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Ireland's St Nicholas Abbey gained sweet compensation for his second-place finish last year when he ran out a clear winner of the $US5 million Dubai Sheema Classic at Meydan on Saturday night.
Trained by Aidan O’Brien and ridden by his son Joseph, St Nicholas Abbey crossed the line two and a quarter lengths clear of Japan’s three-year-old champion filly and Japan Cup winner Gentildonna.
His time of 2:27.7 was another course record.
Ridden more closely to the pace than last year when runner up to Cirrus des Aigles, St Nicholas Abbey settled in second place behind Shareta with that pair tracked by Gentildonna.
The race order remained largely unchanged until the turn into the home straight, when O’Brien made his move on the winner.
Gentildonna challenged on the outside and it looked as if she might mount a serious challenge before St Nicholas Abbey responded too well to score with a little in hand.
Qatar’s runner Very Nice Name did best of the rest, running on for third under Olivier Peslier a length and a quarter further back with the 2011 Melbourne Cup winner Dunaden (Jamie Spencer) coming from last for fourth.
Await The Dawn finished fifth, with the pace setting Shareta holding on for sixth.
Joseph O’Brien said: "This horse is very tough, very special, he gives his best every day, relaxes and finds plenty.
"It turns out you can ride him any way you want.”
Aidan O'Brien said the race tactics worked out by his son and part owner Derrick Smith were perfect.
"I’d always felt this horse wanted to be ridden back but Joseph and Derrick said they wanted him to be ridden forward and they got their way today, so perhaps they were right," O'Brien said.
Dunaden's rider Jamie Spencer was pleased with his effort.
"We were very happy with the performance. It was a course record and I had all of the right horses around me at the finish so we were very pleased," Spencer said.
Aidan O’Brien earlier secured a spot in the Kentucky Derby for the second year in a row when Lines Of Battle won the $US2 million UAE Derby over 1900m under Ryan Moore.
The trainer has plans to send the son of War Front to Kentucky, following in the footsteps of his 2012 UAE Derby winner Daddy Long Legs.
“We wanted the race to be a true test but it wasn’t because of the slow pace which made it a good win under the circumstances,” said O’Brien.
"We are very pleased with him and will now go to the Kentucky Derby.”
The UAE Derby is part of the Kentucky Derby Championship Series, and under that race’s new point structure the race is worth 100 points to Lines of Battle.
Ryan Moore was unhappy with the slow pace.
“It was a farce of a race,” he said. “They only cantered to half way.
"My horse was only doing what he needed to. I think he was just the best horse in the race.”
