Saturday night fever at Dubai World Cup

Sarah Tregoning compiles a notebook of entries of events and happenings around the paddock as events unfolded in the world's richest race at Meydan Racecourse.


Dubai Golden Shaheen: The first one is special
No matter how many more winning horses Fawzi Nass trains, Krypton Factor must surely remain a favourite. Not only did the talented sprinter claim Nass's first victory as a trainer earlier in the season, but he also claimed the handler's first Dubai World Cup day win. Krypton Factor, ridden by Kieren Fallon, stalked the fast-finishing Rocket Man, coming alongside him and then passing him to win the US$2 million (Dh7.34m) race by two-and-a-half lengths.

Al Quoz Sprint: Ortensia improves score
Ortensia, a mare, claimed a victory for Australia in the Al Quoz Sprint when Craig Williams steered her over the line ahead of Sole Power and the 2010 winner, Joy And Fun. "I have had 20 rides on the mare for four wins. She has been unlucky in a few but she was brilliant today," the winning rider said. "I was able to get into clear running inside the last 300 metres and she had an explosive turn of foot."

UAE Derby: Daddy Long Legs' trip
Aidan O'Brien, became only the third trainer to win the UAE Derby and the first handler to do it for Ireland in 12 renewals of the race after his Daddy Long Legs powered across the line just over a length ahead of Yang Tse Kiang. O'Brien's victory broke the stranglehold of Godolphin trainer Saeed bin Suroor and South Africa's Mike de Kock, who have won the race seven times and five times, respectively. Daddy Long Legs, who was ridden by Colm O'Donoghue, will now head to the US and a run in the Kentucky Derby.

Godolphin Mile: Dettori has it covered
Godolphin's African Story and Frankie Dettori claimed a victory in the Godolphin Mile by four lengths from De Kock's Viscount Nelson. The win marked a record seventh victory in the race for Dettori. African Story, trained by bin Suroor, may now chart a course to the Champion's Mile at Hong Kong's Sha Tin next month. "All options are open for him," said bin Suroor. "He looked really good before the race and we thought that he would be our best chance on the night so we are pleased with him." De Kock was delighted with the effort of Viscount Nelson under Kevin Shea. "We never expected him to run so well," said de Kock.

Hills' farewell bite
Richard Hills, who has been Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid's premier rider since 1997, closed out his career last night. The Englishman rode more than 1,840 winners in a 33-year career. His partner in the UAE Derby, Sheikh Hamdan's Entifaadha, trained by William Haggas, could not keep up with the leaders and finished 13th. Hills got a second bite of the cherry to end his riding career in the rerun of the Dubai Gold Cup. Zanzamar stormed home in the stayers' race to earn Hills a share of the $100,000 third-place prize.

O'Shea hopes for more
Tadhg O'Shea was crowned UAE champion jockey for the second time as he wrested the trophy back from Wayne Smith, who beat him to the title last season by just one win. This season, the Irishman was able to draw five wins clear. O'Shea, who is a retained rider for Sheikh Hamdan, said he was looking forward to working with Paul Hanagan, the new Sheikh Hamdan rider, following the retirement of Hills. "I hope he has a good season because that means I'll have a good season," O'Shea said.