DUBAI // Godolphin rounded off their dominance of the weekend's racing yesterday when jockey Frankie Dettori reached his landmark 100th Carnival winner and runner Simon de Montfort claimed the evening's feature.
Dettori, who landed his century aboard the Saeed bin Suroor-trained Tahaamah in the 2,200 metre Tapeta handicap, did not initially realise he had reached the career milestone. Bin Suroor, the Emirati trainer, collected two wins on the night. The operation founded by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, the Vice President of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, recorded four wins on Thursday night.
"One hundred is a big number," said Dettori. "Thanks must go to the Godolphin team who have given me so much support. The Carnival has been a good hunting ground for us."
Tahaamah proved a willing partner in Dettori's success, tracking the leaders from the off and leading with 300m to go. He finished a neck ahead of the fast-closing Paschendale under Wayne Smith.
"He was unlucky in his last run but I knew he was one of the best horses in the field," said Dettori. "He was out in the front for long enough and I think he was just starting to lose interest, but he had done enough."
Godolphin trainer Mahmoud al Zarooni and Mickael Barzalona, the latest jockey to officially join Godolphin's roster of three retained riders, combined to take the feature race over 2,000m of the turf track.
The 104-rated Simon de Montfort, a Group 3 winner in France who, at his peak, has been rated 113, could be a Sheema Classic contender on World Cup night.
"We will have to see what the handicapper does with him," said al Zarooni of the fleet-footed runner, who holds the record over course and distance. "If he gets the rating to do what we want to do, then we will be looking to run him in the Sheema Classic. He has as big turn of foot and won that race very well."
Barzalona, the 20-year-old Frenchman, was having a first ride on the five-year-old since being unseated after the horse slipped on a bend in a Group 3 race at Haydock. He was also impressed with Simon de Montfort's finishing speed.
"He is a very nice horse," Barzalona said. "He has a very nice turn of foot and I was very happy with him in that race."
Silvestre de Sousa, the Brazilian who was also recently announced as a retained Godolphin jockey, was in double form last night.
He partnered Ali Rashid Al Raihe's Hadba to the horse's debut victory in the opening maiden race and followed up in the last contest aboard Wealthy in the blue colours of Godolphin.
Hadba was the clear winner of the opening maiden over 1,900m, drawing two-and-a-half lengths in front of the chasing pack.
"He was traveling well all the way through," said the rider.
The four year old was Al Raihe's second winner of the night after Rutland Boy made it into the winner's enclosure for jockey Jamie Spencer.
