It's Godolphin's prize once more as US ace Mystic Guide powers clear

Godolphin's US operation was celebrating after the 25th running of the Dubai World Cup sponsored by Emirates Airline, with the Michael Stidham-trained Mystic Guide powering to an authoritative success on the dirt.

Japanese raider Chuwa Wizard was a distant second with the Andre Fabre-trained and William Buick-ridden Magny Cours – having his first run on dirt at the age of six – in third in Godolphin's second cap.

It was a race that was more eventful in the preliminaries than the actual contest which is as much a reflection of Mystic Guide's dominance as the pre-race antics that led to the £8.7 million contest going off 14 minutes late.

First the Abdullah Mishrif-trained Great Scot unshipped Frankie Dettori and galloped loose on the way to post. Then, once he had been caught and withdrawn, the Musabbeh al Mheiri-trained Military Law managed to slip under the stalls. Both horse and rider Antonio Fresu seemed none the worse for the potentially dangerous incident.

It all meant a healthy delay to the feature event of the Dubai Carnival, but once finally away, Hypothetical and Capezzano grabbed the lead with Mystic Guide behind in third under Luis Saez.

By the home turn he had loomed upsides the pacesetter, looking menacing, and straightening up there only looked like being one winner as Saez said go and the pair lengthened right away.

By the line they had skipped three and three-quarter lengths clear of the rest for one of the most dominant displays on a day of wide-margin wins at odds of 6-4.

Saeed bin Suroor's Gifts Of Gold made little impact for the British, finishing ninth under Christophe Soumillon.

"I can't believe it, that was our plan," said a delighted Saez. Outlining the specifics, he added: "Break, get that position, get him relaxed and then waiting for the top of the stretch. I know he's going to give me that kick and he did it, he's a champion."

For the four-year-old winner, who did not make his racecourse debut until three and was having just his eighth career start, it was a first career top-flight success.

A Grade 2 winner in the Jim Dandy at Saratoga and second to Happy Saver in the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont in his last two runs in 2020, the son of Ghostzapper got this year off to an impressive start with a six-length rout in the Grade 3 Razorback Handicap at Oaklawn Park last month.

"He's super," added Saez. "He's a young horse, but last time I rode him I knew he was a Grade 1 winner and today he proved he's the champion and I know he's going to get better and better."

On the delays at the start, he added: "It was a little bit scary, but he stayed relaxed. Inside I was a little nervous about him, but he did a great job.

"This was my dream when I was a little kid so I can't believe I'm here right now, this is the most beautiful thing for me and I want to say to my wife, thank you baby and I'm sorry you couldn't be here."

Dubai World Cup result

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