Pizzalove,
I was out in that area of the world for a couple years and have been to the track. Can\'t answer the 1800 meters vs 1 1/8th, but I can tell you that there have been a number of horses run there that were not true 1 1/4 horses that were able to get the distance there. Captain Steve for example, for whom I was there for. And I distinctly remember Baffert and another trainer talk about 1 1/4 over there is nothing like a true 1 1/4 race. Baffert felt Captain Steve was at his beat at 1 1/8th but felt he could get the distance there. (and he did).
As for Dubai World Cup day this year, the charts show that the horses that went to the lead stayed there in the dirt races. Check out both the 1 1/4 race and the 1 1/8 race. Both \"boat races\', as they say. Yup, inside speed was gold.