Former Champion New Zealand trainer (now Singapore-based) Laurie Laxon with Tracy Gill of the International Department, Dubai Racing Club. Arabian Nights Party, Thursday March 23, 2006. Laurie had MY ROYAL CAPTAIN in the UAE Derby (Gr.2), sponsored by Jebel Ali International Hotels (1800m) on World Cup Night.


Trophy for the Group 1 Dubai Sheema Classic being lifted into place on World Cup morning.




Fashions abounded ...


As did quality horse flesh ... Seen above - Frankie Dettori aboard Discreet Cat, winner of the Group 2 UAE Derby. Testimony ran 2nd, Flamme de Passion third.


Australia's Perfect Promise lines up for round 2 of The Asian Mile Challenge - The Group 1 Dubai Duty Free. She finished 6th. Her full sister, South Africa's Irridescence, was a shock withdrawal prior to the start after getting her stifle caught in the paddock rail.


South Africa's famous trainer Mike de Kock


Japanese fans celebrate victory in the Group 2 Godolphin Mile.


Heart’s Cry, partnered by Christophe Lemaire and trained by Kojiro Hashiguchi, gave Japan their second win of the Dubai World Cup meeting when winning the US$5,000,000 Dubai Sheema Classic (Gr.1), sponsored by Nakheel, over 2,400 metres on the turf. Britain’s Collier Hill, Dean McKeown up, raced up with the pace and finished four and a quarter lengths back in second and Falstaff, trained by Mike de Kock and ridden by Kevin Shea, was third. Ed Dunlop’s Ouija Board, the mount of Kieren Fallon, made progress into the straight to finish fourth.

Lemaire said, “Heart’s Cry seemed to be very relaxed and in good condition. It has been three months since last race, but he gets stronger. Now, he can go and run everywhere in the world. At the 1000m to the post, I felt pressure, but when I trailed the horse responded well. He was very strong.”

Hashiguchi said, “I am really excited. Heart’s Cry was very good, so I brought him to Dubai. If I had no confidence, I would not have come here. In last year’s the Arima Kinen(Gr.1), one of the biggest races in Japan, he was very strong. But now, he is stronger than then. We will look to going for the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes next.”

Full race results from the evening available on the Dubai International Racing Carnival blog