NEWS
Invasor wins Dubai World Cup
Posted: Saturday, March 31, 2007 1:46 PM
INVASOR
Dubai Racing Club/Andrew Watkins photo
by K. T. Donovan
Touted all week as the duel in the desert, the $6-million Emirates Airline Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1) lived up to the billing—but the horse racing stride-for-stride through the stretch with favorite Invasor (Arg) was not who many expected.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum’s previously unbeaten Discreet Cat did not run his race. Instead Horse of the Year Invasor, owned by Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid al Maktoum, dueled with Premium Tap through the stretch before powering clear to post a 1 3/4-length victory under jockey Fernando Jara at Nad al Sheba racecourse on Saturday.
”I had a lot of horse, but I could see that Premium Tap was moving so easily, that I had to take the race to him a little earlier than I planned,” Jara said.
Premium Tap rushed to the lead under jockey Kent Desormeaux with Vermilion behind him and Forty Licks pressing on his outside. Discreet Cat, forwardly placed in each of his previous starts, was nowhere near the lead while Invasor raced midpack in his usual spot.
The reigning Horse of the Year was pushed forward by Fernando Jara and challenged Premium Tap on far turn. As they swung into the straight, the crowd roared as it became apparent that Invasor would not just blow by his tough competitor.
Not until the last 150 meters was the outcome determined as Invasor finally took the measure of fiercely stubborn Premium Tap and pulled away to win in 1:59.97 for the 2,000 meters (9.94 furlongs).
“Not until the final sixteenth did I ever think I would get passed,” said a disappointed Desormeaux. “I had so much horse, and he was traveling so well, that from the 800 meters to the 400 meters, I was really enjoying that ride. Even at the 200 meters, I thought I had it won.”
Hong Kong’s 2006 Horse of the Year, Bullish Luck, finished third, eight lengths behind the top two.
Invasor was so relentless that Jara said he never had any doubt he would finally get by Premium Tap.
Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin made his way to the winner’s circle with his son, then turned around to greet his boss and friend Sheikh Hamdan, who came down from the royal box. The two hugged, grinning, as words were not needed to convey the strong feelings between the two.
“What a horse!” McLaughlin kept repeating as he went to greet his charge, who improved to 11 wins from 12 career starts and avenged his lone career defeat to Discreet Cat in the 2006 S & M al Naboodah UAE Derby (UAE-G2).
Meanwhile, John Kimmel, trainer of the beaten challenger, watched as the weight of the defeat pressed on him.
“He gave it a good try,” he said. “I guess he couldn’t beat a Horse of the Year.”
Neither could Discreet Cat, who did not beat anyone in the field while finishing last of seven.
“He did not stay the trip, and will be dropped back to a mile,” said trainer Saeed bin Suroor. “We’re disappointed in the result, but he’s sound, and he will stay here for a while. We’ll take him back to the United States later in the year.”
“I knew I was beaten before turning for home,” jockey Frankie Dettori said. “He wasn’t moving well, and it was just a bad day.”
For McLaughlin, the World Cup victory was one he wanted more than any other.
“Tonight was a great year, not just a great night,” he said with a chuckle. “Sheikh Hamdan is a great owner and person, and to win this for him after working for him here for ten years…to bring him this, means so much to me.”
K. T.Donovan is a Thoroughbred Times contributing writer
