Prince Bishop took centre stage at Dubai World Cup when it mattered most

Prince Bishop had finished ninth to African Story in the Dubai World Cup 12 months ago, but he chose the 20th running of the world’s most valuable race to step out in to the limelight, writes Geoffrey Riddle.

Prince Bishop, right, ridden by William Buick won the Dubai World Cup at the Meydan Racecourse in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

It was a night which underlined the mantra that if you try hard enough, persistence will eventually be rewarded.

Prince Bishop had finished ninth to African Story in the Dubai World Cup 12 months ago, but having lived in the shadow of his stablemate at Saeed bin Suroor’s plush Al Quoz facility, he chose the 20th running of the world’s most valuable race to step out in to the limelight.

RELATED

Much as with last year, throughout the night Godolphin runner after Godolphin runner came home defeated, but in the race that matters most to Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President Of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, Prince Bishop delivered the goods in the most extraordinary circumstances, carrying William Buick and Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed’s colours.

Consider the facts.

At eight years old, Prince Bishop became the oldest World Cup winner. Having given a start of around 15 lengths to a field that contained America’s horse of the year in California Chrome and Japan’s dirt horse of the year in Hokko Tarumae, in addition to four more winners at the highest level, Prince Bishop roared down the Meydan stretch to post a record time.

It was Prince Bishop’s 15th run at Meydan and only his fourth win. That record included finishing in 10th place in the World Cup in 2011, and he filled the same spot in the Dubai Sheema Classic a year later.

Revisionists will look back and say that his thunderbolt success was not without foundation. He had defeated African Story in the second round of the Al Maktoum Challenge last year, after all.

But this was a triumph that confounded even Sheikh Mohammed’s expectations. When asked what he had expected of Prince Bishop, Sheikh Mohammed replied: “It was a pleasant surprise.”

Even the winning jockey was astounded. Buick said that he felt numb after he had landed the biggest payday in the sport.

Buick has been riding with Godolphin only since November, and he was just one aspect of a complete worldwide overhaul of the Dubai-based operation last year following the Mahmoud Al Zarooni scandal in 2013.

After a period that has brought significant restructuring, Godolphin started the day off with a win in the Group 1 BMW at Rosehill in Australia, courtesy of Hartnell, another battle-hardened horse who previously lacked a stellar CV.

This was a remarkable way to fire a shot across the bows of the international elite ahead of a season Godolphin have earmarked as one in which they will make their return to the big time.

“This is only the beginning,” Buick said.

Follow us at our new home on Twitter @NatSportUAE