Laurel River, a horse with a remarkable journey, delivered an impressive performance, dominating the £9.5million Dubai World Cup at Meydan.
The trainee, expertly guided by Irish-born jockey Tadhg O'Shea, broke sharply and maintained a strong pace throughout, displaying great enthusiasm.
Laurel River (17-2) had the opportunity to control the race, while Kazakh contender Kabirkhan was heavily supported as the 15-8 favourite, and Japan's defending champion Ushba Tesoro followed closely behind. It was a nail-biting three-way contest, with neither horse managing to make an impact after the frontrunner owned by Juddmonte emerged victorious to take the lead.
O'Shea easily defeated the underdog. He lost ground on the home stretch, and concerns about endurance for a fresh ten-furlong distance were swiftly dismissed.
"I never imagined that 23 years after arriving in this country in 2001, I would find myself victorious in one of the most lucrative races in the world," expressed the rider, elevating Seemar's celebrations to new heights following Tuz's remarkable performance in the Dubai Golden Shaheen."
"One morning following Laurel River's energetic run, I pulled Bhupat aside and expressed my astonishment at the unparalleled experience of riding a horse like him." I feel incredibly fortunate – it's hard to believe."
Laurel River dominated the race, finishing a significant distance ahead of Japanese contender Ushba Tesoro. Senor Buscador claimed third place in the event, which was sponsored by Emirates Airline.
Newgate, a horse previously trained by Bob Baffert, and Derma Sotogake, ridden by three-time British champion Oisin Murphy, both failed to secure a placing in the race.
However, his colleague in the weighing room, Will Buick, had a stroke of good fortune as he pulled off an unexpected victory in the Longines Sheema Classic with Rebel's Romance.
The pre-race discussions revolved around Auguste Rodin, the reigning champion of the 2023 Derby, who has been diligently prepared by the esteemed trainer Aidan O'Brien. However, his four-year-old colt delivered a disappointing performance. Unable to surpass any competitors, it finished behind Charlie Appleby's unexpected 28-1 outsider.