Sheikh Mansour and his main trainer, Majed Al Jahouri, continued their domination of Group 1 Purebred Arabian races in the UAE this season with Rabbah De Carrere completing a clean sweep for connections in such contests.
They won the Kahayla Classic, the Purebred Arabian equivalent of the World Cup, just as the winner’s dam, Mizzna and grandam, Alanudd did in the past and their eighth Group 1 win of the season.
Irish trainer Mick Halford has enjoyed a great 2014 Carnival and Certerach provided him his fifth win of the campaign when recording his own second victory of the year, landing the Group 3 Dubai Gold Cup.
At 3200m, it is the longest race in the UAE and produced a thrilling finish with Jamie Spencer’s mount just denying Godolphin’s Cavalryman a second consecutive win in the race.
They did have to survive a stewards’ inquiry though. Spencer completing a double, winning the following Group 2 UAE Derby on Toast Of New York, trained in England by Jamie Osborne.
Spencer took his mount to the front 300m out to put the race to sleep in a few strides.
For the second year running the Group 2 Godolphin Mile went to South Africa but last year’s winner, Soft Falling Rain, had to settle for second, unable to peg back Variety Club who made all under Anton Marcus for trainer Joey Ramsden.
Both horses are likely to be seen in Europe over the summer, via Hong Kong for the winner.
