Old Persian looked a shining star of the Dubai Super Saturday race meeting as he took out the prestigious Dubai City Of Gold. 

The Godolphin owned colt was all the rage and duly ran down his rival in the final stages of the event to win nicely. 

The pace was slow and the South African hope Marinaresco was near the back of the field  his usual type of position but it proved to be a lot of ground to cover to threaten the forward moving horses. He ran a courageous race and will be better for it. 

$300,000 DUBAI CITY OF GOLD (GROUP 2)
Course and Distance Prep for $6 million Longines Dubai Sheema Classic (G1)

Winner: OLD PERSIAN
Owner: Godolphin
Trainer: Charlie Appleby
Jockey: William Buick
Official Time: 2:32.68 (2410mT, Track Record: 2:26.85 – Hawkbill, 2018)
Margin of Victory: Short Head (Nose)

Winning Trainer, Trainer, OLD PERSIAN (1st)—“He’s a horse who’s got a bright future ahead of him. He’s a multiple Group 2 winner now and won at Royal Ascot. He beat Cross Counter and we know what he went on to do. Coming into this evening, we were pleased with his preparation, but we firmly have our eyes set on the (Longines Dubai) Sheema Classic. There’s a little bit of improvement still there to come.”

William Buick, Jockey, OLD PERSIAN (1st)—“I can’t imagine it was pretty watching it from here, but I had so much horse underneath of me. The way the race developed, it was funny stage. Halfway around the turn, everyone starting to move. I started to make my move and got stuck behind a wall of horses. Once he got in the clear, he really picked up well. It was a lovely performance.”

Christophe Soumillon, Jockey, RACING HISTORY (2nd)—“He ran a great race. Unfortunately, we did the most difficult part to go to the front with a steady pace and the jockeys came to my outside very early. The made me start (our run) at the 600m. If that would have happened in the straight, I think I could have won it. Anyway, it was a great run and I’m very happy with him.”

Jim Crowley, Jockey, DESERT ENCOUNTER (3rd)—“Nothing went to plan. He ran a bit too keen. I didn’t get any cover and he was quite fresh. It was his first race for a while. He is a horse that likes to be put to bed early and he just over-raced. He will improve a lot for the run.”

Oisin Murphy, Jockey, PRINCE OF ARRAN (4th)—“The pace was slow, but he relaxed in second position and he’ll improve from that. The Dubai Gold Cup is the plan I believe.”

Bernard Fayd’Herbe, Jockey, MARINARESCO (5th)—“It was a slow pace. I was a little bit further back than where I wanted to be. The first half of the race I had to be too close to the front of the pace. To be honest, he ran a good race.”