Dubai: Pleasantly Perfect lived up to his name again to land the $6 million Dubai World Cup, the world's richest race, for US trainer Dick Mandella at Nad Al Sheba on Saturday. The race was a carbon-copy of last year's Breeders' Cup Classic as Alex Solis powered the strapping six-year-old to victory over fellow US runner and race favourite Medaglia D'Oro, who once again had to settle for second in a career littered with big race disappointments.

Mandella's charge had a length-and a-half to spare over his younger rival, back in October at a sweltering Santa Anita, and this time prevailed by three-quarters of a length to take home a $3.6 million purse. South Africa's Victory Moon, partnered by Weichong Marwing, was third, five lengths adrift. (REUTERS)