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Horse Racing: THE WORLD IS NOT ENOUGH |
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3/25/2006 9:33:05 AM |
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 (The Racing Post Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge)IT'S THE six-million dollar race that lures the cream of the thoroughbred crop from the four corners of the globe, primed to perfection to duel for the title 'World Champion'. But is it really?
That was the blueprint when Sheikh Mohammed set out to create a race that would complement his vision of turning Dubai into one of the major players on the 21st century map of the world. The race distance of ten furlongs was chosen for its ability to attract horses across the spectrum from a mile to a mile and a half. It would be run on dirt, to provoke interest from the US. And it would take place at the end of March, when the Flat racing world has little else to distract it.
The concept got off to the best possible start when the mighty Cigar, unofficially the best horse in the world, gained what might have been perceived as official confirmation of that status when seeing off his ten rivals, including one each from Japan and Australia, in a thrilling duel with fellow US challenger Soul Of The Matter. It was precisely what the fledgling 'biggest race in the world' needed to give it credence: the 'right' winner, competitors from across the globe, and an exhilarating contest.
The following year the race - and Sheikh Mohammed's 'will-do' spirit -gained further validation when the race was staged five days after a monsoon had hit the track, washing out the entire card and putting the future of the race in jeopardy.
An equally international field was led home by Singspiel, still the only British-trained winner, who added the Dubai World Cup to his earlier victory in the Japan Cup, thereby neatly tying together form from a new concept that had been swiftly accepted by the horseracing world and form from a new concept that was expected to receive similar treatment.
However, it hasn't really worked out like that. Much of the world doesn't turn up at all. The race has turned into a straight fight between Godolphin and the US, who between them are responsible for nine of the ten winners. There has been no Australasian interest since 1997 and scant involvement from Europe in the last five years.
Ireland - boasting global conquerors of the calibre of Dermot Weld, Aidan O'Brien and John Oxx -has never had a runner in the race, an incredible statistic and a damning one for those who seek to portray the Dubai World Cup as a truly global event.
The quality of the winners has also declined. Since the victory of Dubai Millennium, who would have graced any race of the last 30 years, in 2000, the RPRs of the winners have blundered along in the mid-120s save for Moon Ballad's 131 in 2003 - and as he never before or after got within 6lb of that mark it could justifiably be regarded as overgenerous.
This year is no different. The hot favourite is Godolphin's Electrocutionist, whose experience of racing on dirt comprises one outing in a minor, if very valuable, contest over course and distance.
The US challenge is led by Brass Hat, winner of the Grade 1 Donn Handicap on his most recent outing with Magna Graduate and Super Frolic, who try their luck again, well adrift. Brass Hat would not fare well in comparison with any of the US's five winners of the race.
The British contenders are Wilko, who has yet to finish closer than third in any race since his 2004 Breeders' Cup Juvenile win, and Maraahel, yet to race on dirt and yet to convince as being capable of winning at the highest level.
Is this really the sort of situation that Sheikh Mohammed envisaged ten years ago? There are no champions here, although salvation may lie at hand in the shape of the Japanese challenger Kane Hekili, who has lost only one of his nine races on dirt and beat his compatriot Star King Man, also a World Cup hope, into third in last year's Japan Cup Dirt.
Should Kane Hekili further embellish his record by landing what would be - even for a Japanese horse - a huge amount of money and, in so doing, procure himself and his country a vast amount of racing kudos, then the next chapter in the story of the Dubai World Cup will have a promising first paragraph.
But if Kane Hekili is not up to the job, and the race goes to a second-division performer in the US, or to the Godolphin runner Electrocutionist, then the next ten years of the Dubai World Cup will begin the way the first ten ended - with the race a private duel between the hosts and the American second echelon.
If that is the case, Sheikh Mohammed will face one of his toughest tasks yet - to convince the international racing community that the Dubai World Cup can play a viable, valuable part in the rhythm of the racing year. This time, throwing money at the problem won't make any difference. STEVE DENNIS
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