NEWS
A horse for the new millennium
Posted: Saturday, April 01, 2000
Sheikh Mohammed's vision of Dubai Millennium winning the Dubai World Cup came true
Running his hand down the sloping shoulder of the young bay colt, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum was struck by his broad chest, his muscled hindquarters, and the flame in his eyes.
The sheikh had a vision on that day in France in 1998 as he studied the two-year-old son of Seeking the Gold. This was a horse who could win the Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1) for him, not a horse who should retain his registered name Yaazer, an Arabic personal appellation with a similar meaning and commonality to Joe in English.
This was a horse who could blaze through the millennium to come. Hence Sheikh Mohammed decided to rename him Dubai Millennium.
In the cool desert evening of March 25 before a crowd of about 30,000 at Nad al Sheba Racecourse, Dubai Millennium fulfilled that prophecy in a manner so stunning that it electrified even Sheikh Mohammed.
After leading nearly every step of the 1 1/4 miles, and pricking his ears much of the way, Dubai Millennium sneered at the challenge of America's best, Behrens, and the rest of the 13-horse field and rocketed to a six-length victory in a track-record 1:59.50.
Standing in the royal box surrounded by his family, Sheikh Mohammed flung his racing program high in the air as Dubai Millennium crossed the finish line, inspiring others around him to follow suit. A hailstorm of programs cascaded down as dozens of Maktoums embraced.
"This horse, with this name, winning here today has given me the best race of of my life," Sheikh Mohammed, Dubai's crown prince, said after accepting the solid gold trophy for the world's richest race, which he created to promote his nation and racing in the United Arab Emirates. "I cannot begin to tell you how I feel inside.
"When I changed his name, I knew he was a good horse. I was hoping he would go all the way to this day, and he has not let me down. ... This is the best horse I have ever seen."
Some racing fans who viewed the World Cup might agree with the sheikh, who bred the four-year-old colt out of the Shareef Dancer mare Colorado Dancer (Ire). The triumph in the $6-million event-$3.6-million in purse money for the Godolphin Racing stable Sheikh Mohammed directs for his family-was especially impressive in that it was just the second start on dirt for Dubai Millennium. In his first, on March 2 at Nad al Sheba, he set the previous record for the distance.
Dubai Millennium now boasts a lifetime record of eight wins in nine starts and earnings of $4,235,520. He suffered his only loss in the Epsom Derby (Eng-G1) last year, finishing ninth behind winner Oath after losing his composure in the saddling area.
For the future, Sheikh Mohammed said he will point Dubai Millennium at more of the major events in Europe and North America that are part of the Emirates World Series Racing Championship. The World Cup is the first leg of that series, which this year includes 11 races around the planet, and also was created in large part by Sheikh Mohammed, with financial sponsorship from Emirates Airlines.
The Breeders' Cup Classic (G1), the $5-million race to be run this year at Churchill Downs, could be the culmination of Dubai Millennium's 2000 campaign.
No shroud of secrecy
Godolphin is renowned for the tight veil of privacy it maintains over its worldwide operations, yet no one in the organization could hide the enthusiasm bubbling for Dubai Millennium. Two days before the fifth running of the World Cup, Sheikh Mohammed told a gathering of international racing journalists that he was "willing to put my head on the block" and his heart on his sleeve while praising the abilities of the horse he called his favorite.
Trainer Saeed bin Suroor also said he was confident, yet after the race he admitted that he had been awestruck by the performance.
"We expected him to win easily, but not like this," said Suroor, who had diligently schooled Dubai Millennium in the Nad al Sheba paddock several times before the World Cup in hopes of avoiding a repeat of the colt's Epsom meltdown. Dubai Millennium was completely professional on World Cup night, despite a teeming crowd of people and horses in the small walking ring. The 13 entries, including five from the United States following the scratch of the Richard Mandella-trained Malek (Chi), were the most ever in a World Cup.
Simon Crisford, racing manager for Godolphin, also was amazed by Dubai Millennium, the 1999 English Free Handicap highweight from 7-to-9 1/2 furlongs, whom British bookmakers made an odds-on World Cup favorite. There is no betting in the Islamic emirates.
"When he was in front early, I was a bit worried because he was setting a lethal pace," said Crisford. "But he's got a serious engine."
No fractional times are released at Nad al Sheba, but officials said that deficiency would be corrected next year.
Jockey Frankie Dettori, who has been Godolphin's chief rider for five years, enjoyed the most intimate perspective of the World Cup. Dubai Millennium, who had drawn what Crisford said was the somewhat undesirable number two post position between Behrens on his inside and 1999 Super Derby (G1) winner Ecton Park on his other flank, jumped out of the starting gate like a tiger.
"He's got a mind of his own, and today he said, 'Let's go,' " Dettori related. "I said, 'Okay, let's go.' "
Pressed from the inside in the early going by stablemate Worldly Manner, the Riverman colt Godolphin purchased for a reported $5-million to contest last year's Kentucky Derby (G1), and from the outside by California-based Saint's Honor, Dubai Millennium appeared nonetheless to be loping along on an easy stroll.
After skimming around the far turn of the triangular-shaped course and with only about a furlong remaining, Dettori heard the sound of the crowd roaring with delight. Behrens and jockey Jorge Chavez had tried to come after Dubai Millennium from the outside but found their attack quickly repulsed.
When he heard the crowd, Dettori said, "I thought I could afford to have a look (to see who was in second). I nearly broke my neck because I couldn't see anybody.
"I had tears in my eyes," exclaimed the 29-year-old Italian-born rider who also has piloted such brilliant Maktoum stars as 1995 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Lammtarra and 1999 Breeders' Cup Turf (G1) winner and Emirates World Series champion Daylami (Ire). "No words can describe this performance tonight. He's the best that I have ridden.
"Even you guys could have won this one tonight," he added to reporters. "That's no bull."
Challenge for the future
There was no disgrace in losing for William Clifton Jr.'s and Rudlein Stable's Behrens, who entered the race off a facile victory in the Gulfstream Park Handicap (G1) on February 26. Trainer H. James Bond had said the six-year-old Pleasant Colony horse, who finished fifth in the 1998 World Cup won by Silver Charm, had shipped well and was in superb shape.
After the race, Bond praised Dubai Millennium but issued a challenge.
"I would love to have a rematch in the Breeders' Cup Classic," Bond said. "The sheikh has got himself a great horse, and I would love to meet him again at Churchill Downs. I am up for the challenge."
Although losing, Behrens celebrated the largest payday of his four-year career, earning $1.2-million for second and upping his lifetime earnings to $4,259,000.
Chavez said he and Behrens could not get close to Dubai Millennium, although they were clearly superior to the rest of the field, finishing 5 1/2 lengths in front of Juddmonte Farms' Public Purse, the Bobby Frankel-trained son of Private Account making his first start on dirt.
"He ran great," Chavez said of Behrens, "but the winner was much the best. I looked at him and I said, 'Not today; I'm not going to beat him,' but I was happy with the way my horse ran."
Public Purse, close up in the early going, was not helped by the race being his first under lights as well as his initial dirt effort, jockey Corey Nakatani said, but he persevered, winding up a head in front of Puerto Madero (Chi). With his third-place check of $600,000, Public Purse more than doubled his career earnings to $1,103,324.
Trainer Mandella said Puerto Madero balked at the lights in deep stretch to squander third. Completing the order of finish were Ecton Park, World Cleek from Japan, Running Stag of England, Hong Kong's Indigenous, Lear Spear of England, Saint's Honor, Strudel Fitz representing Saudi Arabia, and Godolphin's Gracioso and Worldly Manner.
Perhaps the best testimony to Dubai Millennium's commanding performance in the World Cup came from those who tried to run with him early-Saint's Honor and Worldly Manner, who both faltered.
Passing the royal baton
World Cup day was a Maktoum extravaganza, with the family claiming victory in six of the seven races on the program, which was worth a total of $12-million.
Sheikh Mohammed's eldest son, Sheikh Rashid bin Mohammed al Maktoum, reported to be 19, seized on his father's example and scored the biggest win of his life with his Cozzene colt Rhythm Band in the $2-million Dubai Duty Free (UAE-G3) at 1 1/8 miles on the turf.
Ridden by Ted Durcan, a 27-year-old Irishman with an undistinguished career before Sheikh Rashid selected him to be his main rider in Dubai (where he is leading jockey in the current season), Rhythm Band overcame being blocked on the rail in midstretch to win by three-quarters of a length. His time was 1:48.60 on a surface rated good.
Easaar, owned by Sheikh Mohammed's brother, Dubai Deputy Ruler Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid al Maktoum, was second and Daniel Wildenstein's Kingsalsa ran third. American-based Ladies Din, who rallied mildly in the stretch, finished fifth, Takarian (Ire) eighth, and early pacesetter Band Is Passing last of 11.
"Let's party!" an exuberant Sheikh Rashid said after the win, telling Durcan he is the "best rider."
"Your horse did it," Durcan replied. "This means everything to me. ... I wasn't even in the middle of the road (professionally) and (Sheikh Rashid) plucked me out. To win this for him is unbelievable."
"It was an amazing victory," Sheikh Rashid continued. "I'm really more happy for Ted than myself."
In a poignant moment, Durcan somehow threaded through the crowd much as he had done in the race, to find his mother, visiting from Ireland, and introduced her to the sheikh.
"Thank you for all the opportunities you gave Ted," Jill Durcan said in a soft voice.
"Now that he believes in himself, he'll go on to be one of the best jockeys in the world," Sheikh Rashid assured her.
A handsome gray four-year-old bred in Kentucky by Behrens's co-owner Clifton, Rhythm Band was making just his fifth lifetime start. Rhythm Band broken his maiden at Belmont Park in his only start in 1998 and also won in his only start in '99, at England's Doncaster racecourse.
Trained by Suroor, Rhythm Band earned $1.2-million for Sheikh Rashid, who said he hopes to one day be the "top owner in the world." He currently owns about 80 horses.
Apparently serious concerning his party plans, Sheikh Rashid left Nad al Sheba in a small convoy of Range Rovers and Mercedes-Benz automobiles. Leaning his body far out a passenger window as the vehicles proceeded down a highway toward Sheikh Mohammed's palace, Sheikh Rashid waved his arms victoriously in the air as if to proclaim he owned the glittering Dubai city skyline.
Ruling the Sheema
Dubai's ruler, Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid al Maktoum, the eldest of Sheikh Mohammed's brothers, took a turn in the spotlight when his Fantastic Light galloped to a three-length win in the $2-million Dubai Sheema Classic (UAE-G3) at 1 1/2 miles on the turf.
Sluggish at the break, Fantastic Light responded to urging from jockey Kieren Fallon to snare the lead with about two furlongs left to run. The four-year-old Rahy colt's time of 2:27.70 set a course record on the manicured surface known as the "Green Carpet."
Caitano (GB), who has competed in seven nations, collected second in the field of 16, followed two lengths farther back by 1998 Epsom Derby winner High-Rise, running in the colors of Sheikh Mohammed Obaid al Maktoum. American-based Thesaurus finished 13th and Potrizaris (Arg) was last.
Even while celebrating, however, the Maktoums received some troubling news when Dettori reported that High-Rise "was not right" after being pulled up. No report was immediately available on High-Rise's condition.
Sagamix, the 1998 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (Fr-G1) winner for previous owner Jean-Luc Lagardere, also disappointed for Godolphin, winding up ninth.
Heading for Kentucky?
Two days before the World Cup, following the news conference at which Sheikh Mohammed proclaimed his faith in Dubai Millennium, trainer Suroor quietly confided to a handful of reporters that he had high expectations for China Visit in the inaugural UAE Derby.
Created by Sheikh Mohammed as a prep for his horses aiming at the American classics, the $500,000 Derby drew a field of 16, eight trained by Suroor for the Maktoums and friends, who swept the first four places. None of the starters had previously raced in the U.S.
Bin Suroor also proved prophetic as China Visit, kept to his task down the stretch by jockey Richard Hills, drove impressively past pacesetting Bachir, Godolphin's 1999 Richmond Stakes (Eng-G2) winner, for a 4 1/2-length victory. Curule was a neck back in third, followed by Inchlonaig.
"He gave 100%," Hills told Crisford in the winner's circle.
"Definitely he's a horse with tremendous potential," Crisford said. "We know now he can run on the dirt and on the grass (in his only previous career start he won by eight lengths on deep turf at Deauville, France, last August). You've just got to choose the race."
"He might go to the Kentucky Derby," said Sheikh Mohammed, who has made winning the Derby his main goal in racing. "Or he might go in the (English classic) Two Thousand Guineas (Eng-G1). But the door is open."
British bookmakers immediately made China Visit 4-to-1 for the Guineas, dropping radically from the 66-to-1 at which they held him only ten days previously.
Crisford said Godolphin would pay the $6,000 late fee due April 1 to nominate China Visit to the American Triple Crown. If he does go to Kentucky, the son of Red Ransom bred by Sheikh Maktoum's Gainsborough Farm probably will race again in a Godolphin trial event at Nad al Sheba prior to leaving Dubai.
Godolphin already has nominated 12 runners to the Triple Crown, including 1999 Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) runner-up and recent purchase Chief Seattle, who also will run in a Nad al Sheba trial, Crisford said.
Going on a Jag
When Julius Zolezzi's homebred Big Jag arrived in the paddock for the inaugural $1-million Golden Shaheen at six furlongs, his physical presence delivered a message to his 13 rivals. The seven-year-old bay gelding arched his neck and extended his front legs markedly, slapping his feet down with each stride in an equine strut.
Once he got to the racetrack, he kept right on strutting. Breaking sharply from the third hole, Big Jag ranged up boldly midway through the dash, with jockey Alex Solis slightly cocking the son of Kleven's head as he tried to reserve him for the finish.
Once Solis gave the signal, Big Jag was gone, winning by four lengths and smashing the track record with a time of 1:08.10, 1.1 seconds faster than the previous mark. Godolphin's Bertolini was second, a short head in front of the W. Elliott Walden-trained Bet Me Best, who was coming off a fourth-place finish in the February 6 Deputy Minister Handicap (G3) at Gulfstream Park.
"I'd be a little worried if he didn't do that (strut in the paddock)," said Big Jag's trainer, Tim Pinfield. "Whenever he's really on his game, he seems to do that. He loves this game, and he's just showing off. He thinks everyone is here to see him."
A jubilant Zolezzi, who operates a fleet of fishing boats and named Big Jag for a term describing a major haul of tuna, happily hoisted the Shaheen's tall silver trophy topped by the figure of a falcon. The race is named after a swift Arabian hunting raptor legendary in the region.
"I never had a dream we'd be in Dubai," said Zolezzi. "When we first started racing him, we had no idea he could run like this. I feel like a champ."
Solis, who was celebrating his 36th birthday, said he was not surprised at the acceleration Big Jag uncorked when he turned him loose in the latter stages of the dash, a no-turn free-for-all out of a chute. "We know what kind of horse this is," Solis exclaimed, noting that he rode the gelding to his first career victory in 1996 at Santa Anita Park. Jose Valdivia Jr. has been riding Big Jag, who now has proved he is a world-class sprinter, in recent races.
Big Jag finished third in the $681,580 Hong Kong Sprint at Sha Tin last December after stumbling at the start. Five weeks earlier, he was third in champion Artax's Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1).
With the Shaheen's $600,000 first place check, Big Jag has career earnings of $1,715,329 and can strut over nine stakes victories.
Pinfield said he might point his star toward the one-turn Metropolitan Handicap (G1) at Belmont Park on May 29, with the Breeders' Cup Sprint again the ultimate goal.
SANDS OF THE DESERT-As always, the World Cup drew its share of the glamorous and the wealthy. At the lavish Arabian Nights party in the desert, Sheikh Mohammed socialized with Miss Lebanon, who on World Cup night presented him with Daylami's World Series trophy, and Ron Wood of the Rolling Stones. Wood, who also owns Thoroughbreds, told Sheikh Mohammed that "You sure know how to attract a crowd" when photographers ringed the pair. ... A local racing publication, Al Adiyat, snapped a photo of mop-haired Wood who somehow wound up in the magazine's World Cup preview section on Puerto Madero identified as Racing Hall of Fame jockey Laffit Pincay Jr. ... J. Terrence Lanni, co-owner of Ladies Din and retiring chairman of Las Vegas casino giant MGM Grand, told one of his Arab hosts in the paddock prior to the Duty Free that he was honored to be in Dubai. "If the rules ever change" in the area, Lanni added that he would like to bring the casino business to the region, which does not allow gambling. There has been much speculation that Sheikh Mohammed might one day agree to some casino-type operation in conjunction with the luxurious new Burj al Arab hotel, which was built in the Persian Gulf just beyond the Dubai shoreline. ... Although there is no conventional gambling in Dubai, Nad al Sheba did conduct a "Pick 7 contest" on the World Cup card and a Superfecta-like contest on the World Cup. Single winners in each event received huge cash prizes. ... Nasal strips have arrived in the Middle East. Even Sheikh Hamdan's Nivour de Cardonne, who won the $250,000 Kahayla Classic for purebred Arabians, sported one of the breathing aid devices. The five-year-old horse is trained by former American-based conditioner Kiaran McLaughlin, who also has many Thoroughbreds for Sheikh Hamdan. ... In the $250,000 Godolphin Mile, Sheikh Marwan al Maktoum's locally based Conflict, steered by Durcan, defeated Sheikh Hamdan's Iftitah by a short head, with that sheikh's Muhtathir running a neck back in third. ... The Television Games Network (TVG) broadcast from Dubai during World Cup week and managed to snag a post-race interview with Sheikh Mohammed. TVG Executive Producer Tony Allevato said the work was fun but demanding; he even had to personally help string 300 yards of cable at the track to get his job done.
Michele MacDonald is news editor of Thoroughbred Times.
Malek injured, likely to be retired
Trainer Richard Mandella lost half of his one-two punch in the $6-million Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1) when veteran handicap horse Malek (Chi) pulled up sore following a blowout at Nad al Sheba racecourse the day before the event and was scratched.
The seven-year-old, who was second in last year's World Cup and fourth in the 1998 World Cup, suffered a slight tear in the suspensory ligament of his right foreleg and probably will be retired, said Mandella, who saddled Puerto Madero (Chi) in the world's richest race.
"He gave us a little sign of it last week," Mandella said, referring to a slight lameness Malek exhibited after a workout. "And he came out of his little blowout this morning a little sore. I'll check with the owners as to where he's going to stud and we'll know something very soon."
Mandella reported on World Cup day that Malek was walking soundly and that his owners were assessing interest in the horse.
Proving his quality on three continents during his career, Malek was Chile's champion two-year-old in 1996 after winning two Group 1 races. Following his importation to the United States, he scored his biggest career victory in the '98 Santa Anita Handicap (G1).
Last year, after being squeezed in the stretch run, Malek finished second, beaten three-quarters of a length by Almutawakel (GB), in the World Cup. The son of Mocito Guapo out of Condegnita, by Chairman Walker, has a career record of 10-7-2 in 23 starts with earnings of $2,382,623.
Malek is owned by Francisco and Theresa Cortes of Santiago, Chile, who campaign horses in the United States and South America under the stable name of Great Falls S A.
-Michele MacDonald
