Dubai World Cup night clues aplenty were on offer at Nad Al Sheba on Thursday at the ninth meeting of the Dubai International Racing Carnival.
Sponsored by Meydan City, the night’s feature was the Listed Oaks, a dirt race for three-year-old fillies and won by Godolphin’s Devotee (pictured, image:DRC/Watkins) who was able to bounce back after a disappointing run in the UAE 1000 Guineas when found to have an irregular heartbeat.
Ridden by Frankie Dettori, she was completing a memorable double for the Godolphin team who had also won the inaugural running of the Dubai Racing Club Gold Cup, a 3200m turf conditions race, with the high-class Veracity.
Sent for home over 800m out by the Italian jockey, he ran on dourly to win the marathon.
Dettori said: “It has been a good night and Veracity is a tough horse who we know stays well. He has been tried in the highest company at times and deserved to get his head in front.
“Devotee was obviously a disappointment last time but we knew she was a good filly and her work has been good. She was brave when the other filly came to her and run on strongly.”
Racing opened with the 1200m turf conditions Meydan Business Park Trophy, which was won by Eve Johnson Houghton’s Beaver Patrol under Mick Kinane, while the following 1600m turf race, Signature Mall Trophy went to Furnace for Mubarak Bin Shafya and apprentice Antioco Murgia.
Gloria De Campeao finally opened his own and trainer Pascal Bary’s UAE account in the 1800m dirt handicap, the Meydan Hotel Trophy, and would be a possible for the Godolphin Mile, while the Dubai Sheema Classic could be a target for Luca Cumani’s Presvis who won the concluding 2000m turf Meydan Gateway Towers Trophy under Ryan Moore.
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