Godolphin’s Dream Castle posted the second win of his unbeaten campaign at Meydan, having been gelded after failing to get closer than third in four attempts last year.
The five-year-old son of Frankel, a 7-4 favourite under Christophe Soumillon, put stablemates Leshlaa and Racing History in the shade – by three lengths and a nose respectively, with Charlie Appleby’s Blair House a place further back in the same colours.
Saeed Bin Suroor said: “The horse is going really well – I like the way he is finishing his races.
“He showed a good turn of foot, and was even more relaxed tonight (than last time) – so it’s looking good for the future.
“I’m also happy with the second and third. That is good form.”
Bin Suroor, Soumillon and Esthidaaf found one prove half a length too good for them in the Al Bastakiya Trial, won on the dirt by 5-1 shot Manguzi for UAE trainer Ali Rashid Al Rayhi.
Ex-Argentinian champion Saltarin Dubai led all the way in the EGA Jebel Ali Trophy to score for the second time in 12 attempts over this course, by one and a quarter lengths, for Satish Seemar.
Back on the turf, D’bai struck on his first start of the second successive year, providing Charlie Appleby and Godolphin with their fourth winner in the last five runnings of the Al Fahidi Fort.
After the five-year-old’s one-and-three-quarter-length win under James Doyle – from stablemate Mythical Magic, with two more Godolphin charges third and fifth – Appleby made no secret of the fact he sees it as ‘job done’ already for a gelding who thrives when fresh.
“His first run is generally his better run,” he said.
“We’ve dabbled with six furlongs, but seven is his ultimate trip – and those races are limited.
“So we didn’t want to use that first run up on one we didn’t need. We were confident coming in today that he was fit and ready.”
Appleby and Doyle wasted little time in following up, with Spotify hitting the right note in the following EGA Al Taweelah Trophy, which brought the card to a close.
Provided by Press Association Sport
