Local trainer Mubarak Bin Shafya and horses trained in the UK shared the honours at Thursday’s seventh meeting of the 2009 Dubai International Racing Carnival with three winners apiece.

Bin Shafya’s treble included the ultra impressive victory of Gladiatorus (Image; DRC/Watkins) in the night’s feature, the Group 2 Al Fahidi Fort over 1600m on the Nad Al Sheba turf.

The four-year-old, who did not race at three but was a high-class juvenile, made all under Royston Ffrench to post a facile success to the delight of the jockey who said: “I was never concerned; the trainer said he was a really nice horse and to ride him confidently from the front. It has certainly worked well!”

The pair were completing a double having landed the preceding CBD Financial Services 2400m turf handicap with the last gasp success of Eastern Anthem who, like Gladiatorus, was winning for a second time at this Carnival.

Earlier, the trainer’s Dijeerr sprung a surprise in the 1600m dirt conditions race, the Al Dana Investment Plate, when making all under apprentice Antioco Murgia to land an impressive victory in a field which included 2008 UAE Derby winner Honour Devil who was third.

Murgia was obviously delighted: “The plan worked well as we hoped to jump out and lead and that was how it happened. He has run on very strongly and it was a good performance.”

There were two 1500m turf handicaps on the card and the first, the Mustaqbali, went the way of Australia after Valedictum was produced fast and late by Champion Jockey Ted Durcan to win cosily for trainer Danny O’Brien.

The jockey explained: “His first run was a good one and we were hopeful of big run. He quickened well when I asked him.”

The Group 2 Bani Yas, the only Purebred Arabian race on the card, was won by Rod Simpson’s National Day Cup winner Fryvolous who ran on strongly under Daragh O’Donohoe having hit the front 300m out in the 1200m turf feature.

Simpson said: “This horse has been brilliant and the whole season has been a great success so far. Long may it continue.”

Eve Johnson Houghton started the ball rolling for the UK trainers when Judd Street and Mick Kinane won the 1200m turf handicap before both the concluding two races also went to England.

Ryan Moore produced arguably the ride of the Carnival to date when Swop swooped from last to first in the penultimate 1500m turf handicap, the Commercial Bank of Dubai, having seemingly been in an impossible position 300m out when last.

Moore was twice denied a run before finally extricating himself with just over 200m to run and the pair flew home.

Moore then tried to make all in the concluding 2400m turf handicap, the Al Dana Wealth Management, on David Elsworth’s Classic Punch, only to be denied close home by the George Margarson-trained Young Mick in the hands of John Egan.

An elated Margarson said: “That was brilliant and for a small yard like ours to win a race like this is a massive boost.”

Doug Watson’s Clasp was the easy winner of the 2000m dirt handicap, Attijari Al Islami Trophy, with Fernando Jara performing the steering on this ultra consistent performer gaining a deserved first win of the season.