Pleasantly Perfect and Medaglia d'Oro: Duel in Dubai
It's Dubai World Cup week, and what better way to celebrate than reliving one of the most exciting and most fantastic finishes in the history of the race. The 2004 Dubai World Cup featured two of the top older horses in North America.
The two big names going into the race were 2003 Breeders' Cup Classic winner Pleasantly Perfect and multiple grade one winner Medaglia d'Oro. The Dubai World Cup would be a rematch for the both of them, as the pair finished first and second in the Breeders' Cup Classic the year before, with Pleasantly Perfect coming out on top. Both horses were going into the World Cup with sharp wins on opposite coasts, with Pleasantly Perfect winning the San Antonio Handicap and Medaglia d'Oro winning the Donn Handicap. Each of their trainers, Richard Mandella and Robert Frankel, were looking for their first victory in the world's richest race. It was shaping up to be a race to remember.
The race that night came up strong, featuring horses from Japan, Saudi Arabia, and South Africa, but soon into the race, it was clear that Pleasantly Perfect and Medaglia d'Oro were the cream of the crop. Medaglia d'Oro raced close to the pace while Pleasantly Perfect raced mid-pack waiting to make his run in the stretch. Turning for home, the two were side by side as track announcer Terry Spargo hailed their battle, as the "Duel in Dubai". Head and head, Medaglia d'Oro put up a great fight, but Pleasantly Perfect proved too strong and edged away to win the world's richest race, it was five lengths back to Victory Moon in third.
The 2004 Dubai World Cup was the showcase of the two best dirt horses in the world at the time. The courage and heart they showed will be memorable for years to come. It would be the last start for Medaglia d'Oro, as he was retired after this race. He has since gone on to become one of the best sires in the world. Pleasantly Perfect returned to the U.S and won the Pacific Classic. The 2004 edition was one of the most exciting finishes in the race's history, and with Dubai World Cup week upon us, enjoy this trip down memory lane.