The trip to Dubai for the DWC shows how sporting the Paulson's truly were!! Here Cigar was right in the middle of chasing the most consecutive win's streak, at the time, set by Citation, and they fly him 7000 miles to the UAE after he'd already won 13 straight races to face the best horses in the world. Cigar's 96' Dubai World Cup win was his 14th of 16 straight win's. It can never be said that this horse took the easy path to tying Citation's record.
It was America that won the first Dubai World Cup at Nad Al Sheba. And America that won the last at Nad Al Sheba. Cigar in 96' and Well Armed in 09'. American horses have won 8 of the 15 runnings of the Dubai World Cup. Dominance!!!
First time I've watched the replay of this race for quite some time. I had really forgotten what a great race if was. Cigar just really was one of the most absolutely tenacious competitors that was ever on the track. IMO.
When it appears that Soul of the Matter closes the gap rapidly, I think that he is actually veering in which makes it appear that he is closing faster than he really was. Cigar pulled away late. In the Pacific Classic, Dare and Go looked to be going right by and Cigar dug in for a bit eventhough he was spent. Gamer. People can fault him all they want but he was class.
soul of the matter was a good horse when he was on....and he was on here. I'll never forget how long this stretch seemed when I watched this race live.
You ask any expert and majority will have Cigar higher then anyone on that list. Conquistador Cielo and Precisionist didnt even make the bloodhorse top 100. Sunday Silence is ranked 31th, Skip Away 32th, Easy Goer 34th, Alysheba 42 and Holy Bull ranked 64th. Holy Bull should be ranked higher, at least right in front of Easy Goer or behind. Ghostzapper freakishly fast. But a flash in the pan. Im not downplaying any of these horses, but there experts for the most part got it right.
flatonia Says:
10/10/2011 7:31:44 AM
On re-watch I'm amazed at the heart shown by both those horses. SOTM came on so fast that Cigar could have easily thrown in the towel. Great race!
GBeret83 Says:
21/09/2011 6:43:37 PM
The trip to Dubai for the DWC shows how sporting the Paulson's truly were!! Here Cigar was right in the middle of chasing the most consecutive win's streak, at the time, set by Citation, and they fly him 7000 miles to the UAE after he'd already won 13 straight races to face the best horses in the world. Cigar's 96' Dubai World Cup win was his 14th of 16 straight win's. It can never be said that this horse took the easy path to tying Citation's record.
Webuiltthepyramids Says:
9/09/2011 5:34:39 AM
@Thedrummergirl19 Go the the Kentucky Horse Park. You can walk right up to his stall. I've met him twice.
mshobohorse Says:
28/06/2011 12:40:47 AM
SOTM put up a good fight, glad to see Cigar fight for the lead. I find it more exciting.
rasaele1385 Says:
22/05/2011 4:18:13 AM
that is a talking horse....he has the heart of a true champion...we salute on you cigar...
XxMill3rDuty360xX Says:
14/05/2011 7:26:42 AM
Just went to Lexington kentucky and got pics of this amazing horse
25beckybaby Says:
10/03/2011 6:30:05 AM
Towards the end, it looked like Cigar looked back saw SOTM, and dug deeper, great race.
edgar95035 Says:
4/03/2011 11:18:19 AM
Jerry had to ask a lot from Cigar..but Cigar delivered to the wire...a true Champion
Saffron49 Says:
10/01/2011 6:00:28 AM
He is still looking fiesty and strong at 20 years old. You can visit him at Kentucky Horse Park
rzagza11 Says:
4/10/2010 6:14:32 PM
Now this is what its all about right here. A true champion. One of the all timers. Right there with Sunday Silence and Easy Goer.
MuttsLuver1 Says:
25/09/2010 11:14:07 PM
When i went to the Kentucky Horse Park, i got to stand next to him, touch him, and i was in heaven! He is truely amazing!
BloodyWarrior298 Says:
21/08/2010 1:16:02 PM
Incredible. And to think, I was born the year my favorite racehorse of all time won the Dubai!
GBeret83 Says:
7/07/2010 1:08:35 PM
It was America that won the first Dubai World Cup at Nad Al Sheba. And America that won the last at Nad Al Sheba. Cigar in 96' and Well Armed in 09'. American horses have won 8 of the 15 runnings of the Dubai World Cup. Dominance!!!
bg147 Says:
23/05/2010 5:59:16 AM
The sayonara remark was hilarious, but a bit disrespectful. I wonder what the horse's owner thought.
GBeret83 Says:
5/05/2010 7:49:30 AM
First time I've watched the replay of this race for quite some time. I had really forgotten what a great race if was. Cigar just really was one of the most absolutely tenacious competitors that was ever on the track. IMO.
bg147 Says:
4/05/2010 3:54:10 PM
When it appears that Soul of the Matter closes the gap rapidly, I think that he is actually veering in which makes it appear that he is closing faster than he really was. Cigar pulled away late. In the Pacific Classic, Dare and Go looked to be going right by and Cigar dug in for a bit eventhough he was spent. Gamer. People can fault him all they want but he was class.
jasonm921 Says:
27/03/2010 9:13:20 AM
soul of the matter was a good horse when he was on....and he was on here. I'll never forget how long this stretch seemed when I watched this race live.
brianclough Says:
26/01/2010 6:54:05 AM
Fitting winner for the 1st World cup, won by a great great horse. As the commentator said, he just won't be denied.
tjprzewo Says:
24/01/2010 4:01:35 PM
You don't see many race horses hold off a late flyer like Soul of the Matter in the late stretch. What a champion.
JSanity01 Says:
15/12/2009 5:45:15 PM
You ask any expert and majority will have Cigar higher then anyone on that list. Conquistador Cielo and Precisionist didnt even make the bloodhorse top 100. Sunday Silence is ranked 31th, Skip Away 32th, Easy Goer 34th, Alysheba 42 and Holy Bull ranked 64th. Holy Bull should be ranked higher, at least right in front of Easy Goer or behind. Ghostzapper freakishly fast. But a flash in the pan. Im not downplaying any of these horses, but there experts for the most part got it right.