Raging Torrent gives Frankie Dettori an eighth Godolphin Mile

$1,000,000 Group 2 Godolphin Mile Sponsored By EMAAR

Alan Carasso

American Grade 1 winner Raging Torrent provided trainer Doug O’Neill a second consecutive running of the Godolphin Mile and third overall, turning away the pace-pressing Mufasa with less than 400 metres to travel before easily holding off France’s King Gold and Kazu Petrin for Japan.

It was an eighth Godolphin Mile for the legendary Frankie Dettori and a 24th winner at the Dubai World Cup meeting, double the number of any of his peers.

Smoothly into stride from a middle gate, the four-year-old colt soon led but was joined to his outside by American import Mufasa, making his UAE debut for Bhupat Seemar and RRR Racing, who won this event two years ago with Isolate.

Settled into a nice rhythm through the middle sections, Raging Torrent was put to a drive on the swing for home, looked to be going the better of the two fighting out the fractions entering the straight and pinched a winning break to score comfortably in 1:36.69.

Dettori commented: “He’s such a lovely horse and he did the rest. You need the horse to lead like he did, he was quick away and I was able to do my own fractions. In fairness, he’s always been a sprinter in America. So I was thinking of that, I didn’t want to kick too early.”

Added O’Neill: “I was confident, but that’s why you run these races, you never know. He had a good, clean break, got the lead, got a little breather mid-race. Speed was always going to be his strength. I’m on cloud nine and I’ve got to thank everyone here.”

Dettori, reflecting on his Dubai record, said: “Eight Godolphin Miles, that’s a hell of a record. I think it’s fair to say I grew up here. It’s great satisfaction coming back and winning – and hopefully I can win the World Cup again.”

King Gold (2nd), jockey Adrie de Vries said: “Great race. We rode him to get the trip like we did the first time, he actually jumped a little bit slow today and must have thought he was going to go 2000m again I guess so I had to wake him up a little bit. I was never worried, he came good into the turn. The winner was too good but it felt like a win to us.”

Kazu Petrin (3rd), jockey Cristian Demuro said: “He ran very good. He tried hard until the end and finished third with a good finish.”

Steal Sunshine (4th), jockey Christophe Lemaire said: “He jumped at the start and lost a few lengths but it is his way of running, coming from the back of the field. He finished very well, very genuine.”

Mendelssohn Bay (5th), jockey Richard Mullen said: “He is a next year horse; wants a mile and a quarter. The track is dry and it suits the front runners. He is a horse that likes to close but he was fifth there, so a super run.

“He ran super. The track probably didn’t play out to his advantage or his liking. It’s a bit drier earlier on in the day and it suits all of the front-runners. He comes from off the pace so I had to be handier than I wanted to be. He’s still a young horse. Last year he ran in the (UAE) 2000 Guineas, so it’s a stepping stone for what lies ahead of him.”

Mufasa (6th), jockey Tadhg O’Shea said: “We haven’t had him for too long and just got tired late. He is a horse for next season, for sure.”

Qareeb (7th), jockey Silvestre de Sousa said: “Fast race, wasn’t good enough. The race was too strong for him.”

Sadaaty (9th), jockey Ray Dawson said: “First time in such a competitive race and they went really hard. He is used to going in front and getting a breather but today wasn’t his day.”

“He’s a horse who needs to get into a nice rhythm. At Jebel Ali he’s able to do that but today they went so hard he didn’t get into a breathing rhythm properly. His breathing wasn’t as fluent as usual. He’ll come back next year and he’s a nice horse.”

No Lunch (10th), jockey Maxime Guyon said: “He jumped as the gates opened and he started bad.”

Peptide Nile (11th), jockey Yusuke Fujioka said: “He was in good form but there were two fast horses and the pace was too tough for him.”

Oasis Boy (12th), jockey Christophe Soumillon said: “Missed the start.”

Little Vic (13th), jockey John Velazquez said: “Good start, that was it.”

Sword Point (14th), jockey James McDonald said: “He traveled for like 50 metres and then dropped out.”