The U.S.-based Ghostzapper 4-year-old colt Mystic Guide proved superior in the Group 1 Dubai World Cup from Meydan in the United Arab Emirates on Saturday night, winning the $12-million race easily under Luis Saez for Dubai-based owner-breeder Godolphin and American trainer Michael Stidham.
Japan's Chuwa Wizard finished second, with another Godolphin homebred, French-trained Magny Cours third, Irish-bred/Dubai-trained Hypothetical fourth and German-bred/Dubai-trained Salute the Soldier fifth in the field of 12.
There were two late scratches that delayed the running of the race. Great Scot ran off during the post parade and Military Law broke through the starting gate and ran off.
Time of the 1 1/4-mile race on dirt was 2:01.62. Mystic Guide, favored in the wagering, paid $5.50 to win, $2.20 to place and $3.30 to show in the U.S.
Hypothetical led the way from the start, with Saez and Mystic Guide racing in third while in the clear to the pacesetter's outside. Saez made his move to the lead with just over a quarter of a mile remaining, and the result never seemed in doubt from that point forward.
The victory was the fourth in eight career starts for Mystic Guide, who was coming off a six-length victory in the G3 Razorback Handicap at Oaklawn on Feb. 27 in his 2021 debut. Produced from the A.P. Indy mare, Music Note, Mystic Guide did not race as a 2-year-old and won the G2 Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga for his only stakes victory as a 3-year-old. He finished his year with a second-place finish to Happy Saver in the G1 Jockey Club Gold Cup, beaten three-quarters of a length.
This was Godolphin's ninth win in the 25 runnings of the Dubai World Cup and third in a row, having won in 2018 and '19 with Thunder Snow. The 2020 renewal was canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic.
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