Monterosso wins Dubai World Cup

French jockey Mickael Barzalona raises the trophy after leading Monterosso to victory [AFP]

Monterosso led home a Godolphin one-two in the Dubai World Cup over 2000 metres at Meydan racecourse on Saturday when he swept past his stablemate, Capponi, to win the world’s richest race.

The five-year-old, ridden by Mickael Barzalona, advanced from a prominent position to win a race in which he finished third last year.

The contested early pace helped to bring Monterosso’s stamina into play as Capponi finally gave way after challenging for the lead throughout. The first two home are trained for Sheikh Mohammed’s Godolphin stable by Mahmood Al-Zarooni.

“Monterosso needs a fast pace and Capponi did the job well,” Al Zarooni said.

“It is a great feeling to win it. Sometimes I imagined to myself that I had won the race and now it has happened.”

Extravaganza

It was the perfect end to the nine-race, $27.25 million extravaganza for the Ruler of Dubai who owns both Monterosso and Capponi.

The outcome brought some consolation to the sheikh, whose Fox Hunt had to be humanely destroyed after breaking a leg in a race three hours earlier. It was his sixth victory in 17 renewals of the $10 million race.

For Barzalona, meanwhile, it was the perfect start to his new position as Frankie Dettori’s understudy at Godolphin. Dettori himself finished down the field aboard Prince Bishop.

“This is a dream,” Barzalona said after celebrating from the saddle every bit as extravagant as he had in winning the Derby at Epsom in June.

“I just had to (do that). It was natural. I couldn’t believe it when no-one came after me (down the straight).”

Monterosso banked the winner’s purse of $6 million.

He won by three lengths from Capponi after a brief tussle halfway down the home straight, with Planteur a half-length back in third and hot favourite So You Think in fourth.