As easy as 1-2-3 for Godolphin in UAE Oaks at Meydan Racecourse

Dubai // Godolphin dominated the two feature races at Meydan Racecourse on Thursday night with pride of place going to Shuruq, who led home a 1-2-3 for the Dubai-based racing operation in the Group 3 UAE Oaks.

Shuruq provided his trainer Saeed bin Suroor with an eighth win in the 1,900m Tapeta feature and reversed the form with the Mahmoud Al Zarooni-trained duo of Music Chart and Lovely Pass who she had chased home in the UAE 1000 Guineas Trial and the Guineas itself on her two previous local starts.

With Silvestre De Sousa suspended, Paul Hanagan, who was completing a double, rode the winner and said: "It was always a nice spare ride and she quickened well to win nicely."

Bin Suroor said: "She has run well on both her previous starts when second both times. She deserved this win and we will make a plan for her soon - we could go for the UAE Derby but I would think she will probably go back to England."

Godolphin founder Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, arrived at the course just before the Listed Meydan Classic, a 1,600m turf contest for three year olds and was rewarded with the victory of Now Spun under Mickael Barzalona for Al Zarooni.

The winner was having only his third career start and has now won both his races on turf.

He still looked a big baby during the race, taking a while to respond to Barzalona, who said: "I had to wait for a gap and then he took a moment to quicken but he was brave to go between horses and then ran on well."

Al Zarooni said: "He should improve a lot for that as he is still a big baby learning his trade. He could go for the UAE Derby or it might be back to Europe for the turf races. We will discuss it with Sheikh Mohammed and racing manager Simon Crisford."

Earlier Godolphin's Kassiano could not have been more impressive winning the opening 2,200m Tapeta handicap with Barzalona in the saddle for Bin Suroor.

The horse was registering a third successive Carnival win to the delight of his trainer, who said: "He has thrived on this all-weather surface and has improved with each run. We will have to step up in class now but hopefully he can keep on progressing."

The champion trainer Ali Rashid Al Raihe doubled his 2013 Carnival account with the narrow success of Mufarrh, which gave Hanagan the first leg of his double in a 1,600m Tapeta handicap, the pair finishing fast and late to snatch the spoils. The runner-up in the 2011 Godolphin Mile, he missed last season and was having his fourth outing this term.

Hanagan said: "He has a touch of class and it is nice to get his head back in front. He was again a bit slowly away so we found ourselves a bit far back but that may have been a good thing as it transpired because it looked a rough race on the rail and I was able to challenge wide.

"Hopefully he will go for the Godolphin Mile again."

The Jebel Ali-based trainer Dhruba Selvaratnam opened his 2013 Carnival account with James Doyle aboard United Color who won the 1,200m Tapeta handicap.

Doyle said: "He is a nice horse who has run well all three starts at Jebel Ali this season and deserved to get his head in front. The yard have hit a bit of form now."

That comment was borne out by the excellent run of stable companion Jaasoos in the concluding 1,400m turf handicap when chasing home the victorious Anaerobio, saddled by Mike De Kock.

THE WINNERS

Race 1 CBD World MasterCard, handicap, 2,200m, all-weather, US$120,000 (Dh440,724)

Winner: Kassiano

Jockey: Mickael Barzalona

Race 2 CBD Personal Loan, handicap, 1,200m, all-weather, US$120,000

Winner: United Color

Jockey: James Doyle

Race 3 Meydan Classic, listed, 1,600m, turf, US$150,000

Winner: Now Spun

Jockey: Barzalona

Race 4 Al Dana Visa Infinite Card, handicap, 1,600m, all-weather, US$120,000

Winner: Mufarrh