Dubai World Cup: Cityscape gets perfect trip in Duty Free

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates - The $5 million Dubai Duty Free was considered a wide-open race, but Cityscape turned it into a one-horse show, taking the lead midway around the far turn and galloping to a 4 1/4-length victory in course-record time.

Cityscape, a 6-year-old son of Selkirk, ran the 1 1/8 miles in 1:48.65, lowering the mark of 1:48.74 set by Mahbooba earlier in this meet.

“The turn of foot he has is amazing, he just kept finding more,’’ winning rider James Doyle said.

Cityscape, owned by King Abdulla’s Juddmonte Farms and trained by Roger Charlton, was tracking the pacesetting Await the Dawn, when that horse began to fade after nearly six furlongs.

Cityscape inherited the lead then kept on widening his advantage through the lane. Cityscape, who won for the sixth time in 17 starts, returned $24.60  in U.S. pools.

“That was the plan to be there,” Charlton said. “I hoped Await the Dawn would make the running but he gave up quite quickly. If he hadn’t made the running we’d have made the running.  He’s a very straightforward, uncomplicated horse - tough sound and gets the trip real well.”

Charlton seemed not only overwhelmed by the performance, but the fact the horse earned approximately $3 million.

“One shouldn’t complain about prize money and things but that sort of money is what I win with horses in three years not three minutes.”

Dubawi Gold was scratched at the gate by the track veterinarian after kicking the back of the gate.