DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – Ushba Tesoro, ridden by Japanese jockey Yuga Kawada, produced a remarkable run to come from the back of the field to win the $12 million Dubai World Cup for Japan.
“I´m very proud of my horse and myself for winning the greatest race in the world,” Kawada said according to AP.
Bendoog looked comfortable under Christophe Soumillon with Saudi Cup winner Panthalassa, who had been drawn wide, in company early on in the 10-furlong (2,000-meter) showpiece.
When they turned for home, James Doyle aboard the Simon and Ed Crisford-trained Algiers looked the likely winner and went a length clear with 1 1/2 furlongs left.
“He jumped quite well. I just tried to focus on maintaining the horse’s rhythm and just to keep him from the middle of the pack,” said Kawada.
“There were eight Japanese horses in the field and aside from myself, the only other Japanese jockey on a Japanese horse was Yutaka Yoshida on Panthalassa.
“I was on the horse for the first time today but it was a tremendous honour to ride him as there was a lot of pressure as the leading Japanese jockey heading into the race.”
But the 6-year-old Ushba Tesoro, who had won five of his six starts since being switched to the dirt, ran down Doyle´s mount to win going away by 2 3/4 lengths. It was Japan´s second success in the race, following Victoire Pisa in 2011.
“I thought he would be in with a chance at the 100-meter mark,” winning trainer Noboru Takagi said.
Lord North and Frankie Dettori completed a hat trick in the Dubai Turf race when holding off the late challenge of Danon Beluga in another pulsating renewal of the Grade One contest.
The John and Thady Gosden-trained 7-year-old had dead-heated with Panthalassa in this nine-furlong contest last year, having first won it in 2021.
“It´s my farewell season and to win this on a horse that has done three years in a row is fantastic,” Dettori said.
Even though the son of Kitasan Black was never challenged from front to finish, he still managed to set his own pace and took nearly a second off the course record with his 2min 25.65sec demolition.
Jockey Christophe Lemaire said: “I rode the best horse; I had no fear to set the pace.
“Race after race, he’s going up the rankings of the horses I have ridden. It was a great, great performance against these kind of horses at the top level. I couldn’t be happier.”
Lord North became the first horse to win three straight renewals of the Group 1 Dubai Turf, run over 1,800m, and gave his jockey Frankie Dettori a winning farewell from the Dubai World Cup.
The Italian, who rode for Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s Godolphin for several years, is retiring from riding at the end of the season.
It was Dettori’s 23rd win at the Dubai World Cup.
“It’s amazing to win once; three times, it’s unreal. Lord North… what a star. To just get one on the board in my last race at this beautiful place, in Dubai that has been my home for so many winters, it’s pretty special.”
