The fourth meeting of the Dubai World Cup Carnival on Thursday evening was dominated by Godolphin, with the stable landing two Group 2 Thoroughbred winners and five of the seven races on the card.
The 1800m Group 2 Al Rashidiya on the turf went to Godolphin courtesy of Promising Run, trained by Saeed bin Suroor and the only filly among the seven runners.
“We were not the best away but the pace was not quick so we were soon in contention,” Crowley said. “I rode this filly on her last start at Ascot when the slower ground did not suit her but this quicker surface was ideal.
“She will stay further and I think she is still improving which gives connections plenty of options.”
When entries were revealed on Monday, Promising Run was also given the option of contesting the 1600m, on turf, Group 2 Cape Verdi, but Bin Suroor was content to allow last year’s winner, Very Special, to defend her crown and she duly justified that decision by becoming the first dual winner of the race.
In doing so she collared a 200th win for her trainer, the most successful handler in the history of the Dubai World Cup Carnival.
“Saeed wanted me to settle her off the lead today so I was delighted when Christophe wanted to go to the front,” Crowley said. “I was always happy and she quickened nicely when I asked her. She is a very good mare.”
It was Godolphin again in the UAE 2000 Guineas Trial, a 1400m conditions race, on dirt, won by the Charlie Appleby-trained Fly At Dawn.
Appleby’s Baccarat provided the final honours for Godolphin when leading stablemate, Jungle Cat home in the Borealis, a 1200m turf handicap.
The Aabar Properties was a 2410m turf handicap and dominated by the Godolphin trained winner and runner-up.
Appleby and Adam Kirby combined to land the spoils with Gold Trail who won fairly comfortably from the Saeed bin Suroor-trained Prize Money.
“I was always happy throughout the race,” Kirby said. “He really travelled very well and is, basically, a lovely horse and a pleasure to ride as a jockey.
“It is great to ride a winner here for the Godolphin team and this is a nice horse who could probably step up in trip if they decided to.”
The only Purebred Arabian contest was the opener, the Al Maktoum Challenge R2, over 2200m and won in style by Faucon Du Loup, trained by Elise Jeanne.
Sent to the front by Richard Mullen, he was soon headed by RB So Rich but was always travelling strongly just in behind.
The pair regained the initiative fully 900m out, from RB Dixie Burning who led briefly, and they powered home to register a comprehensive victory and break the track record in the process.
“It is a great result for a small yard,” Mullen said. “Elise does not have that many horses but is a very good trainer and this fellow has won this in style.
“I rode him at Al Ain on his local debut last month and learned a lot about the horse.
“He will easily cope with the drop to 2000m for the third round of the challenge and, hopefully, the Kahayla Classic.”
The Godolphin monopoly on Thoroughbred races was broken by trainer Salem bin Ghadayer who saddled both first and second in a 1600m dirt handicap, Adcop.
Royston Ffrench looked as though he had stolen the race with a positive ride from the front on Frankyfourfingers but they were mown down in the final 200m by stable companion Heavy Metal, a second winner on the card for Barzalona.
“Obviously it is a great result for the whole team,” Barzalona said. “I was always fairly happy but Frankyfourfingers is a very good horse so I was only really confident when we drew alongside him.
“This horse deserved a win after some very good efforts in defeat this season and, hopefully, can build on this.”
* Agencies
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