Dubai: Godolphin-bred Banishing, owned by Sharaf Mohammed Alhariri, David Jacobson, and Lawrence Roman, emerged victorious in the $1,000,000 Group 2 Godolphin Mile at the 30th Dubai World Cup held at Meydan Racecourse on Saturday. The event, sponsored by EMAAR, saw Banishing, representing the United States and Saudi Arabia, showcase its prowess on the track.
According to Emirates News Agency, the American Grade 2 winner excelled in the challenging race, with UAE champion jockey-elect Silvestre de Sousa skillfully guiding the horse under the training of Kentucky handler David Jacobson. This victory denied local favorite Bhupat Seemar, a prominent Dubai World Cup-winning trainer, a chance at clinching his first Godolphin Mile win. Seemar's horses finished in the second, third, and fourth positions, with Commissioner King, Mendelssohn Bay, and Diamond Dealer, respectively. Despite the strong showing, Seemar's Zabeel Stables could not secure the top spot, as Banishing became the seventh American winner of the 1600m dirt feature.
De Sousa remarked on the race dynamics, noting, "My horse was coming back in trip and it suits him, he's a proper miler. There was a lot of pace in the race and I just held the horse where he wanted to be. He took the turn a bit wrong, with the wrong leg, but he responded well under pressure." He further elaborated on his strategy, stating, "I was happy to follow him [Commissioner King] and also to have Mendelssohn Bay on my inside. I just took the safe option but the horse wasn't helping me, he was lugging to the outside when he came into the straight."