Laurel River made history in the $12 million Dubai World Cup with an 8 1/2 length win at Meydan Racecourse. With jockey Tadhg O’Shea at the helm, the horse took the lead halfway through the race after starting from the far outside post. This victory broke a record set by Dubai Millennium in 2000 and earned Laurel River $20.70 for his efforts.
Trainer Bhupat Seemar was left in awe of his team’s success, stating “I still can’t believe it! I think it will take me a few days to fully process this.” Laurel River had previously been under trainer Bob Baffert before being transferred to Seemar’s care by owner Juddmonte Farms last summer.
Ushba Tesoro finished as the runner-up, taking home $2.4 million, while Senor Buscador from the U.S., winner of the Saudi Cup, claimed third place and earned $1.2 million. Derma Sotogake finished in sixth place and Defunded came in seventh, while Newgate, also trained by Baffert, finished ninth. Jockey Frankie Dettori expressed disappointment in his horse’s performance saying “My horse just didn’t run up to expectations.”
Overall, Laurel River’s dominant victory marked a historic moment in horse racing and solidified his status as a top competitor in the sport.
