After a stirring stretch duel, Japan's Soul Rush edged 10-time grade/group 1 winner Romantic Warrior by a nose to win the $5 million Dubai Turf (G1T) April 5 at Meydan Racecourse.
Sent off the odds-on favorite in the World Pool, Romantic Warrior broke best and then settled under jockey James McDonald to track early leader Meisho Tabaru in the one-turn turf test. Romantic Warrior seized the lead off the turn in the 1,800-meter (about 1 1/8-mile) race but did not flash his usual final gear.
Still, the classy 7-year-old Acclamation gelding dug in to fend off challengers before he was engaged by Soul Rush, who won the Mile Championship (G1) in November at Kyoto. Soul Rush, under jockey Cristian Demuro, appeared to take the narrowest of advantages in the final strides, but Romantic Warrior gave no quarter to battle to the finish before succumbing to an unfavorable head bob at the wire.
The stewards took about three minutes to determine the winner, finally putting up Soul Rush, who is owned by Tatsue Ishikawa and trained by Yasutoshi Ikee.
"It's as good a performance as he's ever produced, he beat the best horse in the world today," Demuro said. "He traveled well and he fought until the end. I'm so happy."
Soul Rush completed the race in 1:45.84 on good turf, less than a second behind the course record of 1:45.10 set by Romantic Warrior when he won the Jebel Hatta (G1T) in January.
"Last year, I was beaten by a nose (on Namur, second to Facteur Cheval)," Demuro said. "This year, I win by a nose. The luck was with me today. Last year, I thought I had won until the last second. I just waited until the number went up. This year, I was more sure that I had won but I didn't want to get ahead of myself.
"It is a special win because we are now part of the Romantic Warrior story; he doesn't lose many races, but today he found a good horse. Dubai World Cup night is the most special meeting. I'm very happy to come back here every year. I'm very lucky to get to ride some good horses every year and I've had some success here."
For the second race in a row, Romantic Warrior's connections of owner Peter Lau Pak Fai and trainer Danny Shum had to settle for a hard-fought close second as he finished a neck behind Forever Young in the Saudi Cup (G1) on the dirt in February. McDonald noted that Romantic Warrior has had an extended campaign.
Last year's Sussex Stakes (G2) runner-up Maljoom finished third.
As the Dubai Turf is a Breeders' Cup Challenge Series race, Soul Rush earns an automatic and all-expenses-paid berth to this year's Breeders' Cup Mile (G1T).
After the race McDonald was fined AED10,000 (US$2,700) under Emirates Racing Association rules for using his whip on successive strides. The stewards reported it was his second breach of the rule this season.
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Danon Decile Takes Dubai Sheema Classic
Japan would secure the two biggest turf race prizes on the card as Soul Rush's victory was followed by Japanese Derby (G1) winner Danon Decile scoring in the $6 million Dubai Sheema Classic (G1T).
Two-time Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T) winner Rebel's Romance launched an early move under jockey William Buick when he moved to the lead and opened a clear advantage a half-mile into the 2,410-meter (about 1 1/2-mile) test. He would carry that advantage into the stretch in search of a defense of his 2024 Dubai Sheema Classic win but could not hold off the late runners.
In his first race outside of Japan, Danon Decile raced keenly early and again flashed that energy in the stretch, rallying to a 1 1/4-length score over favorite Calandagan, who rallied late but never seriously threatened the winner. Durezza followed in third with Rebel's Romance fourth.
With Keita Tosaki up, Danon Decile completed the 2,410 meters in 2:27.05 on good turf. The 4-year-old Epiphaneia colt, who is trained by Shogo Yasuda and owned by Danox, was entered off a victory in the American Jockey Club Cup (G2) Jan. 26 at Nakayama. Earlier last year Danon Decile captured the Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) at Tokyo.
"He's a very, very good horse," said Tosaki, three-time champion jockey in Japan. "There was huge pressure on me, so it's fantastic to win this race. For the people watching at home in Japan so late, I am so happy, thank you so much.
"I expected him to run a similar race to the Tokyo Yushun and he did it. I knew the field was very strong but I thought Danon Decile was competitive. I am delighted we proved his ability here in Dubai."
With the win, Danon Decile punched his "Win & You're In" ticket to this year's Breeders' Cup Turf as the Dubai Sheema Classic is a Breeders' Cup Challenge Series race.
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Believing Defeats Males in Al Quoz Sprint
With upset-minded Win Carnelian holding an open-length advantage in deep stretch of the 1,200-meter (about six-furlong) Al Quoz Sprint (G1T) April 5 at Meydan, only a special performance would deny the Japan-based runner.
Believing unleashed that exceptional effort in the $1.5 million turf sprint.
Ireland's reigning highweighted older filly or mare sprinter at five to seven furlongs, Believing stretched out a bit from her recent efforts and found Saturday's six-furlong turf test to her liking as she nailed down the first group 1 victory of her career. Racing in the two path in deep stretch under William Buick, Believing split rivals and then rallied with Regional to her outside before edging past that one and catching Win Carnelian a few strides before the wire.
Campaigned by Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, and Resolute Racing, Believing completed the six furlongs in 1:07.77 on the good course, just off the course record of 1:07.50. She is trained by George Boughey.
"George was really bullish about her before the race; her prep has been faultless," said Buick, who also won this race in 2019 with four-time group 1 winner Blue Point. "This is a lucky spare ride for me. Ryan (Moore) was meant to ride her, obviously he was in Australia this morning, I stepped in.
"The filly was very tough. She really deserved to to get that group 1. She showed there what she's all about, she really knuckled down. Fair play to George and his team for having her in tip-top shape for tonight."
With Boughey and his partner at home awaiting the birth of their first child, assistant trainer Henry Morshead was on duty. Last year Believing was withdrawn before the start of the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1T) after trouble in the gate.
"Her preparation into this has been very strong and her gate work has been good all winter, which was a concern coming from Del Mar last time," Morshead said. "She's tough, she really sticks her head down, she's a real testament to the hard work everyone puts in at home."
Win Carnelian held second, just ahead of Regional. Isivunguvungu, a South African-bred who started his career there before being moved to his current United States base, was pinched back midway through the race and finished 10th. Favored Howdeepisyourlove did not finish.
Howdeepisyourlove sustained an injury to his left foreleg during the race and was pulled up. According to the stewards' report posted to the Emirates Racing Authority website, he was transported to the Dubai Equine Hospital where, upon further examination, he was humanely euthanized. His jockey, James McDonald, was not injured.
After the race Buick was fined AED5,000 ($1,350) under Emirates Racing Association rules for hitting his mount in front of the saddle while holding the whip in the forehand. In assessing the penalty the stewards noted that this was Buick's first breach of this rule this season.
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Dubai Future, at 9, Earns Dubai Gold Cup
After winning a prep race for the Dubai Gold Cup (G2T) in February, Godolphin's Dubai Future secured the big prize April 5 at Meydan Racecourse when he rallied from the back half of the field to secure a two-length victory in the $1 million marathon.
A different Godolphin runner, Trawlerman, led throughout most of the race—setting a slow pace under William Buick as he looked to improve on last year's third-place finish in this 3,200-meter (about two-mile) test for 4-year-olds and older. Dubai Future raced comfortably in seventh under Silvestre De Sousa throughout the early going.
In the final turn, the field bunched up as the late runners launched their moves and then Trawlerman was asked for his best 700 meters from the finish. Trawlerman was in the thick of a three-horse stretch battle when Dubai Future found his best gear toward the center of the course rated as good and surged to the lead. He completed the race in 3:21.50.
At the age of 9, Dubai Future, a gelded son of Dubawi, lands the most prestigious victory of his career. Trained by Saeed bin Suroor, he won the about 1 3/4-mile Nad Al Sheba Trophy (G3T) Feb. 21 at Meydan and stayed in that top form for Saturday's race that kicked off nine group stakes for Thoroughbreds on the card topped by the Dubai World Cup (G1).
"He has improved this year, even though I know he's 9 years old," said the winning trainer. "This year he came to Dubai a month ago and I know the way to train him. I told Silvestre to keep him behind and the key is to keep him relaxed.
"He is a mile-and-a-quarter or mile-and-a-half horse but we tried him over a mile and six (furlongs) and now two miles and he's done well."
Racing for Wertheimer and Frere, Double Major raced in second throughout the race and finished there while Akela Thoroughbreds' Epic Poet claimed third. Trawlerman finished fifth.
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