Electrocutionist Charges To World Win

Electrocutionist defied convention under the Nad Al Sheba floodlights to win the world's richest horse race, the US 6million Dubai World Cup, on guts alone.

Instead of taking the usual route of grinding out success from the front, Frankie Dettori had to do it the hard way aboard his mount.

And it was a feat the crowd recognised with a primeval roar as the Italian somehow brought the winner from nowhere to win going away from the American challenger Brass Hat.

Wilko found his old form on his first start since switching back to the British stable of Jeremy Noseda and finished third, but as far as those packing the grandstands were concerned, they might as well not even have been there.

Even Dettori was forced to admit, despite being no stranger to big-race success, that the victory and the reception had left him feeling 'totally numb'.

Electrocutionist was always going to face a tough task in getting a decent position from stall one and when the ex-Italian recruit was slowly into his stride, the writing appeared on the wall.

Dettori had to push along for the first furlong to get up into mid-division as American runners Super Frolic and Magna Graduate set the early pace.

The jockey was pumping again at the halfway mark but the five-year-old picked up on the turn after switching to the outside.

It looked as though Brass Hat and Wilko would battle it out at the two-furlong point but Electrocutionist was just hitting top gear and began to power down the middle of the track.

He swept through in the final 100 yards to win by an ever-widening margin from the brave Brass Hat.

Dettori was full of praise for his mount, saying: 'I wanted to be in the boxseat but I wasn't travelling as well as the others.

'Yutaka Take was going well in front of me, while we weren't really going at all, but at about the five-eighths pole I saw a little gap on the outside and switched him and that's what probably won him the race.

'Once he saw the daylight, he quickened right away.

'It was a hell of a performance. He is really a grass horse and he didn't really change his legs until about 50 yards from the line.

'I was very worried around the turn but I knew that his stamina would kick in because he has been winning over a mile and a half.

'I couldn't seem to shake Brass Hat off but finally in the last 20 yards I realised we were going to get there.

'I still can't believe it. On Wednesday I was feeling really miserable but now I am on top of the world again.'

Electrocutionist had won the Juddmonte International at York last year when trained in Italy by Valfredo Valiani but Godolphin swooped for the son of Red Ransom during the winter.

He is now set to tackle the top middle-distance events this summer before heading to America for the Breeders' Cup meeting.

Simon Crisford, Godolphin's racing manager, said: 'We were playing it down a bit after that awful draw and to be honest, we weren't sure what to expect.

'He didn't like the sand being kicked in his face and he was really struggling at one point but he's so tough.

'He gives 110% and once Frankie showed him some daylight, he really quickened up.

'He ran very much in the Swain mould and that is the route that we will be taking with him ? hopefully with a bit more success.

'He will go for the Coronation Cup and the King George before ultimately going to America for the Breeders' Cup.'

Coral offer 8-1 about Electrocutionist winning the Breeders' Cup Classic and 6-1 for the Turf.

Willie Martinez, jockey of Brass Hat, was thrilled to finish second.

'He spotted the winner and he was coming back,' he said. 'What a race. What can I say? It's just hitting me now.

'I am so proud of what Brass Hat has done for us. It's overwhelming. We've had a great experience and we would love to come back next year.'

Garrett Gomez, who rode Wilko, said: 'The horse gave me 130%. I couldn't have asked for a better performance from him other than to win.'

Richard Hills, who finished seventh aboard Maraahel, added: 'He travelled all right but came off the bridle coming to the turn and struggled afterwards ? the kickback didn't help him.'

? PA Sport