Pleasantly Perfect wins world's richest race in Dubai

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Pleasantly Perfect wins world's richest race in Dubai

SportsLine.com wire reports

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates -- Richard Mandella was dubbed "King Richard" after winning a record four Breeders' Cup races five months ago. Add another title: "Sheik Richard."


The Hall of Fame trainer had his prayers answered in the desert Saturday night when Pleasantly Perfect outdueled Medaglia d'Oro and won the $6 million Dubai World Cup -- the richest race on earth.

"I didn't shut my eyes, but I did a lot of praying, I'll tell you that," Mandella said. "I'd just as soon it was a lot easier."

It was far from easy for a trainer who has been coming to this wealthy sheikdom since the World Cup began in 1996. Three times before, Mandella's horses finished second -- Soul of the Matter in 1996, Siphon in 1997 and Malek in 1999.

But this time was different. When racing's top two older horses hooked up in a thrilling stretch run, it was Pleasantly Perfect who prevailed by three-quarters of a length.

Medaglia d'Oro, gallant in defeat, finished second yet again to Pleasantly Perfect. The last time was five months ago in the $4 million Breeders' Cup Classic.

After the World Cup, Mandella was surrounded by Arab sheiks in flowing white robes as he mounted the stage to receive his prize from Dubai ruler Sheik Maktoum and his brother, Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

"They make it worth your while," Mandella said, referring to the sheiks who created this $15.25 million, six-race program.

The win was worth $3.6 million for Gerald J. Ford's Diamond A Racing Corp., with the trainer customarily receiving 10 percent. The 6-year-old Pleasantly Perfect has now earned $6.7 million.

Even though betting is illegal in Dubai, an estimated 7,000 people attended the races at Nad al Sheba. The crowd was a mix of royalty in long Arab robes sipping soft drinks in the grandstands, people arriving in luxury cars and laborers sprawled picnic-style on the manicured lawns for a day at the races.

Fleetstreet Dancer set the early pace, with Medaglia d'Oro at his flank and Pleasantly Perfect in close pursuit heading into the turn of the 2,000-meter (nearly 1¼ miles) race.

In the stretch, Medaglia d'Oro, with Jerry Bailey aboard, moved into the lead. But Alex Solis urged on Pleasantly Perfect, and the two went stride-for-stride until Mandella's horse pulled ahead in the final yards.

"It was a dogfight all the way down the stretch," Solis said. "I wanted to make sure Medaglia d'Oro didn't get away from me, he tried to come back but luckily I had enough in my hand. When I cracked him 100 meters to the post he took off again ... he looks so beautiful, he's shiny and happy."

Bailey said his horse ran his heart out.

"It was a great race ... he ran his heart out tonight and you got to tip your head to the other horse. He set up comfortably, he was so very positive ... he kicked once and kicked again when I asked him to."

Victory Moon, winner of last year's UAE Derby, was third, nearly eight lengths behind Medaglia d'Oro. Grand Hombre, the hometown favorite owned by Sheik Mohammed's Godolphin Racing, was fourth in the 12-horse field, nearly 14 lengths behind the winner.

Mandella wasn't sure he would make it to Dubai after having to scratch Pleasantly Perfect from the Santa Anita Handicap earlier this month with a slight fever.

"I held my breath and I prayed I wasn't doing the wrong thing by pushing to get here, and here we are," Mandella said.

Pleasantly Perfect will get a long rest, Mandella said, with the long-term goal a return to Breeders' Cup Classic.

In the 2003 Breeders' Cup, Mandella won the BC Juvenile with Action This Day, the BC Juvenile Fillies with Halfbridled and the BC Turf with Johar, who deadheated with High Chaparral, before Pleasantly Perfect won the Classic.

The following morning, Breeders' Cup president D.G. Van Clief Jr., declared: "He's no longer Dick Mandella. He's now King Richard."

On the undercard
Lundy's Liability charged past the leaders in the stretch and won the UAE Derby, giving South African trainer Mike de Kock his second consecutive victory in the $2 million race.
Paolini and Right Approach finished in a dead heat for first in the $2 million Dubai Duty Free. Right Approach also is trained by de Kock.
Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens guided Polish Summer to victory in the $2 million Dubai Sheema Classic in his first race as the top rider for French trainer Andre Fabre.
Our New Recruit led an American sweep in the $2 million Golden Shaheen, winning the six-furlong sprint with a late run past the leaders. Alke was second, followed by Conroy and Cajun Beat.
Firebreak won the $1 million Godolphin Mile for the second consecutive year. The 5-year-old horse owned by Godolphin stormed past the leaders in the stretch and won easily over Tropical Star.