DUBAI: California Chrome proved in emphatic fashion he was back at his best when he won the Dubai World Cup by five lengths on Saturday.
Second on his debut last year in the world’s richest horse race, the Art Sherman-trained Chrome went one better under jockey Victor Espinoza, despite the saddle slipping way down his back near the end.
By then, the five-year-old US stallion was way out front, having come round wide on the final turn and accelerating with 400 meters to go in the 2,000-meter race on dirt.
“I wasn’t that concerned about (the saddle),” Espinoza, who rode American Pharaoh to the US Triple Crown last year, said, “I just kept looking forward and thinking, ‘Where’s the wire?’ It was not coming fast enough.
“Today, it proves how he can run when he’s 100 percent. He felt strong during the prep. He won easy.”
Chrome, the heavy favorite for the second straight year, started from an unfavorable Stall 11 but was quickly in stride and, even though he ran wide the whole time, placed himself next to Msawish, who took the early lead under Frankie Dettori.
“He likes to be on the outside,” Sherman said. “I just told Victor to get him in a position to win, if you have to lose ground, so be it.
“It’s the dream of a lifetime for me, it doesn’t get better. The Chromies (fans) will be going crazy (back home).”
The Mike de Kock-trained Mubtaahij of Ireland was second, followed by Hopportunity of the US
California Chrome was the 2014 American horse of the year for winning the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes, but didn’t race for 10 months last year because of a bruised bone.
He began his comeback at Santa Anita in January, when he also arrived in the Emirates to acclimate. This was his third straight win, worth $10 million.
Sherman said Chrome would be heading home, unlike last year when he was taken to England.
“I don’t think he’ll go to England,” he said. “We’ll give him 30 days at the farm to let him unwind, and the ultimate goal is the Breeders’ Cup (in November at Santa Anita).”
Earlier, in the Group 1 Dubai Turf, a $6 million turf race over 1,800 meters, Japan’s Real Steel produced a burst over the last 150 meters to rein and pass British leader Euro Charline, ridden by Frankie Dettori. Pre-race favorite, Godolphin’s Tryster, finished third.
“He’s got lots of quality,” Real Steel jockey Ryan Moore said. “It was a big effort from him, he had a tough trip, and was out wide but has toughed it out. He never runs a bad race.”
American horse Postponed won the Dubai Sheema Classic, the Group 1 turf race over 2,410 meters.
Postponed was in the middle of the pack, trailing leaders Duramente and Last Impact, when jockey Andrea Atzeni unleashed Postponed to finish in style, winning by nearly two lengths over his Japanese rival Duramente.
Champion trainer Doug Watson finally tasted glory in the Dubai World Cup when the American completed a clean sweep of the podium in the Godolphin Mile, a 1,600-meter Group 2 race. Irish horse One Man Band won the race, followed by Cool Boy and Faulkner.
California Chrome wins Dubai World Cup by 5 lengths
California Chrome wins Dubai World Cup by 5 lengths
Nunez double seals win as Al-Hilal finish AFC Champions League Elite group stage atop the table
- Reigning champions Al-Ahli take second spot in the West Region rankings with dramatic 4-3 win over Emirati side Shabab Al-Ahli
- The other Saudi contenders, Al-Ittihad, wrap up the group stage with a visit to Al-Sadd of Qatar on Tuesday, having already guaranteed qualification for the Round of 16
DUBAI: Al-Hilal concluded the group stage of the AFC Champions League Elite with a 2-1 home win over Al-Wahda of Abu Dhabi on Monday.
The Riyadh side finished top of the 12-team West Region table on 22 points from eight games, five clear of their closest challengers, Saudi Pro League rivals Al-Ahli. Both clubs progress to the Round of 16, which will played over two legs early next month.
Darwin Nunez gave the home team the lead after 19 minutes with a firm header from a Reuben Neves cross, but Brahim Diarra’s equalizer on 32 minutes meant the teams went into the break on level terms.
Al-Hilal were already guaranteed top place in the group regardless of the result but coach Simone Inzaghi signaled a desire to conclude the group stage in style with a victory as he made four substitutions in a second half during which for long spells his team struggled to break down the visitors from the UAE.
The winner finally came after 77 minutes when Nunez converted substitute Sultan Mandash’s low cross from close range to claim his second of the night.
Earlier, reigning champions Al-Ahli claimed a dramatic 4-3 home win over Emirati club Shabab Al-Ahli to all-but ensure second place in the group table.
The Jeddah side seemed to be coasting to a comfortable victory as they built a 3-0 half-time lead thanks to a Feras Al-Buraikan strike after 12 minutes, a Bogdan Planic own goal in the 35th, and a goal from Enzo Millot in the third minute of first-half stoppage time. Things got even better when Saleh Abu Al-Shamat added fourth from the penalty spot after 52 minutes.
That seemed to be that, but the visitors had other ideas and launched a most unlikely comeback courtesy of two strikes from Breno Cascardo, in the 66th and 78th minutes, and a stoppage-time goal by Mohammed Juma that tested the nerves of Al-Ahli’s fans in the closing moments of the match.
The visitors had barely any time to chase an equalizer, however, and the home team held on.
The Kingdom’s third representatives in the competition, reigning SPL champions Al-Ittihad, wrap up their group stage campaign with a visit to Al-Sadd of Qatar on Tuesday.
The Jeddah side are sitting in fifth place in the table on 12 points from seven matches, and cannot finish any lower than that but could end up as high as third place, depending on results tomorrow. The top eight teams qualify for the Round of 16, in which they will be joined by the top eight finishers from the East Region.
