Dubai Gold Cup results: Vazirabad makes late surge to beat Beautiful Romance and Sheikhzayedroad

The outcome turned out to be a disappointing one for much-favoured Quest For More and Big Orange, who was also in the front bunch in the race.

Photo: Andrew Watkins / Dubai Racing Club; Illustration: Kevin Jeffers / The National
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The Belgian champion jockey Christophe Soumillon and the French-trained Vazirabad made it two in a row in the US$1 million (Dh3.67m) Dubai Gold Cup run over 3,200 metres on the turf.

Beaten by Godolphin’s Beautiful Romance in the Group 3 Nad Al Sheba Trophy over 2,810m a month ago, the Alain de Royer-Dupre-trained five-year-old gelded son of Manduro reversed the result over the longer distance.

Vazirabad was at the back of the 14-runner field for much of the race but Soumillon picked up bit by bit, moving on to the second-last bend from the 800m pole.

He joined Beautiful Romance and went past the mare on the final 50m to stretch his winning record to 10 from 14 career starts. Beautiful Romance under Oisin Murphy had to settle for second ahead of the martin Healy-ridden Sheikhzayedroad.

Check back shortly for full results.

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