Laurel River turned the Dubai World Cup into a procession when running out a wide-margin winner for local trainer Bhupat Seemar and jockey Tadhg O’Shea.

Formerly trained by Bob Baffert, the Juddmonte-owned six-year-old was trying the 10-furlong trip for the first time but with two furlongs to run had the race won.

The likes of Derma Sotogake, Ushba Tesoro, Newgate and Kabirkhan had garnered most of the pre-race talk, with Laurel River almost sneaking in under the radar.

It looked a brave decision to step him up in trip, despite winning a Group Three by almost seven lengths over a mile last time out.

𝐋𝐀𝐔𝐑𝐄𝐋 𝐑𝐈𝐕𝐄𝐑 𝐖𝐈𝐍𝐒 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐃𝐔𝐁𝐀𝐈 𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐋𝐃 𝐂𝐔𝐏! 🏆#DWC24 | @emirates | @BhupatSeemar | @OsheaTadhg | @JuddmonteFarms pic.twitter.com/7leBFoluHX

— Dubai Racing Club (@RacingDubai) March 30, 2024

O’Shea was allowed to dictate the race from a long way out and under no pressure, he went further and further clear.

Entering the final furlong, he was still 10 lengths ahead and while Laurel River understandably got tired late on, he crossed the line well ahead of Ushba Tesoro and Senor Buscador.

The winning trainer said: “I would like to thank Juddmonte and His Royal Highness for sending me the horse. I was worried that they might be going too fast but Tadhg got the right fractions and also a breather into him.

“It’s the greatest feeling to have won this race, but what he was doing in the mornings made me think, ‘what has this horse got?’

“There is so much stamina in his pedigree but his training was out of this world.”

O’Shea added: “I tell you one thing, I have never ridden one as good as him. I never dreamed I would win the Dubai World Cup, it really is the stuff of dreams.

“He behaved like a pony; he hit the gates and did everything from the front, it was unbelievable. He gave himself every chance to get the distance, it’s an amazing feeling.”

Connections of the placed horses were quick to pay tribute to the runaway winner.

Jockey Yuga Kawada, who was eight and a half lengths back in second on Ushba Tesoro, said: “He was in good form and he ran his race. It was a good run.

“We managed to beat Senor Buscador today but the winner was too fast and stayed really well in front. We will be prepared for the Breeders’ Cup and I believe Del Mar will suit him better than Santa Anita.”

Senor Buscador was a neck further back in third and his trainer Todd Fincher commented: “He brings it every time, he ran a really good race. He might have started his run a little early trying to catch Laurel River and maybe that cost us a placing. Hats off to Laurel River, he freaked on everybody there.

“We were hoping there would be a little pace in there, but Laurel River is a nice horse and you’re not going to catch a horse like that if he gets loose. That’s what we’re up against, he’s got to have some pace to run at. It’s very rare in a Grade One race that there’s no pace, but we are very proud of him.”