Doncaster Racecourse

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Curlin Crowned the Best in the World
30/03/08

America’s champion Curlin put his rivals to the sword when an emphatic winner of the Dubai World Cup, sponsored by Emirates, on Saturday night, March 29.

Such was the sheer command and authority of his performance, his jockey Robby Albarado can hardly have had an anxious moment as the US champion travelled supremely well throughout the race, stalking the lead before the American rider let him go to the lead in the straight.

The race was over in a matter of strides as Curlin pulled clear of his toiling rivals to take the US$6-million showpiece by seven and three quarter lengths without being fully extended.

There was a long fought out duel for second place between Johnny Murtagh on Asiatic Boy and US challenger Well Armed and Aaron Gryder, with the runner-up spot eventually going to Asiatic Boy, but by then Curlin had flown in 2m 0.15s.

AP Arrow finished fourth, but none of the others could get in a blow. The disappointment of the race was the Japan Cup Dirt winner Vermillion, fourth in the race last year, who finished last of all, with jockey Yutaka Take unable to offer any reason for the run, and Godolphin’s Jalil in seventh.

Afterwards a delighted Robby Albarado said: “It’s a great privilege for me to be on him. What a horse. I just show up and ride him and get the glory but everybody works so hard behind the scenes and he does it all on raceday. It’s easy when you ride a great horse like Curlin. He’s not even tired.”

Winning trainer Steve Asmussen was delighted with the win which he described as “awesome”.

“He’s spoiled us with his consistency and brilliance. Pre-race the horse was in great shape and he stepped from the stalls and just spoiled us again. Since his Breeders’ Cup Classic win, he’s shown us that he can do things quicker and I think he’s proved that again tonight.

“For someone from a racing family to have the best horse in the world is really awesome. It’s a dream come true,” Asmussen said.

Success in the Dubai World Cup took Curlin’s lifetime earnings to over US$8.8 million and he is unquestionably the best horse in the world.

Curlin will be shipped back to Keeneland on April 6 and no decision has yet been made on plans for the rest of the season.