Bhupat Seemar is on the moon and he just can't believe that Laurel River provided him the ticket to the moon at the iconic Meydan racecourse on Super Saturday. It's the same with Tadhg O'Shea. He is pacing up and down shaking hands, hugging and kissing all his family and friends and still thinks that all this is not real. Well Bhupat understands that he and O'Shea have combined successfully to pull off a heist on the big night in Dubai and that it will take time to sink in.''I'am still in a trance and I think it will take a day or two to sink in. What's happened on the big stage on the big night I understand is amazing. Like so many kids hoping to either don the silks or saddle classic winners, I grew up watching these famed colours dominating the international scene, the legendary Frankel topping the big distinguished list. And I must confess that I really didn't  think that I would be training horses from that farm. But it all happened and now to win one of the world's great races for them  is simply unbelievable, said a delighted Bhupat Seemar adding that he too is in a shock that Laurel River provided to his 11 rivals to join the lite list of champions in the Dubai World Cup. 

Drawn 12 at the post position draw on Wednesday night at the Armani hotel in the Burj Khalifa, none of the big racing pundits nor the top of the line racing journalists approached Bhupat  for a quote to know what he felt  after Laurel River didn't enjoy the luck of the draw and instead were chasing Noboru Takagi, the high profile trainer of Ushba Tesoro who was not really worried about the draw, his trainer disclosing that he will be ridden off the pace and  that's what he enjoys doing. Takagi satisfied with the preparation of the defending champ who was in line to emulate Thunder Snow, the only back-to-back winner (2018-19) and join the Hong Kong champion Golden Sixty as the world's highest money-spinner. Well the Japanese superstar on the star-studded might much to the disappointment of the big Japanese contingent met a tartar in Laurel River who simply blew the field off in a stunning pillar to post attempt which stunned the racing world. 
 
From the famed Juddmonte Farms, seven winters ago the brilliant Arrogate produced what many old hats in the game reckon, the best performance in the history of the World Cup, Well it appears now that Laurel River punched above his weight to upstage that effort in the US$12 million extravaganza, while providing the golden lining to the glitz and glamour of the spectacular event. 

After Juddmonte Farms decided to campaign Laurel River in Dubai, shifting him from America, aware that the homebred son of the legendary Into Mischief had the required talent to compete against the best in the world, Laurel River under the care of Bhupat made a poor start, the Dubai World Cup winner finishing down the field in a G3 Al Shindagha sprint run over six furlongs in January. Not unduly perturbed he bounced back and brought the smile back on the face of his trainers and his Saudi connections winning his next start, a G3 Burj Nahaar victory over a mile to book his passage for the most sought after appointed date at the Meydan. And the rest is history. 
     
Drawn 12 of 12 and more importantly pitted against some of the best on the international racing circuit, Laurel River was ignored in the international betting rings, Ushba Tesoro garnering good support and top billing in the mega event. Tadhg O'Shea bravely pushed him to the front, the moment the dozen-horse field came under the starter's flag for the rich 2000 metres event and the champion strutted his stuff outclassing a classy field and putting the race to bed even before the race came on a boil. It simply was amazing. A fairy tale O'Shea and Bhupat would enjoy narrating to all their family and friends. The 8.5 lengths victory bettered the existing mark (six lengths) registered by the legendary Dubai Millennium, winner of the World Cup (2000) at Nad al Sheba. Smarting under the defeat at the hands of Senor Buscador in the Saudi Cup, Ushba Tesoro settled a score beating his arch rival to pick up the US$2.4 million runner-up purse. 

Earlier, Bhupat and O'Shea struck it rich and made it a night to remember, O'Shea booting home the lesser fancied Tuz in the Golden Shaheen. And Japan's rising star Forever Young made sure that the Japanese contingent went home satisfied maintaining his unbeaten streak in the UAE Derby. An emotional Yoshito Yahagi, trainer of the celebrated star who lost his father in Japan a few hours before the race. ``My father passed away this morning and I want to dedicate this win to him,'' Yahagi told the international media.