Sheikh Mohammed takes a long-term view of everything, so year two of the Dubai World Cup at its vast new home at Meydan is much too early to make firm judgments. When the man behind both the Godolphin ownership operation and Meydan itself pauses to consider the events of Saturday night, though, he may conclude that his most important racing projects are progressing well.
In terms of bringing the racing world to Dubai the 2011 World Cup meeting drew horses from a much broader range of countries than the Breeders' Cup is ever likely to achieve. The feature event saw a 1-2 for Japan while the reappearance of runners from Aidan O'Brien's Ballydoyle, one of which went within a nose of victory, was another important boost for a meeting that the Sheikh wants to build year on year.
As for Godolphin, Rewilding showed in the Sheema Classic that he has the potential to win a major European Group One this season, the only reservation being Godolphin's own belief that he needs plenty of time between races. His route through the campaign will need to be plotted with great care but Khawlah, the first filly to win the UAE Derby, is a realistic Oaks prospect and Godolphin know they also have White Moonstone, a Group One winner last year, at home too. If one of Godolphin's three-year-old colts turns out to be a top-notcher, they could be serious players in most of the big races this season - assuming, of course, that the British ones have prize funds that meet the Horsemen's tariff. If not, apparently, their horses will go elsewhere, a point of principal that is likely to be tested sooner rather than later.
Other features of Saturday's action, though, were more troubling with an eye on the future, not least that the Dubai World Cup itself was, for the second year running, a slowly run muddle that saw the wide-drawn favourite, Twice Over, effectively beaten by the time they left the first turn.
Mirco Demuro's ride on the winner Victoire Pisa, left, was brilliant and, though one could argue that he was simply doing what he is paid to do – jockeys are meant to be the brains of the operation, after all –, he deserves huge credit for being the only one in the field to seize the moment. Demuro realised that the pace was too slow and made a bold move towards the head of the field while others sat and watched. It was a very brave decision in a $10m race.
Yet a true Grade One event should generally be 95% about the horse and 5% about the jockey. This race was almost the other way around, and last year's World Cup winner, Gloria De Campeao, also benefited from a very canny ride.
The two major turf races on Saturday were both won by finishers, most notably the Duty Free, in which Ryan Moore got it precisely right as he went from last to first on Presvis. Too many races on the Tapeta track, though, seem to be about getting a position, then crawling and sprinting, which in a big field can mean that three or four runners are relying on a miracle from the start.
It could be a difficult habit to break since jockeys might see it as a percentage call which will work if they are lucky and offer a ready-made excuse if not. Then again, it might just be that there is still a shortage of jockeys with enough first-hand experience, and thus sufficient confidence, to ride a proper race on Tapeta.
Victoire Pisa's win did at least show that a moment of genius in the saddle can have its reward. Building the world's biggest racecourse in barely three years is one thing but fully establishing it as a top-class venue is another. Like the Sheikh racing fans may need to take a long-term view when it comes to Meydan.
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