CIGAR lit up the Nad Al Sheba racetrack as he gained his first experience of running under flood-lights yesterday. Beneath the blazing illuminations, the hot favourite for Wednesday's Dubai World Cup shone in his first piece of work in Dubai under big race pilot Jerry Bailey.
Sheikh Mohammed and training legend Vincent O'Brien were among a crowd of around 500 who flocked to the track to watch the American star in action.
Cigar breezed past the stands, clocking a time of 49.1 seconds over four furlongs. Soul Of The Matter, another United States, challenger, was timed at 52.2 seconds.
It left owner Allen Paulson to speculate on a massive payday that would establish Cigar biggest as money earner in US history. "He's something else, Cigar. He's got a nice action and does it easy," he said.
"I don't know if you saw the workout he did in the States. He clocked a very good time and Jerry didn't want him to do it. They were surprised that he went that fast."
