Trio of winners for Godolphin in latest Dubai World Cup Carnival meeting at Meydan

The triple success was highlighted by Beautiful Romance securing an impressive victory in the evening’s feature race, the Group 3 Nad Al Sheba Trophy, run over 2810 metres on the turf.

In what was a quality renewal of the race, the Saeed bin Suroor-trained mare was ridden well by Oisin Murphy who sent his mount for home a good 700 metres from the line. Sheikhzayedroad, winner of the same race last year, tried to go with her but was soon outpaced and it was left to last year’s Dubai Gold Cup winner, Vazirabad, under Christophe Soumillon, to appear out of the pack to give chase.

The pair appeared to be travelling strongly and closed to within a length of Murphy’s mount, who duly responded by quickening again, putting the race to bed in a few strides to win by a length and a half. Vazirabad was a clear second by three and a quarter lengths from Sheikhzayedroad.

The Godolphin racing operation had earlier dominated the seven furlong Meydan Classic as they supplied the first three home in the Listed turf feature for three-year-olds. However, it was Top Score, seemingly their third string, who landed the spoils with Adrie de Vries, sporting the red cap, denying Fly At Dawn, in the all blue, with Really Special splitting them.

Saeed bin Suroor saddled the first and third, Charlie Appleby the runner-up and it was eventually an exciting finish with the three in line hitting the final 200 metre mark before the winner quickened in style. In doing so, Top Score became the first winner of the course and distance Meydan Class Trial to follow up in the big race.

Another Godolphin 1-2-3 followed immediately in the Al Naboodah Harley-Davidson® Trophy, which was won by Viren’s Army.

The 2000 metre distance turf handicap saw the Appleby-trained horse come in ahead of from stable companion Kidmenever with Bin Suroor’s Huge Future in third. Ridden by Colm O’Donoghue, Viren’s Army was soon in front but was headed fully 1400 metres out by First Selection before regaining the initiative at the top of the straight.

From there, he skipped clear and never looked likely to be caught, winning by a length and a half from Kidmenever in second and Huge Future in third.

The fourth race on the evening’s card at Meydan was the Group 3 UAE Oaks, which was won in style by Nomorerichblondes.

Having been runner-up in the UAE 1000 Guineas on her previous start, the Ahmad bin Harmash-trained horse – with jockey Antonio Fresu at the helm – gave her Saudi Arabian connections an indication to her strength of form, winning by a length and half from outsider Midnight Chica in second and race favourite Complimenti in third.

The only Purebred Arabian race on the card was the opening race of the night, the Group 1 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 3, which saw the Francois Rohaut-trained Handassa became the third dual winner of the 2000 metre dirt feature.

In doing so, he denied the 2015 victor, Versac PY, that honour for Erwan Charpy but for owner, HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, it was a result to savour given he owns them both.

Approaching the halfway stage it looked an unlikely outcome with Handassa slowly into stride as the stalls opened, under pressure from Jim Crowley However, once taken wide by the owner’s retained jockey, he was much happier and made smooth progress down the back straight and they were tracking the leaders on the home turn. Versac PY hit the front 300 metres from home but was promptly tackled by the winner who was in front 100 metres later and, despite a gallant effort by the runner-up, held on gamely to win.

The Curlin Handicap was being contested for the first time over the same 2000 metre dirt course and distance as the Dubai World Cup, and Mubtaahij, runner-up in Meydan’s biggest race of the season last year, had to settle for the same position on this occasion.

Conceding weight to all eight rivals and making his seasonal return, Mubtaahij and Christophe Soumillon eased into contention as the runners exited the home turn and looked the likely winner.

However, stalking them was Sam Hitchcott on the Doug Watson-trained Etijaah and they shot past with about 300 metres left and were never going to be caught, providing Sheikh Hamdan with a winning double on the night.

The meeting concluded with the final handicap of the 2017 Dubai World Cup Carnival, the Al Naboodah KAESER Compressor Trophy, which was won in style by Suyoof in a thrilling finish.

Run over 1400 metres on turf, the Mike de Kock-trained horse came late and fast under Jim Crowley on the outside to overhaul Godolphin’s Bravo Zolo and stablemate, Tahanee, with the leading three separated by just a short head and a neck respectively.

The Dubai World Cup Carnival returns on Saturday 4 March for Super Saturday, the official dress rehearsal for the US$30m Dubai World Cup on Saturday 25 March.

Before both, there is a full card of racing at Meydan this Saturday evening.