Royal Delta set to make another attempt at the Dubai World Cup next year
The 4-year-old filly, Royal Delta had an extremely good 2011, as she went on to win four of the seven races she ran, which also includes the Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic, and at the end of it all she was voted as the 3-year-old champion filly.
After her Breeders’ Cup success the filly was up for sale, and nobody wanted her to get off the track, and had their fingers crossed if the brilliant filly will be raced again by the new owner.
The new owner was Benjamin Leon, who outbid Frank Stronach at Keeneland November sale, and acquired the brilliant filly by purchasing her for a whopping $8.5 million.
The owner was as ambitious as Hall of Fame trainer, Bill Mott, and supported to run Royal Delta in 2012, and now, he wants the repeat of what she did last year. Against a brilliant lineup in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic this year, a victory
might not quench Leon’s thirst for more glory.
The filly isn’t done either, and matches her owner’s appetite for more victories, “As long as she stays healthy, we should be able to get another good year of enjoyment of her,” Leon said this week from London. “So I intend to race her next year, also.”
As a 4-year-old, Bill Mott sees her as the best there is. “She’s more mature mentally, she’s got more racing experience,” Mott said. “I thought she was good physically last year. Maybe she has broadened out a little bit as a 4-year-old.”
When Leon bought Royal Delta last fall, he had an ambitious goal of winning the world’s richest race, the Group 1, $10 million Dubai World Cup, but Royal Delta finished 9th on the day.
However, Leon’s confidence wasn’t hampered by that performance and he is ready to go at it again next year. Royal Delta will be 5 next year, and according to Leon she will be much bigger, experienced and will be more mentally tougher to win the race.
Royal Delta’s connections are out to make history by being the first to win the Dubai World Cup with a female since its inception.
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