The final meeting before Dubai World Cup night featured the Meydan Masters, four 12-runner handicaps on the All Weather track contested by some of the world's top jockeys. On a night sponsored by Meydan, it was Richard Hills, retained jockey to His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who won the prize after riding a winner, a second and a third.

Aaron Gryder, who won the final Nad Al Sheba Dubai World Cup on Well Armed last March, won the opening leg of the Meydan Masters on Alazeyab, trained by Ali Rashid Al Raihe. Gryder said: "I do like it here in Dubai and last March was very special. It is great to get straight on the board and the Meydan Masters is a great addition."

Gryder was then third in the 1400m handicap on Consul General who led 300m out but had no answer to the late challenge of Richard Hills on Sirocco Breeze who was virtually last turning for home but flew home to win cosily. Trained by Saeed bin Suroor, he had won in the same manner on his previous start and Hills was delighted: "These challenges are great fun for the jockeys and it is nice to get a winner. This horse had good form coming into the race and I knew he was one of my best chances."

It was the turn of Kent Desormeaux in the 2200m handicap but it was another winner for Godolphin as Once More Dubai flew down the centre of the track to land the spoils to the delight of the jockey who showed the crowd Frankie Dettori does not have the monopoly on flying dismounts. He said: "This is a great occasion and all the jockeys are really enjoying it – of course riding a winner is a big help!"

Christophe Lemaire was in the saddle in the concluding leg, a 2000m handicap, on the Dhruba Selvaratnam-trained Kal Barg whom he produced late on the far rail to lead close home. Richard Hills was third on Monte Alto to clinch the title.

The other three races were on the turf, including the featured Group 2 Zabeel Mile, over 1600m and won by the Mike De Kock-trained Imbongi under Chrsitophe Soumillon. He led close home to deny Kalahari Gold, trained by Doug Watson, in a tight finish to the delight of De Kock who said: "I have to be very pleased with that as we were concerned about the going being a bit firm. Hopefully we will go to Dubai World Cup night now but we must decide between the Dubai Duty Free and the Godolphin Mile."

The first ever race on the 1200m straight turf course was won by Judd Street, ridden by Kieren Fallon for Eve Johnson Houghton. He prevailed in a desperately tight finish to deny Star Crowned and the jockey said: "He has had to dig very deep to win that and he has stuck his neck out very gamely."

Ahmed Ajtebi was in the saddle on Frozen Power who ran out the comfortable winner of the night's first grass race, the 1600m Meydan Classic. Carrying the Godolphin blue, he was produced with a sustained challenge 200m out to win going away to the delight of Ajtebi who saluted those watching from the Meydan Hotel.

Runner-up in the UAE 2000 Guineas previously, he is a horse Ajtebi likes: "He ran two great races in defeat and his Guineas run was a very good one. Perhaps he will go for the UAE Derby now."