“What a star,” exclaimed Frankie Dettori as he returned to the winner's circle aboard Lord North (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), who reaffirmed his love affair with Meydan with an historic third win in the $5-million G1 Dubai Turf Sponsorsed By DP World.
The John and Thady Gosden-trained gelding, who races in the colours of Sheikh Mohammed's son Sheikh Zayed's racing banner, launched his attack under Dettori with just over a furlong left to run, coming wide down the home straight from way off the pace to relegate fellow late challenger Danon Beluga (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) to second. Godolphin's Nations Pride (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) faded to third having taken the lead from front-running El Drama (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) after turning for home.
Another triumph for longevity on the World Cup card, the 7-year-old Lord North landed his first stakes success late in his 3-year-old campaign, but it was the following year when the extent of his talent was first properly exhibited when he bounced straight from success in the G3 Brigadier Gerard S. to Group 1 glory at Royal Ascot in the Prince of Wales's S. He was five when he made his first foray to Meydan, setting up what would transpire to be a Dubai Turf hat-trick with his three-length victory over Vin De Garde (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), who reopposed him this year but finished last of the 14 runners.
That first win in the Turf was Lord North's sole appearance in 2021, with illness keeping him off the track until his prep run for a repeat bid last year. His runner-up spot behind Alenquer (Fr) (Adlerflug {Ger}) in a strong renewal of the G3 Winter Derby had him perfectly primed for Meydan but, famously, Lord North had to settle for a dead-heat with Panthalassa (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}), who went on to win this year's G1 Saudi Cup and finished down the field in 10th in the Dubai World Cup later in the evening.
A winning return to the Winter Derby last month again saw Lord North arrive in perfect shape to provide Dettori with a memorable top-flight success at Meydan in his final year in the saddle.
The 52-year-old, who has had a long association with Dubai throughout his former role as Godolphin's retained jockey, said as he returned to scale, “Amazing. To win once, but three times. Thady [Gosden] has done an amazing job because this horse can get sick quite easily, that's why he doesn't run that often. But the boys get him ready for the race and full credit to everyone. They've done an amazing job, and credit to Lord North himself. What a star.”
Dettori, the most successful jockey at the Dubai World Cup with 23 wins since the inaugural meeting of 1996 and four in the Sheema Classic, added, “I came here with some decent rides and to get one on the board in this beautiful place which has been my home for so many winters, it really is special.”
Lord North had provided Thady Gosden with his first Group 1 success after he joined his father John as co-trainer early in 2021. Back at Meydan with his parents and sister Thea, Gosden, Jr. said, “The first time he won the race he showed a nice turn of foot, but last year it wasn't quite as straightforward a preparation as it was this year. We were very happy with him coming into the race, but obviously you can't say that before in case it all goes wrong.
“It was a little bit messy in the mid-part of the race coming into the bend, but he got out of trouble and showed a great turn of foot to get to the front. The strong pace up front definitely helped him and he got a nice tow into it and picked up like we know he can.”
He added, “It's fantastic, and thanks to everyone at home in the yard, to the horse and to Frankie as well. He's a homebred gelding and it's fantastic for him to come here and win a race of this quality three times on the trot.”
Pedigree Notes
Bred by Godolphin, and by a sire who is synonymous with success at the Dubai International Racing Carnival, Lord North is out of the Giant's Causeway mare Najoum, a half-sister to GI Blue Grass S. winner Bandini (Fusaichi Pegasus) and G3 Sweet Solera S victrix Discourse (Street Cry {Ire}). A dual winner at two for Saeed bin Suroor, Najoum ran her final race at Meydan in 2011 when eighth in the UAE 1000 Guineas Trial. Lord North was her third foal and one of only two winners to date. The mare died last year, having foaled a full-brother to Lord North on May 1. She also has a 3-year-old filly by New Approach (Ire) and a juvenile filly from the first crop of Dubawi's Darley-based son Too Darn Hot (GB).
Saturday, Meydan, Dubai
DUBAI TURF SPONSORED BY DP WORLD-G1, $5,000,000, Meydan, 3-25, NH 4yo/up & SH 3yo/up, 9fT, 1:47.39, gd.
1–LORD NORTH (IRE), 126, g, 7, by Dubawi (Ire)
1st Dam: Najoum, by Giant's Causeway
2nd Dam: Divine Dixie, by Dixieland Band
3rd Dam: Hail Atlantis, by Seattle Slew
O-HH Sheikh Zayed bin Mohammed Racing; B-Godolphin (IRE);
T-John & Thady Gosden; J-Frankie Dettori. $2,900,000.
Lifetime Record: Hwt. Older Horse-UAE at 7-9 1/2f, G1SW-Eng,
20-10-3-1, $8,054,571. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the
eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the
free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Danon Beluga (Jpn), 126, c, 4, Heart's Cry (Jpn)–Coasted, by
Tizway. (¥160,000,000 Wlg '19 JRHAJUL). O-Danox Co Ltd;
B-Northern Farm (Jpn); T-Noriyuki Hori. $1,000,000.
3–Nations Pride (Ire), 126, c, 4, Teofilo (Ire)–Important Time
(Ire), by Oasis Dream (GB). O/B-Godolphin (Ire); T-Charlie
Appleby. $500,000.
Margins: 3/4, HD, 2.
Also Ran: Shirl's Speight, Serifos (Jpn), Junko (GB), Alfareeq (Ire), El Drama (Ire), Real World (Ire), Sir Busker (Ire), Order Of Australia (Ire), Glorious Dragon (Ire), Master Of The Seas (Ire), Vin De Garde (Jpn). Scratched: Do Deuce (Jpn), Shelir (Ire). VIDEO.
Lord North – three-time winner of the Dubai Turf sponsored by DP World. He proves too good under @FrankieDettori for team Gosden to create history at Meydan!
2021
— Dubai Racing Club (@RacingDubai) March 25, 2023
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