WELL ARMED FASTEST GUN


But ex-camel jockey rides tallest of all

By ‘Trackwork’, our turf editor, who has been at every Dubai World Cup meeting at Nad Al Sheba. Images by Dubai Racing Club.

The stars overhead were covered by the storm clouds but on the turf at Nad Al Sheba none shone brighter than World Cup winner Well Armed, once injured so badly he should have been put down, and a charismatic former camel jockey who rode an extraordinary double on the last night at the grand old facility.

Well Armed improved from third last year to run out the record winner of the $6 million-dollar Group One Dubai World Cup, the world’s richest race, at a soggy Nad al Sheba, in what was it’s last running at the track before moving over the road to a spectacular new facility.

Trained by Irish-born, America-based Eoin Harty - whose father Eddie rode the Grand National winner Highland Wedding in 1969 - Well Armed led from start to finish to ease home 14 lengths clear at 10/1 ahead of French runner Gloria de Campeao.

It was an extraordinary victory given that two years ago Well Armed was judged to be so seriously injured that he should have been put down after he fractured his pelvis.The previous record winning distance had been American legend Curlin’s seven and three quarter length victory last year.

The emphatic nature of the win brought back memories of Dubai Millennium’s 2000 domination.

The other star of the evening was home-grown rider Ahmed Ajtebi, who completed a double when he rode Gladiatorus - trained by rookie Mubarak bin Shafya - to as impressive a victory as Well Armed’s in the mile-long Group One Dubai Duty Free. Ajtebi and Safya went on to capture the other Group One race of the evening, the Dubai Sheema Classic, with Eastern Anthem in as exciting a finish as one could wish to witness.

The youngster’s infectious smile after his two stunning victories was a highllight of the historic night of racing and it showed that the idea to switch from camels to horses from a man who knows racing better than anyone, had been spot on.
The suggestion had come from HH Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

“I always said I wanted the UAE to be proud of me and I hope the country is now,” said the 21-year-old jockey.

Eight-time Zimbabwean champion trainer Neil Bruss was well rewarded in the Cup as his two runners in his maiden season in Saudi Arabia grabbed third and fourth with Paris Perfect and former Peruvian Triple Crown champion Muller.

Harty, 46, who is the fourth successive generation of his family to train, also paid generous praise to Shaikh Mohammed who hired him in 2000 to train his two-year-olds in the United States.

“It’s the biggest win of my career,” said Harty.

“I owe a lot to His Highness Shaikh Mohammed, who got me started and plucked me from relative obscurity.”
Well Armed’s rider Aaron Gryder rode a masterful tactical race in which the favoured horses such as Asiatic Boy - second last year - and Albertus Maximus were always off the bridle and never looked at ease.

Gryder even had the time, as he extended his charge’s lead, to pat him fondly on the neck and wave his finger at the crowd. “This is an unbelievable experience,” gushed Gryder afterwards.

“I am so glad to be riding this horse. He sure showed how good he is. He was just in a different class this evening.
“Here we go boys! Last race at Nad al Sheba and we won it!”

Asiatic Boy’s jockey Johnny Murtagh said he never had a chance.

“He is a horse who needs to get organized early on and we got shuffled back,” said the Irishman.
“After that we were flat to the boards and always struggling.”

“This is a dream come true and I am so grateful to everyone in helping me get where I am now,” said Ajtebi.
English challenger Presvis was a distant second for Luca Cumani after picking up in the straight under Ryan Moore while Godolphin took third with Alexandros.

The Sheema was an out-and-out thriller. Once again Cumani’s runner, Purple Moon, had to concede to a brilliantly timed run by the winner as Ajtebi brought him from last to first in the straight, and Moore also lost out in the runner-up stakes to another English runner, Spanish Moon, trained by Sir Michael Stoute.

The  wonderful two-time Arc de Triomphe runner-up Youmzain, trained by former England football international Mick Channon, was fourth.

Understandably Ajtebi was over the moon in more senses than one.

“This is just fantastic. I can’t believe it!” he gasped. “I was a camel rider between age six and 14 and I think that helped because like Thoroughbred racing, it is all about speed. I had to get him switched off at the back and when I pulled out he really went for me. I thought at the furlong pole that I might get there but with Ryan Moore and Jamie Spencer upsides me, you never know. It was a great finish and this has topped up my Duty Free celebrations.

Moore said: “I hate seconds. He battled his heart out all the way to the line, but we just got mugged on the post.”
Australian trainer John Sadler had a stint in Dubai and Ajtebi was his apprentice. Sadler took Ajtebi to Australia where the kid won his first race at a provincial track called Geelong. He hasn’t looked back.