The Dubai World Cup (DWC) Meeting is now firmly established as one of the greatest races around the world. The ninth running of the US$ 6,000,000 DWC (Group 1) sponsored by Emirates Airline has once again been a huge success with an estimated crowd of 35,000 people attending the meeting on Saturday 27th March at Nad Al Sheba. Following the first running of the DWC in 1996, the meeting has attracted growing interest from racing fans all around the world and has today become a must for racing lovers.

It stands as the clear leader in international horse racing. The DWC has seen some great champions over the years since the victory of Cigar in the inaugural running. They include: Singspiel (1997), Silver Charm (1998), Almutawakel (1999), Dubai Millenium (2000), Captain Steeve (2001), Street Cry (2002), Moon Ballad (2003) and this year?s winner, Pleasantly Perfect.

Along with the DWC there are three other Group I races for thoroughbreds and a Group I for purebred Arabians, plus the Group II Godolphin Mile and UAE Derby. The total prize money on the day is US$ 15,250,000. This ensures that it is one of the most significant days in global thoroughbred horseracing. The DWC 2004 edition has not only witnessed some of the best world equine athletes competing at Nad Al Sheba but also brought to a close the inaugural Dubai International Racing Carnival, which began on January 29th, bringing to world racing fans nine weeks of top calibre horse racing action and social entertainment. With total prize money on offer during the ten race meetings at Nad Al Sheba of US$ 21,000,000, it made this racing carnival the richest and most prestigious in the world.

This year?s DWC had a number of exciting changes and enhancements, especially for the guests enjoying the International Village. Every single guest was assured an exceptional evening of racing entertainment.

<B>Blazing fashion and fine surprises</B>

Most ladies attending the DWC are dressed to show off some eye-popping couture. Following the tremendous interest in the 2003 ?Best Dressed Lady? and ?Best Hat? competitions, the aim was to outmatch their success with fabulous prizes by Saks Fifth Avenue and Al Maha Desert Resort.

The latter offered a first prize comprising three nights accommodation in the Royal Suite, for four people, all meals from Al Maha?s award-winning kitchen and onsite activities. Saks Fifth Avenue rewarded the best-dressed lady with a Louis Féraud hat exclusively designed for DWC 2004 .

The runner-up was rewarded with two nights? stay in the Bedouin suite for two people with all meals and on-site activities. Saks Fifth Avenue offered the runner-up a US$ 1,000 voucher. Some of the evening dresses and hats were simply stunning. The DWC fashion aspect is one of the very few, if not the only one, to show potential comparison with the Royal Ascot Festival where ladies are dressed to look well-finished, rich and to stand out. The DWC has established itself not only as one of the most important horseracing events but also a fashion rendez-vous not to be missed.

Those attending the DWC had the chance to win a magnificent Bentley Arnage R as part of Dubai Duty-Free?s participation in the world?s richest race meeting. The number of tickets was limited to 2,000 at Dhs 500 per ticket (Rs 3,700). Jaguar, the DWC official car sponsor, and local importer Al Tayer Motors also allowed spectators to try their luck and win a Jaguar S-Type 2.5 litre V6 fully-loaded vehicle, in a raffle on the day?s event. 15,000 raffle tickets priced at Dhs 20.00 each were on sale at Nad Al Sheba.

The famous Estee Lauder brand invited both ladies and gentlemen to their Fragrance Stall to use a selection of its products to freshen up all day.

<B>Pleasantly Perfect wins the DWC</B>

Pleasantly Perfect tracked the leaders from the start of the Dubai World Cup race to headway over 2 furlong out before staying on well under pressure to win the world?s richest race at Nad Al Sheba last Saturday 27th March. The American pair battled fiercely in the last 400 yards with Medaglia d?Oro fighting back gamely in the final yards. Pleasantly Perfect proved too strong on the night and clinched the US$ 6,000,000 race by three-quarters of a length. South African- trained Victory Moon claimed third place five lengths behind. Richard Mandella, trainer of Pleasantly Perfect, dedicated this victory to his mentor, former trainer Lefty Nickerson, who died on Friday.

<B>Dubai Kahayla Classic (Gr. 1) </B>

Kaolino owned by Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, ridden by Richard Hills and trained by Gillain Duffield won the opening race of the DWC 2004. Kaolino flew to victory with a comfortable three and a half lengths ahead of Jiysh, ridden by French jockey, Dominique Boeuf. Ted Durcan?s mount, Van Nistelrooy, took third place.

<B>Godolphin Mile (Gr. 2)</B>

The US$ 1,000,000 Godolphin Mile (Gr II), sponsored by Jebel Ali International Hotels over 1600 metres on the Nad Al Sheba dirt track was won for the second year in a row by Firebreak, ridden by Frankie Dettori. Firebreak had a comfortable four and a half lengths win ahead of Tropical Star ridden by Richard Mullen. Dettori praised the winning trainer, Saeed Bin Suroor who won the race for the seventh time in nine runnings.

<B>UAE Derby (Gr. 2)</B>

The Brazilian bred three-year old, Lundy?s Liability, ridden by an inspired Waichong Marwing, scored a double for South African trainer Mike De Kock in the US$ 2,000,000 UAE Derby. The determination of jockey Marwing proved too good as he drove Lundy?s Liability tthrough a hard fought battle to the line with Little Jim ridden by Ted Durcan and trained by Satish Seemar, finishing second. Jerry Bailey?s Petit Paris came third.

<B>Dubai Sheema Classic (Gr. 1)</B>

US jockey, Gary Stevens, stole the show in the US$ 2,000,000 Dubai Sheema Classic (Gr. 1) sponsored by The Palm, by winning on Andre Fabre?s Polish Summer. Prince Khalid Abdullah?s horse hit the front after leader Warrsan, ridden by Mick Kinane, faded in the final half furlong to clinch the race ahead of Hard Buck ridden by John Velazquez who briefly led before settling for second. The next most likely target for Polish Summer seems to be the Vodafone Coronation Cup. Dubai Golden Shaheen (Gr. 1)

America?s first win of the evening came from John Sadler?s Our New Recruit in the US$ 2,000,000 Dubai Golden Shaheen (Gr. 1) over 1,200 metres. Breeder?s Cup Sprint winner Cajun Beat was favourite at 13-8 to land another Group 1 victory but Jerry Nailey?s mount could not find that extra kick in the final stages and finished fourth. Alke, the second favourite at 9-2 came second behind the 20-1 Our New Recruit ridden by Alex Solis. Dubai Duty Free (Gr. 1)

The most thrilling finish of this ninth DWC running was undoubtedly the battle to the line between Paolini and Right Approach who were head to head at the wire in the US$ 2,000,000 Dubai Duty Free sponsored by Dubai Duty Free over 1777 metres on turf. After having analysed the photo finish, the judge declared a dead heat between the Andreas Wohler-trained Paolini ridden by Eduardo Pedroza and Mike de Kock-trained Right Approach mount of Weichong Marwing. The first dead heat in DWC history.

<B>Text and pictures: Yahia Nazroo</B>