is that a new rule, or has it always been that way? seems the us horses only started struggling once the new surface went in.

Lasix never mattered for our good horses who went over and mopped them all up on dirt most every single year.

If I'm still alive, I'll probably be 55 years old before another one of our horses wins the Dubai World Cup.

I still think people don't realize how close Gio Ponti came to winning it twice, and got terrible rides both years.

But i'm sure Doug never considered Gio one of our good dirt horses. I'm sure we might send over a synthetic freak that will win it one day...

No arguing about Gio and dirt, but the point remains, he was incredibly competitive in two runnings, getting questionable rides both years.

I agree 100%. Ramon wasn't to sharp with his rides on Gio in the DWC.

Well in the 3 years since they've run the races on the synthetic surface at Meydan, a horse close to/if not on the pace has won the big race every single time.

3 years ago that Brazilian horse (is it true he stands in Sweden now? Weird) just lopped along on the front end and never looked back. I remember Gio Ponti in that race loomed large on the outside coming home.... but.... he just kinda stagnated. I think he finished 4th that year, and then what? 4th or 5th again 2 years ago? He loomed large on the outside in both races, but the pace horses held their spots both years (The two Japanese bombs and Monterosso finishing 3rd ran 1-2-3 all the way around right?) So did he get a bad ride in the sense that he wasn't closer up?

I thought Game on Dude with his synthetic resume would really take to Meydan and smash them a few months ago. Nope. Monterosso sat right off the lead and smashed them coming for home (still think it's funny his jockey stood up the last 50 yards of the race lol, what a cock). Has Monterosso raced since?

Monterosso has been entered in a few stakes, but not declared. Thinking one of the Godolphin's comes for the Arlington Million (more likely Capponi from what I've heard).

I think if Game On Dude drew stall 4 and was sent, he wouldn't have finished at the back...but where, tough to say.

The single best big-race ride I've ever witnessed (in-person, or on video) was Demuro's ride on Victoire Pisa in the 2011 Dubai World Cup. Hit the gate on breaking, was last turning onto the backside when Demuro wheeled him out and went from last to first in a 1/4 mile, while the pace was an absolute dawdle. The striking thing is seeking Dominguez STRANGLING Gio Ponti because he was, supposedly, too close to a 53 half...but realistically, I think he was in the same place he'd be if in the US in a similarly run race. Demuro passed everyone, and the close-up camera shows Dominguez strangling him down while the winning move is being made to his outside. In Dubai, Dominguez is 0-0-0 from 7 starts (dirt and Tapeta), for whatever that's worth.

It is not like U.S. horses did well when they had dirt there and couldn't race on Lasix. The Tapeta must have nothing to do with the recent U.S. performances, it must be that they can't race when they are not on that performance enhancing Lasix! That's the ticket!

I really don't remember too many savvy rides on Gio by Ramon in any races, other than in the BCC. I remember a bunch of last-behind-crawling-pace-then-way-@ss-wide-on-the-turn races.