Well Armed guns down rivals in World Cup romp
The six-year-old is trained by the Irish-born, but American-based, Eoin Harty - the son of Eddie Harty, who rode Highland Wedding to Grand National success in 1969.
Well Armed was sent off at 10-1, having finished third behind Curlin and Asiatic Boy in the world’s richest race 12 months ago.
As he did that day, the son of Tiznow bounced out of the stalls under Aaron Gryder and was sent straight to the head of affairs.
But in contrast to last year, nothing could come out of the pack to challenge.
Always travelling well within himself, he simply powered clear in the straight once given the office.
Gryder could even afford time to give his mount a few slaps down the neck as he approached the line – some 14 lengths clear of runner-up Pascal Bary’s French raider Gloria De Campeao.
Paris Perfect (66-1) was third, while last year’s second Asiatic Boy was the big disappointment of the race.
The South African star was scrubbed along by Johnny Murtagh long before the turn for home and came home 12th.
Albertus Maximus, the much-vaunted American entire, also finished out of the frame.
Gryder said: “It was brilliant. This horse has showed the world just how good he really is.
“It’s an honour to win the last ever race at Nad Al Sheba.
“I liked the way he settled this year. I dropped the reins and he wasted no energy.
“This is an unbelievable experience – I’m so blessed and I love this game.
“It was fantastic how he broke – after the first stride he was already a length in front, and he was just able to settle.
“He ran really nicely last year but he was brought up to this race perfectly.
“A lot of people lost confidence in him because he hadn’t won this year, but he ran a good fourth and then came back and ran a good second.
“Eoin was able to build on that and bring out the best performance.
“From 1400m and 1000m out I was confident. When I turned for home I was able to extend him and open up a big gap.
“He could still feel there was a lot left and it would take a super horse to beat him.
“This year he was the super horse.”
Dublin-born Harty, who now trains in California, said: “He benefited from the track.
“He is a front-running horse and the speed seemed to hold all night.
“Things couldn’t have gone better and when there was no real pressure on him, I was feeling fairly confident.
“Last year we got collared mid-stretch by Curlin but there was no Curlin in the race this year.”
Bary said of runner-up Gloria De Campeao: “There is a race in Istanbul in September and then we’d like to come back here.”
Kiaran McLaughlin, trainer of sixth-placed Albertus Maximus, said: “He was just uncomfortable tonight.
“It wasn’t the ground or the distance, he was just fighting from the beginning - we will have to look over him. We just didn’t have a good night and while he was fine last night, it all went wrong when the gates opened.”
Eastern Anthem fended off the British challengers in a thrilling finish to the Dubai Sheema Classic.
Saddled by Mubarak bin Shafya and ridden by Ahmed Ajtebi, who had earlier combined for Dubai Duty Free glory with Gladiatorus, the 14-1 chance was held up in the early stages.
But Eastern Anthem finished like a train to prevail in a three-way photo with Sir Michael Stoute’s Spanish Moon and Purple Moon, trained by Luca Cumani.
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