Racing:Pascal Bary's Gloria De Campeao edged out Lizard's Desire in a thrilling finish to claim the $10million (€7.5m) Dubai World Cup at Meydan as British-trained raiders disappointed. The seven-year-old had finished second to Well Armed in the world's richest race 12 months ago, but was sent off at 16-1 having been beaten in Grade Two company here at the start of the month.
Lizard’s Desire finished strongest of all in the hands of Kevin Shea and joined Gloria De Campeao on the line, but after a tense photo it was the latter who was named the winner by the narrowest of margins.
“To win a race like that with a horse like this is great,” said a delighted Bary. “He’s such a wonderful horse, he always tries.
“The other horse finished so fast I wasn’t sure if we had won. When he comes to Dubai he is a different horse.”
Gloria De Campeao was ridden from the front throughout by Tiago Pereira and began to burn off his rivals one by one from the turn for home.
Lizard's Desire, trained by South African handler Mike De Kock, desperately tried to mow him down late on and was seemingly in front everywhere but the line.
Henry Cecil's Twice Over travelled kindly but having raced widest of all for much of the contest, he could not pick up in the closing stages.
Gitano Hernando, trained by Newmarket-based Italian Marco Botti, was never too far away under Kieren Fallon but encountered traffic problems in the straight before running on strongly at the death.
Godolphin's Allybar was third, with Gio Ponti fourth, but Vision D'Etat never threatened to land a blow.
A major doubt only 24 hours beforehand, he passed veterinary tests on the morning of the race but was ultimately well beaten.
Gloria Owner Stefan Friborg said: "I don't have words for it, it was fantastic. "He rode it as planned, from the front.
"He is very tough, he enjoys to run and fight and he never gives up."
5:45pm Dubai World Cup Sponsored By Emirates Airline (group 1) (aw)
1 Gloria De Campeao T Pereira 16/1
2 Lizard's Desire K Shea 33/1
3 Allybar Ahmed Ajtebi 16/1