Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom displayed his undoubted class on the world`s biggest stage when he swamped the opposition to win the Gr 1 Dubai World Cup at Meydan on Saturday. The victory by the five-year-old son of Leroidesanimaux marked the first by an American-based and trained runner in the Dubai World Cup since Meydan opened with an all-weather surface in 2010, replacing the dirt track at the old Nad Al Sheba Racecourse on which American runners frequently prevailed. This was the 18th running of the G1 US$10 million event sponsored by Emirates Airline.

Animal Kingdom (Joel Rosario) wins the Dubai World Cup, for trainer, Graham Motion, on Saturday.

Animal Kingdom towered over the opposition as he was taking on horses which had excelled only on the local circuit during the on-going season. Monterosso who was bidding to win back to win World Cup wins was a non-starter as he injured his leg after a workout on the morning of the race. The only question mark about Animal Kingdom was how well he would handle the Tapeta track but the champion dispelled all such notions with a dismissive win, seizing command of the situation at the top of the straight and breaking in a winning lead with electric bust of speed and was a long way clear with a furlong left in the race. Jockey Rosario was the master of the situation as he allowed Royal Delta dictate the pace and worked into a striking position from the outside draw “I knew we had a chance. I`ve never been here before. This is my first time. I watched a lot of races. I had an idea where I needed to go from. I listened to my trainer and to my horse. He`s a very good horse. He did it. He`s very quick. It seemed like a long way home in the stretch,” exulted Rosario during post race media conference.


Animal Kingdom was an impressive winner of the 2011 Kentucky Derby but failed to perform to expectations in the Belmont Stakes owning to an injury. His trainer Graham Motion nursed him back to top fitness and had the champion spot on for the race. Animal Kingdom proved him right by winning the race in solitary splendour.

Though drawn 12, Animal Kingdom handled the first bend well to place himself in about the fifth position early on as the runners began to the turn to the back straight. Rosario cleverly worked his way up without expending the energy of the horse or covering more ground than he should and in no time he was on the quarters of the front running Royal Delta. The pace set by Royal Delta was solid so much so that the field was well spread out with about 15 lengths covering the first from the last. The brilliant son of Leroidesanimaux travelled powerfully in front. Rosario was only waiting till the final turn before he decided to push Animal Kingdom to take charge. The second favourite showed amazing acceleration and with effortless but devouring strides, had the race sewn up long way from home. Four times group I winner Royal Delta surrendered meekly when challenged by Animal Kingdom and then fell back rapidly.
Animal Kingdom was so dismissive of the opposition that it took only a few giant strides to see him go storming clear. Rosario could ease him off inside the final 100 metres and the jockey celebrated the success without any aggressive show of emotion a la Barcelozona who had stood tall on Monterosso last year when he had achieved a similar success. Red Cadeaux who did not get a clear run, weaved through horses which were falling back rapidly and finished strongly to take the runner up berth for trainer Ed Dunlop, while the Marco Botti-trained Planteur took third for the second successive year, just about heading Side Glance and African Story in an absorbing finish for the third spot.
Now owned in partnership by Australia`s Arrowfield Stud and the Team Valor International racing partnership based in the United States, Animal Kingdom stunned even his owners with his remarkable victory by two lengths over late running Red Cadeaux in the world`s richest race.

“That was shocking,” exclaimed Team Valor Chief Executive Officer Barry Irwin. “I thought he could win but I didn`t think he could win like that. He proved that not only is he a top horse, but that he is one of the top horses in the world.”

“It`s unbelievable,” said a beaming jockey, Joel Rosario, who waved his whip to cheers and applause as Animal Kingdom strode into the winner`s circle. “He`s a very good horse; he`s very quick.”

Gerard Mosse who rode Red Cadeaux, said: “This horse never ceases to amaze me. To run second in the Dubai World Cup and get within two lengths of Animal Kingdom, I`ve got to be happy with that.”

Silvestre De Sousa who rode favourite Hunter`s Light who eventually finished seventh said: ``He had every chance. He just wasn`t good enough at this level even though he was a Group 1 winner here last time. This was a better race and he was a bit one-paced.”