by K. T. Donovan

South Africa had a breakthrough night as two of the country’s champions posted victories on the Emirates Airline Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1) card at Nad al Sheba Racecourse, capped by a 2 3/4-length score by Sun Classique in the $5-million Nakheel Dubai Sheema Classic (UAE-G1).

South African champion Jay Peg won the Dubai Duty Free (UAE-G1) and Mike de Kock, a leading trainer in South Africa, earned his first win in the Dubai Sheema Classic with the Australian-bred Sun Classique, who he called “a hell of a mare.”

De Kock also sent out Honour Devil to a win in the S & M al Naboodah United Arab Emirates Derby (UAE-G1) earlier on the card. Sun Classique’s score gave de Kock eight career Dubai World Cup program victories.

“You couldn’t write the script better,” de Kock said. “She’s going the right way, and I want to run her at Royal Ascot and in Chicago, at the Beverly D. [Stakes (G1)].”

Spring House went to the lead with West Wind, originally slated to represent Godolphin in the Dubai Duty Free, chasing closely and Oracle West tracking in third.

Jockey Garrett Gomez had Spring House running easily with plenty of horse, and Viva Pataca, who was considered a serious contender, took a long time to get going. Sun Classique remained on the rail behind the leaders until they started to fade. Jockey Kevin Shea eased her out and Sun Classique came home strongly to win by 2 3/4 lengths over fast-closing Viva Pataca in 2:27.45 on a turf rated as good.

Man o’ War Stakes (G1) and Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Vase (HK-G1) winner Doctor Dino (Fr) closed with an effective rush to grab third despite a poor draw of post 15 in the 16-horse field. Better Talk Now, winner of the 2004 John Deere Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1), finished ninth in the 16-horse field.

“That was a very brave performance to finish third, when he was playing catch-up from that draw,” trainer Richard Gibson said. “He’s a great horse.”

Owned by W.A.J. Rippon and L. Cohen, Sun Classique improved her record to nine wins in 15 starts and boosted her earnings to $3,344,066.

Quijano finished fourth, followed by Youmzain, Sushisan, Gower Song, Mourilyan, Better Talk Now, Spring House, Latency, Gravitas, Oracle West, Yellowstone (Ire), West Wind, and Dansant.

K. T. Donovan is a Thoroughbred Times contributing writer