(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) In the build up to the big race, everyone was talking up the American Kentucky Derby winner California Chrome and the UAE's own hope African Story, the defending champion. All the hype was about them and a few others. Prince Bishop, the other UAE contender was mentioned in passing. That probably must have hurt him a lot.
Jockey William Buick celebrating the victory with Prince Bishop. - KT photo by Shihab
But maybe it was destiny. To take a film analogy, it is written, as shown in the hit movie Slumdog Millionaire. Prince Bishop was drawn on lane 1 and he made a bishop move like in chess, to finish in that position and land the biggest payday in horse racing - the $10 million Dubai World Cup. It was, perhaps, a cheeky move too. As the race got underway at the Meydan Racecourse, the battle was on between Japan's strong contender Hokko Tarumae, the six-year-old with most race wins in this field, as well as African Story, California Chrome. But the Saeed bin Suroor-trained Prince Bishop, slipped under the radar before surprising the rest to reach the winning post and give Shaikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, a first win in the 10-furlong tussle.
KT Photo by Shihab
His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, celebrated his son's win with a smile before hugging Shaikh Hamdan.
Prince Bishop notched an 11th win, by far the most important, in 28 starts. And Emirati Saeed bin Suroor enhanced his reputation as one of the world's leading trainer with a seventh Dubai World Cup win, the most by any trainer. His previous winners were in 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2006 and last year with African Story.
The UAE have now won half of the Dubai World Cup renewals with 10 out of the 20. The Americans have seven. It was a fantastic day for jockey William Buick too with the Norwegian-born British and Danish jockey winning the race on his third attempt. There was kickback dirt on Buick's face and helmet after the race but he didn't mind it one bit as it was his night, a one that he will remember for the rest of his lifetime. A Dubai World Cup win surely looks impressive on a CV and on a career. "I don't go numb very often but I can't explain what I'm feeling right now," Buick said, still gasping for breath. "Obviously, the horse should have won two Maktoum Challenges. Saeed (Bin Suroor, trainer) and the whole team had a lot of faith in him going into the race today," he added. "He has a very unorthodox way of racing so I took him out of the kickback in the back and when I got onto California Chrome's tail, he picked up the bridle and listen, he ran on well in the end. He likes the surface now that he has the experience. He is better than he was. This is just nuts," said Buick.
Prince Bishop won by three quarter lengths over California Chrome, who had a battle on his hands against the eight-horse field. And credit must be given to the four-year-old for sticking it out and coming away unscathed in the end. "He kind of bounced out of there running and stayed to the outside. It seemed like the other horses were bumping me around in there on the first turn and then on the far turn. He kind of lost his stride a little bit on the (home) turn because the horse on the inside (Hokko Tarumae) pushed me out. That kind of took some of the air out of his lungs. But overall, he ran awesome," said California Chrome jockey Victor Espinoza.
Meanwhile, trainer Art Sherman said: "Second money is not bad at all. He ran his eyeballs out. He was right there in contention all the way. He lost a little bit of ground but no excuses. Turning for home he had an equal chance. Just was second best today. That's what happens in this game. The horse you think is going to win doesn't always."
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