ARROGATE had to show courage as well as class to win the Group 1 Dubai World Cup Sponsored by Emirates Airline in what was a sensational performance at Meydan.

Sent off the long odds-on favourite after wins in the Breeders' Cup Classic and Pegasus World Cup Invitational, Bob Baffert's four-year-old appeared to have lost all chance with a slow start. But jockey Mike Smith showed all his experience and did not panic, weaving in and out of the field as he gradually made up ground.

Rounding the turn for home he was making up many lengths, but Gun Runner appeared to have stolen a march. Arrogate found another gear, though, and he bounded clear to give Baffert a third win in the race.

Baffert said: "When he missed the break, I gave him no chance at all. I was so mad at myself thinking I shouldn't have brought him - that's the greatest horse I've ever seen run, it's unbelievable, I can't believe he won. That is a great horse.

"Mike did a great job, he didn't panic. When he turned for home I said 'If he wins he's the greatest since Secretariat'."

Smith said: "When I missed the break I immediately thought of Zenyatta. I thought 'I've got so much confidence in this horse I'm going to ride him like Zenyatta' and it paid off. I missed the break completely because he's used to having a man in the gate with him, but things happen for a reason and thank the Lord we got the job done.

"This horse can do anything, he can win in the lead, he can come from dead last, he hasn't even taken a breath. I get a lot of the glory, but there's a big team who deserve a lot of credit."