by Mike Curry

United States Horse of the Year Curlin proved quite capable of defeating some of the best competition in the world as he cruised to a convincing 7 3/4-length romp in the Emirates Airline Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1) on Saturday at Nad al Sheba racecourse.

The Smart Strike colt stalked the pace from the outside during a wide trip but when called upon approaching the quarter pole, Curlin accelerated right past Well Armed and Asiatic Boy. He dispatched the two challengers with just a few powerful strides and opened a commanding advantage under jockey Robby Albarado.

Once heavily favored Curlin seized the lead, the outcome was never in jeopardy as he built an insurmountable chasm between himself and his nearest challenger.

“It’s a great privilege for me to be on him. What a horse,” Albarado said. “I just show up and ride him and get the glory, but everybody works so hard but I am the one that’s seen. He does it all on race day.”

Curlin, who entered off a clear win in the Jaguar Trophy on February 28 at Nad al Sheba, completed 2,000 meters (9.94 furlongs) in 2:00.15.

“It’s easy when you ride a great horse like Curlin,” Albarado said. “He’s not even tired.”

Dubai Millennium completed the distance in 1:59.50 in 2000 to set the Dubai World Cup stakes record. Only Dubai Millennium and last year’s winner, Invasor (Arg) [1:59.97], have posted faster winning times than Curlin.

Asiatic Boy, winner of the 2007 United Arab Emirates Triple Crown, outfinished Well Armed by a neck to take second. Grade 2 winner A. P. Arrow finished another three-quarters of a length back in fourth with another length to Grade 1 winner Great Hunter. Last year’s Dubai World Cup runner-up Premium Tap faded to ninth in the 12-horse field.

Trained by Steve Asmussen for majority owner Jess Jackson’s Stonestreet Stables and minority owner Midnight Cry Stables, Curlin recorded his fourth consecutive victory. He won the Preakness Stakes (G1) last year and closed 2007 with consecutive victories in the Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes (G1) on September 30 and the Breeders’ Cup Classic Powered by Dodge (G1) on October 27.

“He's spoiled us with his consistency and brilliance. Prerace, the horse was in great shape, and he stepped from the stalls and just spoiled us again,” Asmussen said. “For someone from a racing family to have the best horse in the world is really awesome. It's a dream come true.” 

Bred in Kentucky by Fares Farm, Curlin joined Cigar (1996), Pleasantly Perfect (2004), and Invasor (‘07) as Dubai World Cup winners who won the previous year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic.

"We wanted to see if he could compete against the best of the world, and today we saw that he can,” Jackson said after the race.

Curlin improved to eight wins in 11 career starts and boosted his career earnings to $8,807,800 to rank third behind Cigar ($9,999,815) and Skip Away ($9,616,360) among all-time North American-raced earners. He is out of the Deputy Minister mare Sherriff’s Deputy.

For a replay of this and other races on the Dubai World Cup card, click here.

Mike Curry is Thoroughbred Times TODAY editor