There almost wasn’t space on the presentation stage at Meydan on Super Saturday for the 14 delighted owners of Imperial Emperor after Bhupat Seemar’s gelding stormed home in the Gr2 Al Maktoum Classic (sponsored by Emirates Airline) and gained entry to the Gr1 Dubai World Cup.
Six of the day’s nine races offered automatic entry to corresponding races on the big day on 5 April, including the featured Gr2 Al Maktoum Classic (sponsored by Emirates Airline), over the Dubai World Cup course of 2000metres on dirt.
Imperial Emperor and the happy connections (Pic – DRC)
The gelded Imperial Emperor, an AED300,000 Racing In Dubai Sale purchase in March, was favourite for the AED 1.7million contest but had to deal with draw 15.
Jockey Tadhg O’Shea was able to secure a spot to the outside of the leaders and was in the perfect position from which to strike in the straight, leading off the final turn and storming home by eight and a half lengths from stablemate Artorius and Korean raider Global Hit, who ran a superb race from the front.
“Wow, what a horse!” said Ryan Tongue, Director of British-based syndicate Deva Racing. “This horse didn’t owe us anything before tonight, we just wanted him to come home safe.
“This a dream come true. I can’t believe we’re in the Dubai World Cup!”
O’Shea added: “This horse is on the up. I’ve only thrown my leg over him three times and I’ve won all three. That was probably a career best for him. It was a true run race and there was no hiding place out there. He’s very, very genuine.”
