukhadram halfway down the straight.

The 12 to 1 chance had stretched well clear by the line, while the Investec Derby winner Ruler Of The World, uneasy in the betting and with a poor draw, was struggling from some way out under Joseph O’Brien.

It was a landmark moment for De Sousa, who said: “It was great. He was very unlucky here last time when he banged his head in the stalls, but he has proved he’s the boy.

“It’s an amazing feeling, one of absolute delight. Godolphin called me to ask me to join their team and I was privileged to accept.

“Saeed thought African Story was a great horse. He had a couple of issues, especially on his second start this year, but tonight he was at his absolute best.

“In fact, I had to pinch myself because of how well he was travelling.

“I got to track the leader on his outside and then in the straight – all I had to do was take aim. It really was the perfect race for me.”

Japanese representatives had a fine meeting with Ryan Moore keeping his cool to guide Japanese mare Gentildonna to victory in a rough Dubai Sheema Classic and Just A Way (3 to 1 favourite) proving in another league in the Dubai Duty Free.

Moore won the Japan Cup on Gentildonna (4 to 1) and last year’s runner-up, trained by Sei Ishizaka, moved well but appeared to get cut up by Cirrus Des Aigles when about to make her move and needed to be snatched up for another effort.

She still had enough time to get her head in front, and she quickened past the French veteran inside the final 100 yards, while Roger Varian’s Ambivalent collected third.

Mike de Kock’s runner Mars suffered an ultimately fatal heart attack in the early stages and as Richard Hughes attempted to pull him up, he crashed into the fair rail and threw the British champion jockey over the top.

Hughes was taken to hospital but was said to be only winded, with a few cuts and bruises, and was expected to be fit to fly home.

Just A Way had earlier stretched six and a quarter lengths clear of Vercingetorix in an astounding track-record time.

The big disappointment was John Gosden’s The Fugue, the Irish Champion Stakes winner struggling from some way out, while Michael Stoute’s Dank stayed on for third.

Connections of Just A Way were asked if he could follow a Japanese tradition of running in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe but the trip is not felt suitable and he is set to appear next in June’s Yasuda Kinen.

The Fugue eventually finished 11th and Gosden said: “She has run a bit flat and I think we’ll wait for Royal Ascot now.”

Jamie Spencer had an epic night, helping 33 to 1 chance Certerach cause a big upset in the Dubai Gold Cup, after which he paired up with Jamie Osborne's horse-of-a-lifetime Toast Of New York in the UAE Derby.

Toast Of New York (11 to 1) was certainly not the most fashionable of runners, having picked up two events at Wolverhampton, but drew two and a half lengths ahead of Asmar.

Godolphin’s well-touted Long John flopped badly, while Aidan O’Brien’s Giovanni Boldini got going too late and finished fourth.

Michael Halford’s Irish raider Certerach held on for dear life at the line from last year’s winner Cavalryman, the 7-4 favourite who got into all sorts of trouble.

Cavalryman’s jockey De Sousa claimed Certerach had impeded him but an objection was then withdrawn, reportedly by Sheikh Mohammed himself, and the result stood.

Halford said: “This is beyond our wildest dreams. He’s a strong stayer and we’ll definitely think about the Ascot Gold Cup and the Melbourne Cup.”

There was a boost for South African racing in the Godolphin Mile as dual horse-of-the-year Variety Club (11 to 2) held off his compatriot and defending champion Soft Falling Rain.

Amber Sky (5 to 2) ended the dominance of Shea Shea in the Al Quoz Sprint, with last year’s winner and the 11 to 10 favourite unable to make enough late headway to finish a narrow third.

Moreira’s mount Sterling City (9 to 4 favourite) then wore down compatriot Rich Tapestry in a one-two for the former colony in the Dubai Golden Shaheen. Both winners are being considered for Royal Ascot.

John Ryan has been in the shadow of his famous father Mick since taking over the licence in 2005 but the 20 to 1 success of Ocean Tempest in the William Hill Lincoln at Doncaster helped put his own name up in lights.

Ryan snr’s biggest wins came courtesy of Katies, who won an Irish 1,000 Guineas and Coronation Stakes, but he was renowned for landing the odd gamble.

John Ryan has had several decent horses in his care, the best of those being Silver Grecian and Iver Bridge Lad, but winning the feature handicap on a Saturday will expose him to far more publicity.

Fifth in the consolation Lincoln 12 months ago, Ryan took his five-year-old out to Dubai and he ran several respectable races without looking like a Lincoln winner-in-waiting.

The 7 to 1 joint-favourite Tullius looked a huge threat a furlong out but Ocean Tempest eventually ran out a comprehensive length-and-three-quarters winner.

David O’Meara saddled third and fourth with Robert The Painter and Sweet Lightning.

Ryan said of the Adam Kirby-ridden winner: “We ran him in the consolation race last year but he wasn’t ready.

“This was always his aim. He paid his way in Dubai but we thought he was a bit high in the weights for this but we knew this ground was his thing.

“I couldn’t believe how good it was when I walked it.

“My father landed plenty of touches in big races but he said we’d done it the wrong way round by laying one out for a race by getting it to the top of the handicap.

“It’s been a dream to win a big race like this. We’re a small stable, we have 20 horses in training, we always average more than that in winners.

“We backed him (available at 33 to 1 shortly before the off). I was confident because I thought he was relatively fresh, which might sound stupid.

“His lead horse (Tenor) won at 20 to 1 at Lingfield on Friday which gave us even more confidence.”

Richard Fahey's Brae Hill (10 to 1) had finished second, first and third in the last three Lincolns but had to settle for winning the consolation Spring Mile this year.

Ridden positively by David Nolan, he shot two lengths clear with two furlongs to run but O’Meara’s Stand My Ground pressed him all the way inside the final furlong.