DUBAI WORLD CUP 16 adiyat racing plus.com adiyat racing plus.com ADIYAT RACING PLUS ISSUE 840 Thursday 4th April 2024 LOCAL HEROES MANAGE TO HOLD THE INTERNATIONALS AT BAY SATURDAY’S TRIP OF 2000m WAS AN UNKNOWN, BUT FORMER TRAINER BOB BAFFERT, WHO SADDLED NEWGATE IN THE RACE, WAS SURE LAUREL RIVER WOULD BE A THREAT. BARRIER 12 GAVE O’SHEA NO CHOICE BUT TO BE POSITIVE EARLY. By Pat Comerford, the man behind the microphone for the 2024 Dubai World Cup I’ve always questioned what draws me to racing. To those physically involved, it’s certainly not the early mornings, the seven day a week commitment or the weight cutting if you are playing the role of jockey. It sounds cliché, but I’ve narrowed it down to the stories, where dreams become reality, that split second moment where all that grinding pays off and for the lucky few, it makes the commitment all worth it. Like any great race, by the time the horses pass the line, there are a plethora of stories waiting to be told, none more so than the rider and trainer of the winner picking up their first Dubai World Cup. COMMITTED DUO Two men who have committed themselves to UAE racing and endeavoured to not only contribute to the industry here, but try and compete with the international visitors who travel many miles to claim victory on one of world racing’s night of nights. Firstly, let’s discuss Tadhg O’Shea, an Irish jockey who has spent over two decades turning himself into a household name in the Gulf with more than a decade’s worth of rider’s premierships to his name, finally taking home the race that many dream to win. And then there is Bhupat Seemar, a man following in his uncle’s footsteps trying to pave his own path as a horse trainer in the Middle East. TRUE PROFESSIONALS Year after year, successful season after successful season, both men have excelled, but have on many occasions settled for placings in big races on World Cup night as a home ground advantage can only take you so far. Finally, there is Laurel River, a horse whose first run didn’t pan out as planned. Granted, there was excuses as to the tardy start to the campaign, but both trainer and rider were adamant it wasn’t a true representation of where the horse was at. The following start was arrogant, an on pace a win that gave viewers an inkling this horse was to be respected. Sure, he provided pace for the back markers, but what if he could get far enough in front that chasing him down would be near on impossible. O’SHEA HAD TO BE POSITIVE Saturday’s trip of 2000m was an unknown, but former trainer Bob Baffert, who saddled Newgate in the race, was sure he would be a threat. Barrier 12 gave O’Shea no choice but to be positive early. At the halfway mark, he hadn’t done much work to find his favourite role and every other horse left him alone. Defunded attempted to match his splits, but soon dropped away. I’d like to say I had confidence he would lead all the way, but at the 200m when I thought he’d start to paddle, he maintained his speed and put victory beyond any doubt. This win means so much to not only those involved, but local trainers hoping to one day claim a Dubai World Cup. O’Shea and Seemar were rewarded for their commitments on Saturday night and the crowd responded accordingly. They are two names who have brought racing fans so much joy and will continue to do so in the future. We love the contribution that our visitors bring each and every year but sometimes, the local heroes prevail. Seemar and O’Shea
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