In for a big year? Lord North demolishes Meydan opposition under Dettori

Group 1s are meant to be difficult to win. They are the Olympic finals of racing. The best of the best taking each other on. For the second time in his career Lord North made it look as easy as Usain Bolt.

Last year he won the Prince of Wales's Stakes by three and three-quarter lengths. Here, on Dubai's World Cup night, and against challengers from Japan, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and a whole host of British raiders, he once again proved in a different league as he powered three lengths clear in the manner of a horse value for at least a shade more.

In doing so he overcame a horror draw of stall ten to win the Dubai Turf sponsored by DP World in emphatic fashion. The John and Thady Gosden-trained five-year-old came home in front of Japanese raider Vin De Garde, with the Marco Botti-trained Winter Derby runner-up Felix staying on tenaciously for third.

The 6-4 available about the favourite was a reflection of just how much the outside draw was expected to hinder his chance, but Dettori made those odds look incredibly generous. Able to settle in ninth, one off the rail, he took a tow into the race from Al Suhail, fanned wide off the home turn and challenged down the centre of the track with devastating effect.

With a furlong and a half to run, the race was over. With a furlong remaining, Dettori put both hands back on the reins and with 50 yards to go he was able to sit up and soak in the moment.

He said: "It was a nice pace, I followed William [Buick, rider of Al Suhail] and I had plenty of horse, I know he stays well so I kicked early and he flew. I didn't have to do much else after that, he did the rest.

"He was a handful in the early days so he got gelded. He's much more focused now and is a horse to go to war with in all the big races this year. He'll try the Prince of Wales's again and I'm sure Mr Gosdens [John and Thady] will have a plan and have lots of fun."

The official margin was three lengths at the line, but in truth that was only reflected the minimum of Lord North's superiority over his 12 rivals.

In his previous 12 starts, the Sheikh Zayed bin Mohammed-owned gelding had earned £532,591. Already a Group 1 winner in the 2020 edition of the Prince of Wales's Stakes, he more than quadrupled that number courtesy of the £1,751,824.82 on offer for finishing first here.

Dubai Turf result

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