by K. T. Donovan

The Arab Emirates of Dubai know how to put on a horse race. First Cigar and Soul of the Matter made this race the spectacle that Sheik Mohammed envisioned, then Singspiel brought the trophy home for Godolphin Stable in yet another thrilling stretch run. Now, only in its third year, the $4 million Dubai World Cup attracted the top horses from Europe, South America, Japan, the United States, and Dubai itself for the best edition yet. All eyes were on Silver Charm, America's popular Kentucky Derby (gr. I) winner, as he made the trip halfway around the world to face older horses for the first time. And what older horses they were! Predappio (GB), winner of the Hardwicke Stakes (gr. 2) at Royal Ascot last year under Silver Charm's regular jockey, Gary Stevens, and Luso (GB), winner of the Hong Kong International Vase (gr.2) and a Group 1 winner in Germany and Italy. Borgia (Ger), the remarkable German filly who wowed Europe last year as a 3-year-old, then came within a length of beating Chief Bearhart, the Eclipse champion older grass male of 1997, in the Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. I). Swain (Ire), winner of the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (gr. 1) at Ascot and Malek (Chi), the improving Chilean horse who won the Santa Anita Handicap (gr. I) when Silver Charm had to scratch due to a bruised hoof. Loup Sauvage from the legendary French stable of owner Daniel Wildenstein and trainer Andre Fabre looked dominant to a lot of people coming off a win two weeks ago in the Prix Exbury (gr. 3) in France. And then there was the other American horse, Behrens, winner of the Pegasus Handicap (gr. II) last year, beating Touch Gold, the horse that beat Silver Charm in the Belmont Stakes (gr. I) and denied the champion a Triple Crown. In all, nine horses accepted Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum's invitation to come to the Middle East, where the Arabs invented racing and made their love of the horse and the sport so evident. Dubai, the City of Gold, sparkled for the biggest event of the year. Sheik Mohammed is not only the Crown Prince of Dubai and its Defense Minister, but the head of Godolphin Racing Inc., the stable with the greatest number of Thoroughbreds in the world. Silver Charm became the first Kentucky Derby winner to race overseas since Carry Back in 1961 and before him, Omaha in 1935. Another strange aspect that the gray colt had to encounter for the first time was the heat, which forced the race to be run in the evening under lights. As the horses ran around the triangular shaped track, the shadows repeatedly followed and passed their live counterparts before fading and chasing them again. Lasix is not allowed in Dubai, and Silver Charm, who does not take to heat very well, had to face that obstacle as well. Perhaps the greatest hurdle to overcome was enduring a week with his trainer, Bob Baffert, who was suffering from chocolate donut withdrawal. The inconvenience of a quarantine barn a mile from the track and a small starting gate that Silver Charm reacted negatively to during training all melted as the horses saddled in the paddock. Surrounded by a crowd of 30,000 enthusiasts there for the racing alone (no betting is allowed in this Muslim country), the jockeys beamed and the horses gleamed, sweating slightly from the heat. The jockeys mounted and the excitement did too, but Silver Charm remained eerily calm, the most relaxed American at the Nad al Sheba racecourse. Once the horses reached the track, Predappio ran away, allowed to warm up away from the others. Loup Sauvage showed his characteristic stiff way of cantering, which turns into a devastating sweeping stride when he stretches out in an actual race. And Silver Charm still relaxed. Stevens had been here for the inaugural running of the Dubai World Cup, chasing Cigar down the long distance of the three-furlong stretch only to lose by half a length on Soul of the Matter. Last year, he had been offered the ride on Singspiel, an international champion, but turned it down to ride Silver Charm in the Santa Anita Derby (gr. I) three days later. Although Silver Charm lost the Santa Anita Derby, and Stevens watched Jerry Bailey take his second consecutive World Cup on Singspiel, he would not trade that choice now. Bailey rode the first two World Cup winners, but his chances this time on Behrens depended on which Behrens would show up. At times he is a stellar performer, but he had not won since his Pegasus triumph, and his off the board finishes two of his last three races left Bailey on the short end of this rivalry. "On his best day, he can be tough," Bailey said of Behrens before the race, "but he will need a lot of luck to win here today." A horse who ran out of luck was Germany's Oxalagu. After training in Dubai for three months just to get ready for the World Cup, he stepped on a golf ball a couple of days before the race and had to be withdrawn. The Nad al Sheba racecourse contains a 9-hole golf course in its center, part of which is within 50 yards of the racetrack. photo by L. A. Williams Silver Charm bears the colors of owners Bob and Beverly Lewis with jockey Gary Stevens aboard in an archive photo from 1997. When the horses warmed up, Silver Charm was making his second appearance on the track that day. He was the only American horse to run around the track early in the morning to stretch his legs. The deep track, so different from what he was used to in California did not seem to bother him. It was a track that would demand stamina, and Silver Charm was up for the challenge. As the horses broke from the gate, Silver Charm started from the far outside in post 10, but he soon made it close to the front behind the pace set by Behrens. To his inside Predappio and Luso kept in close contact. Running easily down the chute and around the first turn, the odd configuration of the track could have confused the American horses expecting to enter the backstretch here only to find that it was a short straight away leading to another turn. But the horses did not change their positions on the front end, and by the time they went up the real backstretch and headed for the turn, most of the action was taking place in the middle of the pack as horses jostled for position. Behrens tired around the far turn, and Silver Charm looked poised for the long run down the tiring stretch in the 1-1/4-mile race. Stevens kept him in the middle of the track, so the tenacious fighter could see anyone coming at him. Malek was the first to try, but Silver Charm charged ahead, not letting the Chilean challenger any closer than a length. Suddenly, on the inside, Loup Sauvage made his move. The battle was on! Silver Charm fought hard to maintain his dwindling advantage. He appeared to be tiring when on his outside, Swain came with Irish champion jockey Michael Kinane wearing the colors of Sheik Mohammed. The announcer called out, "And Silver Charm comes again!" With a rush, Silver Charm put away Loup Sauvage, getting in front by a half-length, but the momentum of Swain was undeniable. Silver Charm felt Swain getting closer and closer, until he drew alongside. In a duel for the last furlong, those two ran head and head. Silver Charm does not want a horse to get by him, and he has never been more competitive than when faced with this hometown hero making a courageous effort. Riding hard, Stevens used his whip repeatedly, while Kinane on Swain pulled a head in front. The excited announcer yelled, "Swain might beat the favorite!" Silver Charm lowered his head and dug down deeper, giving his all like he had never been asked to do yet. As the wire hit, he had just gotten his nose back in front, and while continuing to gallop out, still would not let Swain pass him. The photo took a few minutes, but while the naked eye looked uncertain, Stevens waved his stick and Kinane congratulated him. Jockeys know, and their insight was confirmed when the race became official moments later. Silver Charm's ears pricked up as Stevens brought him back to the paddock. Jubilant and grateful, the jockey petted his gray mount, smoothing his mane, and speaking to him. Silver Charm was greeted by kisses on his nose, and awestruck fans reaching to touch him. Grooms and hotwalkers and assistants in red jackets held him with big smiles on their faces as Stevens executed a perfect flying dismount to cheers from an international audience. A red blanket proclaiming Silver Charm the winner of the Dubai World Cup 1998 was spread over Silver Charm and he was walked around in a victory lap in front of the stands, as relaxed as he was before the race. Timed in 2:04.29 for the 2000 meters, he had done his job, and as in so many other matches, had given just what was needed to accomplish the victory. Now he was completely unconcerned. Stevens returned from weighing in to remount and celebrate aboard the champion. Given a water bottle, he took one swig and then poured it over his steaming mount's head, like champagne opened in a locker room. Silver Charm shook his head, but behaved as the cool campaigner who has never been worse than second would. He stood like he knew he belonged in the winners' circle, and why not? He has yet to lose in 1998. "He had been acting up in the gate all week, so that was our main concern," said Stevens in the post-race interview. "But he got away early. I kept him angled a bit so he could see when someone was coming at him. It's tempting to pull the trigger too soon but when Malek got to his hip he went on. He put Malek away too easily, and started to ease up. But he's the same old Silver Charm, he doesn't want anyone to get by him. If it comes down to a dogfight, he won't lose a nose decision." Sheik Mohammed, who had just lost the race he hosted by the scantest of noses, again displayed the sportsmanship that made the Dubai World Cup such a pleasant experience for all involved. Sharing in the festivities of the trophy presentation, he shook the hand of winning owner Bob Lewis, and smiled as if he himself were the winner. His brother, Sheik Maktoum al Maktoum, the sovereign of this growing country, presented the beautiful gold trophy to the Bob and Beverly Lewis, themselves emblems of sportsmanship and the joy of racing. Gathered in the twilight, the radiant smiles on all participants gave the celebration a glow that made sunshine seem dim. photo by L. A. Williams "People in America don't know what it's like over here," Stevens said after thanking Sheik Mohammed for setting up this competition and inviting the horses and people to Dubai. "Here it is for the sport of it. They really enjoy the beauty of Thoroughbred racing, and I like that." Team Silver Charm Left to Right: Bob Lewis, Beverly Lewis, Bob Baffert and jockey Gary Stevens Baffert was subdued as he accepted the trainer's trophy of a golden whip, the same reward that Stevens received. The elegant whips are minted in London, and have jeweled accents on them. Usually playful, Baffert appeared almost solemn until after the playing of the Star Spangled Banner. Observers could rest assured that Baffert was himself as soon as the national anthem was completed and he started to play air guitar with his new gold whip. Later, he said, "I always believe in fate. (Missing the Santa Anita Handicap) was meant to be. The atmosphere here is hard to explain. Everybody here loves horses. You always hear about the Arabians and how they started racing, and here we are at the roots of it all. To come here and win this…it's been wonderful. Hopefully he can keep sound and come back next year." The Lewises echoed the awe that Baffert was expressing when Bob Lewis said, "It's absolutely a feeling that is unbelievable." Swain's performance was spectacular enough that Sheik Mohammed's pleasure was understandable. In his first race on dirt and at a distance that is not his best, Swain demonstrated courage in fighting a duel with one of the world's best horses. Loup Sauvage finished third, with Malek fourth, then Behrens, Kyoto City (Jpn), Luso (GB), Borgia (Ger), and Predappio (GB). Stevens' payday included not only the $240,000 jockey's share of the winner's $2.4 million purse, but also 10% of the winner's purse of the $500,000 Dubai Duty Free on Annus Mirablilis (Fr). A jockey known the world over for his riding in Hong Kong and at Royal Ascot in England, he can now add triumphs in Dubai to his ever-expanding list of accomplishments. Baffert, who had to rush to get a passport for his first trip outside of the United States or Mexico, has begun to entertain thoughts of Silver Charm's running in Europe in the future. The colt shipped with ease, drinking lots of water and eating well, and Baffert has been considering running him on the grass. There is no telling what else Silver Charm can achieve, but give him a challenge and he will surmount it. For now, the colt will get a well-deserved break. After returning home to America, he will be able to rest on his laurels, then resume racing at Del Mar this summer.