Lord North created history by becoming the first horse to win three straight renewals of the Dubai Turf (G1) sponsored by DP World, thanks to the gutsiest of displays under Frankie Dettori.
John and Thady Gosden's 7-year-old Dubawi gelding arrived at Meydan on the back of a winning prep run in last month's Winter Derby (G3) at Lingfield Park and he was always prominent under Dettori.
Tracking the early pace behind the Roger Varian-trained El Drama, the leading pack soon swapped places swinging the bend for home, when William Buick took over on Nations Pride.
Buick would have been entitled to think his sweeping move was enough, but Dettori had his measure on Lord North, cozily picking up the lead inside the final furlong for a game success, winning by three-quarters of a length and stealing first run on the fast-closing Japanese-trained pair of Serifos and Danon Beluga.
Time for the 1,800 meters (about 1 1/8 miles) was 1:47.39.
The victory means that Dettori has bolstered his record as the race's most successful jockey with four victories. Those have come with the Saeed bin Suroor-trained Tamayaz (1997), in addition to three on Lord North.
He also extended his lead as the most successful rider at the Dubai World Cup meeting across its near three-decade history, with this marking his 23rd victory since its inception in 1996.
Saturday marked Dettori's final appearance at Meydan before his retirement.
The jockey, who ensured his trademark flying dismount once again graced Dubai, said: “It's amazing to win once; three times, it's unreal. Thady has done an amazing job because he's a horse that gets sick quite easily, that's why he doesn't run that often. The boys got him ready for this race and full credit to them, they've done great with him.
“And Lord North himself, what a star. To just get one on the board at this beautiful place, in Dubai that has been my home for so many winters, it's pretty special.”
Thady Gosden said: “The first time he won the race he showed a nice turn of foot and then last year his preparation wasn't quite as straightforward as this year. The lad who rides him out every day thought he was in much better form than coming into last year. Obviously you can't say that beforehand in case it all goes wrong.
“It was a little bit messy in the mid-part of the race and coming into the bend, but he missed any trouble and showed a great turn of foot to get to the front. He broke well from three and the strong pace up front definitely helped him; he got a nice tow into it and he picked up as we know he can.
“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.”
Dubai Turf Quotes:
Danon Beluga (2nd), jockey Joao Moreira said: “The horse has run a fantastic race. Unfortunately we didn't have a smooth run at the top of the straight, a horse pulled me wide a little bit. However the horse showed that he's got a lot of quality and he should be winning his Group 1 before too long.”
Nations Pride (3rd), jockey William Buick said: “Lord North has won the race three times now so all credit to him. We were drawn 14 of 14 so that was never made easy but I am delighted with him and I think he's a decent horse and he's run a good race tonight.”
Trainer Charlie Appleby added: “He's run a solid kind of race having had to work harder from that draw and it probably cost us second. We wouldn't have beaten the winner but hopefully he's going to have a nice summer internationally ahead of him over the 10 furlongs.”
Shirl's Speight (4th), jockey Antonio Fresu said: “I got in traffic and was sent back further than I wanted, he was shuffled big time. He finished very well, had to find his way through horses. He was unlucky not to be closer.”
Serifos (5th), jockey Damian Lane said: “He didn't sustain his sprint finish like he can.”
Junko (6th), jockey Maxime Guyon said: “We were near the back. He ran on well but never like he was going to really be in the top placings.”
Racing manager Pierre-Yves Bureau added: “He ran well. They went fast and he found himself quite far back. He finished very well and it was just the circumstances of the race that meant he had to make up so much ground. I think stepping him up in trip might be one option we look at, we'll see. But he's run honourably.”
Alfareeq (7th), jockey Dane O'Neill said: “Until the straight he was in a nice spot, going well. Just a better class of horse against him this time than when he won on Super Saturday.”
El Drama (8th), jockey David Egan said: “When he ran well in the Jebel Hatta he was able to get a freebie in front and there was more pressure this time in a much better race. He did his best.”
Real World (9th), jockey Oisin Murphy said: “I had a good position but he didn't finish off quite like I thought he would. He's not the same horse.”
Sir Busker (10th), jockey Ben Curtis said: “It wasn't a bad run at all. These days he is more of a ten-furlong horse.”
Order Of Australia (11th), jockey Ryan Moore said: “Didn't have a great position.”
Glorious Dragon (12th), jockey Neil Callan said: “From the wide draw he had to go back and that was it for him from there. He was very relaxed. He travelled beautifully around. Races over here are different. You have got to put them into the race.”
Master Of The Seas (13th), jockey James Doyle said: “His wide draw was one thing but he's a bit weak mentally.”
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