Treble play for Godolphin trainer Saeed bin Suroor at Meydan

Godolphin trainer Saeed bin Suroor hit a hat-trick, jockey Silvestre De Sousa doubles his pleasure and Pat Cosgrave takes a winning pair home himself at Meydan Racecourse.

Jockey Silvestre De Sousa got trainer Saeed bin Suroor's good night started by taking Last Fighter to the winner's circle. Bin Suroor ended the night with three wins.

Dubai // The Godolphin trainer Saeed bin Suroor dominated proceedings at Meydan Racecourse on Saturday night, saddling the winners of half of the six races.

Leading the way was the ultra impressive Last Fighter who took the lead close to home under Silvestre De Sousa to win the 1,600m Tapeta handicap.

De Sousa said: "I was never really worried - I always thought I was on the best horse and he won nicely."

Pat Dobbs was then in the saddle on Mawhub who won the 1,800m Tapeta handicap having been kicked clear 300m out after which the pair were always going to hold on.

"A gap appeared halfway up the straight so I went for home and he ran on well," Dobbs said:

Alkimos then completed the treble in the concluding 2,000m turf handicap with Kieren Fallon performing the steering and, like Last Fighter, was produced to lead close home.

"To be honest I was probably farther back than I planned but the good early gallop has helped him," Fallon said.

"I won on him in England in the past and this should help his confidence."

Bin Suroor said: "It has been a good evening. "We thought we had good chances and the horses have responded well. It has been a good start to the year."

Take Ten and Pat Cosgrave were always prominent in the 1,200m turf handicap before hitting the front 200m out and holding on gamely to defeat 15 rivals.

Trained by Satish Seemar, the six year old had been a bit disappointing on his local debut, on Tapeta, but Cosgrave said: "He basically boiled over the last day and lost all chance before the race.

"He was much calmer today and has enjoyed returning to grass. It was a fast pace and he stuck on gamely."

The jockey was completing a double having comfortably won the opening 1,900m handicap on Earl Of Carrick for the trainer Abdulla bin Huzaim.

Cosgrave said: "He is improving and will be better … in time. Hopefully he will improve again."

De Sousa was also in double form and rode Innocuous to victory in a 1,400m handicap for the local champion trainer Ali Rashid Al Raihe.

"I was out of luck on Thursday so it is nice to get a couple this evening,"De Sousa said.

"Innocuous has shown plenty of dash and deserved that as he has been running well in defeat."

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