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African Story roars to World Cup success

By: Our Correspondent   March 29 , 2014
   

Silvestre De Sousa Guided Godolpin Racing`s African Story to a comfortable victory in the $10 million Dubai World Cup, sponsored by Emirates, at Meydan on Saturday. The victory provided trainer Saeed bin Siroor, his sixth success in this mega event.

Sheikh Mohammed, who owns Godolphin, earned his seventh win in the 19-year history of the world`s richest horse race as the Meydan grandstand erupted in cheers for the ruling Maktoum family`s success. The ruler of Dubai was so ecstatic that he could not help dance in celebration.


African Story (Silvestre De Sousa), winning the Dubai World Cup with great ease on Satuday.


"We did it, the whole team, not just me," sad winning jockey Silvestre De Sousa. "It`s just a team effort. We had some hard luck earlier (being blanked previously on the card), but he (African Story) saved the night."

African Story who stormed past the front running Mukhadram spared two and half lengths at the finish and clocked an excellent timing of 2:01.61. Mukhadram who did all the front running, was a clear second for Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum, while Godolphin`s Charlie Appleby-trained Cat O`Mountain got up for third over Side Glance.

Trained by Saeed bin Suroor, the Darley British homebred African Story ran fifth behind the victorious U.S.-trained Animal Kingdom in last year`s World Cup. The lightly raced 7-year-old son of Pivotal won the Godolphin Mile Sponsored by Etisalat (UAE-II) in 2012. His latest victory was his seventh in 18 lifetime starts.

"This is our sixth win in the race and it has been a long time in coming," said bin Suroor. "There has been a lot of pressure from a lot of people, but I thought two years ago this was the right horse for this race," said bin Suroor, who has claimed six of Godolphin`s World Cup victories. "In my heart I thought this horse could win; he is something really special and I told Sheikh Mohammed this two years ago.

"This is a big thrill and I dedicate this win to my mother and I will give her my golden whip."
African Story was overlooked in the wagering after an eighth-place finish in the Al Maktoum Challenge Round 3 (UAE-I) over the course at the World Cup distance March 8. That race was won by Prince Bishop, who also captured the second round of the Maktoum Challenge one month earlier by 1 1/4 lengths over African Story, who was second in his first try since the 2013 World Cup.

Irish-bred Military Attack was the favorite on the basis of his easy win in the Citibank Hong Kong Gold Cup (HK-I) at Sha Tin Feb. 23, with Ron The Greek at 6-1. The Aidan O`Brien-trained morning line favorite Ruler of the World was sent off at odds of 7-1, as was fellow Irish-bred Prince Bishop. Ruler of the World had reportedly lost some weight on arrival to Dubai and there were apprehensions that he was in the best of shape to win a race of this magnitude.

South African runner Sanshaawes, an 8-1 shot, was troubled at the gates and reared in the starting barrier just before the start and was briefly caught over the gate. He was backed out of his stall and inspected for damage by a veterinarian before being reloaded, briefly delaying the break.

Prince Bishop who had recorded two smashing wins was expected to be a force to reckon with. However, leaving from the inside post, he broke slowly to trail the field several lengths as outsider Mukhadram, ridden by Paul Hanagan, rolled over from the outside draw and took charge of the proceedings. Japan`s Hokko Tarumae, Ruler of the World, and African Story raced in close proximity. Mukhadram got the opening to essay his challenge in the straight as the jockey angled him out to get a clear run. African Story quickly asserted his supremacy by collaring the front runner with a furlong left in the race and stormed clear. He was so far ahead that the jockey could stand in his stirrups and celebrate the biggest success of his career well before passing the winning post.

``I had everything fall in place as I only had one horse in front of me,`` De Sousa said. ``I knew I had to get past him quick and it was a big relief when I went clear,`` he added.

"African Story has good track form having won the Godolphin Mile two years ago. He traveled well and quickened great and I am over the moon."

Military Attack was never able to mount a challenge from the back half of the pack while finishing 10th. Ron the Greek was 12th, while Ruler of the World also weakened about 600 meters out to finish 13th.

PEDIGREE NOTES FROM EBN

African Story was an impressive winner of the Gr.2 Godolphin Mile in 2012 and the Gr.3 Burj Nahaar in 2012 and 2013, the handsome chestnut is one of 62 Graded/Group winners by Cheveley Park Stud`s Gr.1 Nunthorpe Stakes and Gr.2 (then) King`s Stand Stakes ace Pivotal, and thus became the twentythird to triumph at the highest level.

African Story is the fourth foal of Blixen, who finished third in the Listed Flame Of Tara Stakes. By Gone West, she is out of the Gr.1 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup heroine Danish. By Danehill out of the Listed victrix Tea House, Danish is a full-sister to the Gr.3 Desmond Stakes winners Ace and Hawkeye, both of whom were placed several times at the highest level, before retiring to stud.

The third dam of Alzao`s Gr.3 Prix Miesque scorer Contemporary, Tea House is by the Prix du Jockey Club and Prix de l`Arc de Triomphe hero Sassafras out of a daughter of the British and Irish Champion Juvenile Filly Mesopotamia, whose own dam Agar`s Plough won the Irish Oaks.

Sassafras is by the Ascot Gold Cup, Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud and Grosser Preis von Baden hero Sheshoon, while his grandam Dame D`Atour is by Cranach out of the celebrated broodmare Barley Corn.

Pivotal`s sire Polar Falcon is out of the Stakes winner Marie D`Argonne, whose third generation features Cranach, Barley Corn and Sheshoon`s dam, the Solario Stakes runner-up Noorani, the latter via her son, the Prix du Jockey Club winner Charlottesville


 
 
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