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 Postponed gets a kiss from jockey Andrea Atzeni after winning the Sheema Classic
Dubai Turf results More Dubai World Cup photos Dubai Sheema Classic & Dubai Gold Cup results UAE Derby results Dubai Golden Shaheen & Al Quoz Sprint results Godolphin Mile results |
The $6 million Dubai Sheema Classic (G1) is the last of four scheduled turf races held on Dubai World Cup night. A field of 9 older horses went 2410 meters (about 1 1/2 miles), one complete circuit of the turf oval at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai. Postponed was sent off as the even money favorite off wins in the Prix Foy (G2) and Dubai City of Gold (G2). In to challenge him included 2-1 second choice Highland Reel, winner of the Hong Kong Vase (G1) and Secretariat Stakes (G1) and 7-2 third choice Duramente, winner of the Nakayama Kinen (G2) and Japanese Derby (G1).
 Postponed leads down the stretch in the Sheema Classic |
Results Chart for the race from Emirates Racing Authority which includes a link to the video replay. Results for US wagering:
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Left: Postponed in the winner's enclosure. Trainer Roger Varian, celebrating his first World Cup night win, said, “To win here tonight is right up there with the best, and it is great for the team back home. This is one of the biggest nights of the calendar on the global stage. The prize money is nice but it is winning these big races which excites us all. He is a heck of a good horse as a King George winner. He is versatile and professional and ticks all the right boxes. I imagine the King George will again be his mid-summer target with a run or two before."
Right: The trophy presentation for the Sheema Classic.
Left: Postponed heads to the starting gate before the race. Winning jockey Andrea Atzeni said, “It was very straight-forward, he travelled brilliantly and was in a nice position all the way. I knew it would take a good horse to beat him today. It's great for my boss Sheikh Obaid, everyone has done a really good job with him. What a way to celebrate a (25th) birthday! It means a lot, it's what racing's all about."
Right: Postponed parades with his winner's blanket.
Left: Second place finisher Duramente behind the starting gate. He lost a shoe shortly before the gate loading and his connections opted to let him run without it. Jockey Mirco Demuro said, “It was very unfortunate that he ripped a shoe off before the race and then they could not re-plate him. He wasn't comfortable on that firm ground with only three shoes. He was changing his legs. It was all unusual for him. Still, he ran very well and was beaten by an excellent horse. We still have a lot to look forward to."
Right: Third place finisher Last Impact returns after the race. Jockey Joao Moreira said, "My horse just tried so hard, he ended up running a good race. I was very pleased to be given the chance to ride him. I had a good position, I was just 1 1/2 lengths behind the winner, but if he had been good enough he'd have gone past."
 Vazirabad gets a kiss in the winner's enclosure. |
The $1 million Dubai Gold Cup (G2) is the longest race on World Cup night, contested at 3200 meters (about 2 miles) on the turf. Prix Chaudenay (G2) and Prix Royal-Oak (G1) winner Vazirabad was the 7-10 favorite in the field of 11 over 5-1 second choice Big Orange, 5th in the Melbourne Cup (G1) last out, and 13-2 third choice Manatee, an allowance winner at Chantilly after finishing 5th in the Prix Royal-Oak.
Jockey Tadhg O'Shea sent 43-1 Certerach to the lead first time by and he set fractions of 26.01, 49.72, 1:15.47, 1:41.50, 2:06.40, and 2:32.00 while pressed by Big Orange and stalked by 42-1 Neo Black Dia. At the top of the stretch, Certerach tired allowing Big Orange to inherit the lead through 1 3/4 miles in 2:56.47. Big Orange held the lead to the 1/16 pole but Vazirabad, 7th early, caught Big Orange inside the final 1/16 to outfinish him by a neck in 3:19.56. It was a long 4 3/4 length back to 6-1 fourth choice Haafaguinea third.
Results Chart for the race from Emirates Racing Authority which includes a link to the video replay. Results for US wagering:
3RD RACE Meydan Racecourse - DUBAI GOLD CUP (Group 2)
1 Vazirabad $3.40 $2.10 -
7 Big Orange - $3.60 -
11 Haafaguinea - $4.60 -
Running time - 3:19:56
$1.00 EXACTA 1-7 $9.70
$1.00 TRIFECTA 1-7-11 $38.40
$1.00 SUPERFECTA 1-7-11-3 $472.50
Left: Vazirabad heads to the winner's enclosure. Winnng trainer Alain de Royer-Dupre said, “He was behind, but his main quality is his big turn of foot, and we are not afraid to use it. He was a little tired at the end of the race; perhaps he came too early!"
Right: The trophy presentation for the Dubai Gold Cup. Georges Rimaud, racing manager for owner-breeder The Aga Khan added, “I was a little anxious when he was behind most of the field, but he handled the turn very well and once he started to improve I knew his very good acceleration would come into play. The second horse has great stamina, so it was an excellent effort from our horse."
Left: Second place finisher Big Orange warms up before the race. Trainer Michael Bell said, “That was a huge run. The favourite is a very good horse and he made him pull out all the stops. It couldn't have gone better, the race went beautifully apart from the fact he got beat a neck. We'll make a plan when we get home but that tees us up nicely for a big year."
Right: Third place finisher Haafaguinea heads to the track before the race. Jockey James Doyle said, “It was a very nice race for him. They went a good gallop,which was unusual for this trip. It was a nice smooth run throughout and it was a monster effort from him. I'm very pleased with him."
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