Ahead of the 20th running of the Dubai World Cup on Saturday, Geoffrey Riddle gathers the recollections of the men who figured prominently on the night the world's richest horse race was launched.
When I was asked to ride at Nad Al Sheba for the first time by the International Racing Bureau I turned it down and Gary Stevens went instead of me to ride in a jockeys’ challenge. I didn’t know where Dubai was ... I did some research into it and when I was asked again, I did not refuse.When I arrived in Dubai 1994 there were about 15 high-rise buildings, which makes a huge contrast to today, and I was happy to win two races.
After that I had a long chat with John Gosden [the trainer], who revealed to me Sheikh Mohammed’s vision for a World Cup. I was in awe of the whole concept. I remember the post-position draw had huge statues, around a foot-and-a-half tall, of falcons wearing hoods. When the owners were drawn out, they came up and looked under the hood to find out what their draw was.
One time, we all got on a bus and were taken to what looked to me like a palace in Abu Dhabi. It was phenomenal. People were catching fish and within an hour of them being caught they were on a huge barbecue for us all. We then had dune-buggy rides across the beach and, later on, I actually went to a camel race. I had a blast.
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I remember during the race thinking that I was going quite well but as soon as Cigar went I thought he would win.
Then Soul Of The Matter edged ahead of him and it looked as if he would finally be beaten. Apparently, there was a hell of a race for third, but I don’t remember much of that as I was riding my tail off for the fifth-place money, which was about US$120,000 (Dh440,000). I was so proud that America had the first three and I was just thrilled even to be in the inaugural race. I was buzzing so much that I really don’t remember what Saeed bin Suroor said to me afterwards. What I do remember, however, is that Allen Paulson, Cigar’s owner, and Billy Mott, his trainer, didn’t wait until the end of the World Cup festivities and jumped in Mr Paulson’s Gulfstream private jet and headed to the Seychelles.
I won’t be at this year’s World Cup as I have just retired form the saddle and it is my 60th birthday on Friday. I was lucky enough to go Abu Dhabi in November, and took the chance to make a trip to Meydan. It is amazing to think that Nad Al Sheba was just Step 1 of Sheikh Mohammed’s idea. Meydan is just awesome.
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