This $7-Million Cigar Is Strong to the Finish

Nothing it seemed, not a stumble at the start or an eyeball-to-eyeball challenge in the stretch, could keep Cigar from the most stirring victory of his career.

Fighting off a stretch drive by Soul Of The Matter, Cigar raced to a half-length victory in the $4-million Dubai World Cup on Wednesday. The victory was the 14th consecutive for the 1995 horse of the year, making the 6-year-old the richest racehorse in North America with more than $7 million in earnings.

“It was the most he had ever been challenged in the stretch,” trainer Bill Mott said. “We had often wondered what would happen if a horse looked him in the eye.”

Even before the race at the Nad Al Sheba race course--located in the desert kingdom of the royal Maktoum family--Cigar had to overcome several obstacles. He was racing outside the United States for the first time, racing at night for the first time, racing over a deep, sandy surface for the first time, and racing without the drug Lasix for the first time in 12 races. Also, Cigar recently recovered from a bruised foot that slowed his training and forced him to skip the Santa Anita Handicap.

With Jerry Bailey aboard, Cigar covered the 1 1/4 miles in 2:03.84, but his victory over an international field of 10 challengers wasn’t easy.

Cigar slipped at the start, although the track was in good condition despite weeks of downpours.

“His rear end sort of came out from behind him,” Bailey said. “He didn’t handle the track very well . . . but nobody was going by me, even if we went around again.”

Cigar was back in the pack, about sixth or seventh, while L’Carriere, runner-up to Cigar in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic, took the lead. As the field went into the backstretch, Cigar moved into position, laying fourth and taking aim on the leaders.

L’Carriere, ridden by Jorge Chavez, was on the rail when Cigar made his move to the outside.

As the other early leaders faded and the field moved into the final turn, it was Cigar and L’Carriere battling.

Cigar got a full length on L’Carriere coming out of the final turn and began widening the margin until Soul Of The Matter, owned by songwriter Burt Bacharach, charged forward.

Soul Of The Matter was on the outside in the final furlong, and Cigar’s head turned to his right, as if to eyeball his challenger.

Soul Of The Matter moved even with Cigar, but Cigar moved into a higher gear and sprinted to victory.

“I don’t think it was his best performance, but I think it might have been his best effort,” Bailey said.

Owner Allen E. Paulson led the horse off the track to claim the largest winning purse in horse racing.

Next up for Cigar is the Hollywood Gold Cup on June 30 at Hollywood Park.

“I think Cigar showed the world he really is a true champion,” Paulson said.

With the victory, Cigar earned $2.4 million and became the richest racehorse outside Japan, with career earnings of $7,669,015, surpassing Alysheba’s total of $6,679,242.

Cigar’s streak now equals that shared by Man ‘o War, Nearco and Phar Lap and is two shy of tying this century’s record shared by Citation and Ribot.

“I was truly surprised that Cigar found another gear in the last eighth of the track,” Soul Of The Matter jockey Gary Stevens said. “My horse showed so much courage, I don’t think I’ve ever been as proud of a horse in defeat.”

Following L’Carriere, in order of finish, were Pentire of Britain, Tamayaz of the United Arab Emirates, Lively Mount of Japan, Needle Gun of Britain, Torrential of UAE, Larrocha of UAE, Danewin of Australia and Halling of UAE.