Godolphin handler Saeed bin Suroor and stable jockey James Doyle enjoyed a night to remember as they dominated yesterday’s Super Saturday meeting at Meydan.
They combined to land the final three events on the eight-race card, highlighted by African Story’s victory in the Al Maktoum Challenge III, the 2,000m dirt prep race for the $10 million (Dh37.7m) Dubai World Cup in three weeks.
Winner of last year’s World Cup, but on Tapeta not dirt, Doyle’s mount had not appeared to handle the new surface well in the middle leg of the Challenge three weeks earlier.
However, he was able to race prominently on this occasion and wear down long time leader Henry Clay just over 200m from home.
The winner’s stable companion, Prince Bishop, who won this last year on the previous surface, flew home to snatch second under William Buick.
Connections then completed a Group One double with Hunter’s Light proving far too good in the Jebel Hatta, over the same 1,800m turf course and distance as the Dubai Turf in three weeks’ time.
@DRC_Meydan @DWC_Meydan @godolphin #20thDWC African Story/James Doyle wins Al Maktoum Challenge Rd3 #Meydan #Dubai pic.twitter.com/cJctiXfVZB
— Neville Hopwood (@nevhopwood) March 7, 2015
Winner of the Challenge on this card two years ago, he was recording a third success at the highest level and made it three wins from three starts at Meydan this year.
Doyle said: “He has thrived this year. Full credit to Saeed and the team who have handled his preparation perfectly.”
Bin Suroor added: “We really wanted to win another Group One with him, so we are delighted with this result.”
Almost as impressive was stable companion Sky Hunter who made a winning UAE debut in the Group 2 Dubai City Of Gold, over 2,400m on turf.
Employing similar tactics to those later used on Hunter’s Light, Doyle kicked his mount clear early and soon had their race won.
@ChampionsSeries @DubaiRacingTV @DarleyStallions @DWC_Meydan Congratulations to @godolphin With #SkyHunter pic.twitter.com/CFkawPnCgG
— Momo (@SimoHighbury) March 7, 2015
Doyle said: “I won on him at Newbury last year and I think he has improved since then. He did this very well.”
The meeting opened with the Purebred Arabian version of the Al Maktoum Challenge III, like the Thoroughbred equivalent over 2,000m on dirt, and Versac PY, second in the two previous renewals, was able to go one place better. He actually won quite easily in the end, with Paul Hanagan riding for Sheikh Hamdan and trainer Erwan Charpy.
Shaishee was another winner for Sheikh Hamdan in the Group 3 Mahab Al Shimaal on dirt. Ridden by Silvestre De Sousa, he is trained by Musabah Al Muhairi, as is Tamarkuz who won the 1,600m Group 3 Burj Nahaar, also on dirt, under Hanagan who was also completing a double.
The 1,900m Listed Al Bastakiya was won by Mubtaahij, a fifth winner for South African Mike De Kock and ridded by Dane O’Neill.
The turf dash, a 1,000m Group 3 Meydan Sprint, went to Sir Maximilian who led on the line to give UK trainer Ian Williams a first UAE victory.
