Emirates Open Skies, March 2020
The Dubai World Cup, partnered by Emirates, is not only the world’s richest thoroughbred horse race, but a genuine equine festival and social occasion which celebrates its 25th anniversary this month. The Godolphin stables have won the previous two races so its MD Hugh Anderson is perfectly placed to tell us why it’s the biggest event of his year.
Can you explain the magic of the Dubai World Cup?
It’s one of the great events in the international racing calendar, an amazing spectacle with fantastic racing all set against the magnificent backdrop of Dubai. For Godolphin, with Dubai as our base and His Highness Sheikh Mohammed as our Patron, this meeting is massively important and a great opportunity for our horses to race on their home turf. The facilities for the horses and jockeys are first class and, for the racegoers, I cannot think of another racecourse that delivers so much in terms of hospitality and entertainment. It really is an unforgettable experience for everyone who is there.
Obviously Godolphin and the Dubai World Cup are inextricably linked. Is there an added pressure as your “home” race?
Absolutely, Dubai World Cup night is a huge occasion for all of us at Godolphin. Of course there is pressure to perform well but we know that the opposition is of the highest quality from around the world so nothing is taken for granted. Godolphin has a fine record on World Cup night over the last 25 years. I have huge admiration for Saeed bin Suroor, in particular, who has won the Dubai World Cup itself nine times with eight different horses – it is the ultimate testament to his skill as a trainer and horseman. Our other Dubai trainer, Charlie Appleby, has also enjoyed huge success in Dubai during his first five years as a trainer. Both Saeed and Charlie will be well represented on the big night and determined to stamp their respective marks on this 25th anniversary.
What can you tell us about the horses/riders you hope will take Godolphin to glory?
As always, it will be a highly competitive night but my picks from Team Godolphin are Cross Counter for the Dubai Gold Cup, trained by Charlie Appleby and ridden by William Buick – who won the Melbourne Cup in 2018. Appleby and Buick also come together for the Dubai Sheema Classic with Ghaiyyath, who is a Group 1 winning turf specialist. And finally, Benbati – trained by Saeed bin Suroor, is one for the Dubai World Cup itself, a globetrotting six-year-old who has won at the highest level in Dubai, Europe and Australia.
Thunder Snow won the Dubai World Cup for Godolphin for the past two years, but three years has proved too much. What’s it like to have to retire such a racehorse?There is always a tinge of sadness when such a fantastic racehorse like Thunder Snow retires but the overriding feeling is one of gratitude and respect for all he has done. The stable staff who have ridden him and looked after him for the last four years will miss him of course but he is staying in the team, now as a stallion at Godolphin’s stallion operation, Darley, in Japan. We hope to see his progeny racing in Dubai within a few years!
What does Dubai World Cup mean to you personally?
For me, it is the biggest event of the year. I have been lucky enough to attend this meeting for many years, including when it was at Nad Al Sheba, and it is still a thrilling sporting occasion. It brings the Dubai Carnival to a close and sets us up for the European season which starts in April. I have so many great memories of the night but I think Thunder Snow winning last year by the narrowest of margins, backing up on his win in 2018, is the standout moment.
Finally, at the start of a new decade, where would you like Godolphin to be at the end of it?
Well, we finished the last decade very strongly with 57 Group 1 wins in 2018-19, including the Dubai World Cup, the English Derby, The Golden Slipper in Australia and the Melbourne Cup. In Europe we have the highest rated three year old colt, Pinatubo, who is unbeaten in six starts and is aimed at the 2000 Guineas in Newmarket. Godolphin Europe should be very strong this year. Equally, our operations in Australia, Japan and the USA have been enjoying success at the highest level and are bursting with potential. So, we start the decade with huge optimism and every reason to believe that Godolphin will continue to progress and improve. Our breeding operation around the world is probably at the strongest it has ever been in terms of the quality of our stallions and mares. That is why our racing results have been so good and we plan to continue to strengthen.
