Ushba Tesoro’s hold-up surge chins Algiers to win Dubai World Cup
Ushba Tesoro produced a remarkable run, coming from the back of the field under Yuga Kawada, to take the Dubai World Cup for Japan.
When they turned for home, James Doyle aboard the Simon and Ed Crisford-trained Algiers looked the likely winner and went a length clear with a furlong and a half to run.
But the imposing Ushba Tesoro (9-1), who had won five of his six starts since being switched to the dirt, ignored the kick-back as he circled the field and with a blistering turn of foot and ran down Doyle’s mount to win by two and three quarter lengths.
After recording Japan’s second success in the race, following Victoire Pisa in 2011, winning trainer Noboru Takagi said: “I thought he would be in with a chance at the 100-metre mark. Yuga is one of the best riders in Japan, so it was a no-brainer to go with him today. It is an amazing feeling to have won a race like this. We will talk to the owners and decide on his future going forward.”
Last year’s winner Country Grammer never looked like giving Frankie Dettori another famous victory in his last season, on what was the final Dubai ride of his career. “I think it was just a bridge too far,” said Dettori. “He had a hard race in Saudi and left it there. When I pulled him out there wasn’t the usual spark, but what a horse he’s been to me. At least I got one on the night and can go and have a nice cold beer now.”
Dettori and Lord North had earlier completed a Dubai Turf hat-trick when holding off the late challenge of Danon Beluga in another pulsating renewal of the Grade One contest. The Gosden horse reunited with his regular partner and the Italian was always in the ideal stalking position.
For Dettori, it was a moment to savour. “It’s my farewell season and to win this on a horse that has done three years in a row is fantastic,” he said. “He can get sick easily and he’s a seven-yearold gelding, but I was that confident I lost my whip 300 [yards] out! I’m super chuffed.”
Meanwhile, Equinox justified his status as the best turf horse in the world, smashing the Meydan mile-anda-half track record in landing the $6m Longines Dubai Sheema Classic. Christophe Lemaire’s mount did it the hard way, his white face leading all the way and stretching to a scintillating threeand-a-half-length victory for the Tetsuya Kimura-trained colt, a son of Japanese sire Kitasan Black.
Lemaire’s charge cruised on the front end, tracked by the John and Thady Gosden-trained Mostahdaf under Jim Crowley. Lemaire always had any move covered, though, and he kicked clear with two furlongs to run and, eased down, lowered the track record by over a second.
Lemaire said: “He is a fantastic horse. He is getting better race after race. Today he was a little bit fresh and keen, but OK, I rode the best horse and I had no fear to make the pace. I am so happy for connections.”
Ryan Moore brilliantly timed his horse’s run to perfection as Broome ran down Siskany in a thrilling finish to the Dubai Gold Cup. The Aidan O’Brientrained seven-year-old has clocked up plenty of air miles on his travels since winning the Hardwicke at Royal Ascot in June. Though subsequent sorties to North America, Ireland, France Japan and Doha had proved fruitless, Moore was back on board for the first time since the gelding’s fine fourth at Saratoga in August.