It was well deserved compensation after the horse finished second to US raider Well Armed in the 2009 race.

But it was a close-run thing as it looked as if Lizard's Desire, ridden by Kevin Shea for South African trainer Mike de Kock, was going to catch him on the line.

In a desperately close photo-finish, Gloria de Campeao, a 16-1 chance in London betting, just held on by a nose from Lizard's Desire (33-1) with Allybar (16-1) a short head away third of the 14 runners.

"He's a wonderful horse. He always tries," winning trainer Bary told At The Races TV.

The victory is worth a massive $6 million to winning connections but Bary said: "At the moment, I don't speak money, I speak horses.”

The race, by far the most valuable in the world, capped the spectacular official opening of the $2 billion Meydan complex, which has been described as the eighth wonder of the world.

In other lucrative action, the $5 million Dubai Sheema Classic went to young English jockey William Buick who scored in his first Group One ride for his new retaining trainer John Gosden when partnering the filly Dar Re Mi to a 9-1 success.

Al Shemali, a 40-1 outsider, won the other $5 million race, the Dubai Duty Free, for jockey Royston Ffrench and leading Dubai trainer Ali Rashid Al Raihe.