Astonishing! Laurel River Triumphs in Dubai World Cup

Mark Smith - Sunday March 31

The jaw-dropping highlight of the Dubai World Cup meeting was reserved for the US$12 million feature, when the lightly raced Laurel River (USA) gave last year’s winner Ushba Tesoro (JPN) and Saudi Cup hero Senor Buscador an eight-and-a-half-length thrashing.

Astonishing! Who saw that coming? (image Grant Courtney

Given a positive ride by Tadhg O'Shea the Juddmonte homebred son of Into Mischief was a dozen lengths in front on the home bend and barely conceded an inch down the long straight.

The winner of one of two starts at three for Bob Baffert, Laurel River won his two starts at four, including the Grade II seven-furlong Pat O'Brien Stakes at Del Mar.

After missing the entire year in 2023, Laurel River was next seen in the barn of Bhupat Seemar in Dubai.

Following a 517-day break, the 6-year-old entire made an inauspicious debut when beating just two home in a 1200m Group III at Meydan in January, but that changed in March when he was stepped up to a mile in the Burj Nahaar and romped to a six and three-quarter lengths victory.

“I’m still coming to terms with what’s happened,” Bhupat Seemar said.

“I think it’ll probably sink in in another day or two. It’s absolutely amazing. Tadhg said this morning ‘we’re drawn 12, I’m not going to be two-minded about it, I’m going to go forward.

“He’s got so much natural pace. He comes out of the gate and this is why we ran him over six furlongs.

“Tadhg was able to get some easy fractions, and then I saw Defunded coming on his outside, but he just kept on going further. I expected to see all the closers flying at him but he kept going.

Advertisement

A US$12 million-dollar smile (image Grant Courtney)

“I was a small kid when I watched these colours win some of the biggest races in the world. What the late Prince Khalid Abdullah has done for racing is amazing. I couldn’t believe I was going to be training the horse for that farm and in those colours. And now, to win one of the world’s great races for them is unbelievable.”

Tadhg O'Shea said he was overjoyed just to get a ride in the race.

“I’ve been fortunate enough to have had Dubai World Cup night winners, but you don’t get many opportunities and I’m going to be forever grateful to Juddmonte for keeping me on the horse, they could use anyone and they’re a worldwide operation that’s really successful,” he said.

“When he had his first run for the stable we thought he’d disappointed, but we never lost faith. He was explosive last time and I said the other morning to Bhupat, I pulled him aside and said I’d never ridden a horse with his ability ever. And he’d just done an easy work on his own.

"With the dirt you can’t be half-hearted, you have to go forward. If he didn’t stay, he didn’t stay. We were aware of that. The main thing that won the race, it’s easy to say when you win, but I was able to keep filling him up and filling him up.”

By the 5-time champion American stallion Into Mischief, Laurel River is the best of three winners from as many to race for the Empire Maker mare Calm Water, a sister to Emollient, a three-quarter to stakes-winner Coutier (Pioneer Of The Nile), and half to stakes-winner Hofburg (Tapit).

This is the revered family of the blue hen Coup De Folie, a daughter of Northern Dancer’s half-sister  Raise The Standard. 

Advertisment
More Reading...
El Vencedor Crowned NZ Horse of the Year
Rich Hill Stud’s standing as a centre of thoroughbred excellence has been further emphasised with El Vencedor named New Zealand’s Horse of the Year.
Ones to Watch – Bendigo
At this time of year, you tend to take special notice of well-bred 3YO debut winners and three of them arrived at Bendigo on Sunday that were all interesting for different reasons and none more so than one who has a name that has become infamous this year.
Shamus Award Mare Quintessa Cracks $1million in Prizemoney
Karaka graduate Quintessa (NZ) (Shamus Award) became a millionaire and a dual Group One winner with a stunning last-to-first performance in the $400,000 Group One Proisir Plate (1400m) at Ellerslie on Saturday.
Aussie Bred Sprinter Wins G3 in South Korea
Australian bred Deep Field gelding Self Improvement was the pride of Hong Kong on Sunday when the Manfred Man trained gelding captured the Group III Seoul Korea Sprint (1200m) in South Korea.
Derby Dreaming for Crown of Russia
Danny O’Brien already has one promising winner by his former G1 star Russian Camelot (IRE) in the stable in Censori and on Sunday at Bendigo he unleashed another.
New G1 Winner for Wootton Bassett
Back in Australia for another season at Coolmore, Wootton Bassett (GB) was expected to get a 3YO Group I winner in France on Sunday, but the horse that got the job done was not the one punters expected.
Sires With Winners - Sunday September 7
Here is the full list of 67 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Barneswood Farm Trans Tasman Strike
A trans-Tasman ownership double prompted long and enthusiastic celebrations for Ashburton’s Barneswood Farm.
Impressive First Foals for Don Corleone
The first son of outstanding sire Extreme Choice to find his way to Queensland, Group I performer Don Corleone proved very popular with breeders last spring covering 133 mares at Eureka Stud and his first foals are exactly what you might hope for.
Toronado Withdrawn from Service
Victorian breeders have been dealt a blow with Swettenham Stud announcing on Sunday evening that their champion sire Toronado (IRE) would not cover any mares in 2025 as he recovers from a significant infection that caused lameness.