The wide draw will be a very hard challenge for him from barrier 15, says trainer Yoshito Yahagi
The 15th running of the Dubai World Cup had a different buzz to it. It was the first to be held at Dubai’s iconic new racecourse Meydan, which was the Arabic word for meeting place, and on an all-new synthetic racing surface.
The gigantic venue was filled to the rafters with racegoers travelling from around the world wanting to be a part of history in the making. It was after all the first time that the race was being held on a Tapeta track.
A strong field of 14 faced the starter among them the favourite Gitano Hernando from the UK.
But things did not go according to plan for the British-bred chestnut colt who had six-time British champion jockey Kieren Fallon on his back.
Instead, it was Gloria de Campeao who upset all calculations.
But both horse and rider, Tiago Pereira, needed to be at their very best before claiming victory by the shortest of margins in an electrifying three-horse finish.
Having been well beaten the previous year when finding American raider Well Armed too good, it proved second time lucky for the horse with international appeal as he dug deep to see off the South African-trained Lizard’s Desire and local hope Alybar, ridden by Emirati jockey Ahmed Ajtebi.
Gloria de Campeao was based in France and trained by Pascal Bary but ridden by a Brazilian jockey. He was named Gloria de Campeao which in Portuguese means "Glory Of The Champion."
The wide draw will be a very hard challenge for him from barrier 15, says trainer Yoshito Yahagi
The ace handler believes that Rebel's Romance, which contests the $6m Dubai Sheema Classic, would be the horse of the night
The six-year-old gelding lines up for the $6 million Group 1 Longines Dubai Sheema Classic
He has nine runners — two in Dubai World Cup, three each in Dubai Golden Shaheen and Godolphin Mile and one in Al Quoz Sprint
Winner of the 2,000-metre dirt affair at Meydan last March, American-trained Country Grammer will start from post 14
The sale was attended by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai
Colonel Ali Khamis Al Jafleh was entrusted with the responsibility developing horse racing in the country
The 41-year-old saddles Sibelius in the Dubai Golden Shaheen on World Cup night