He was good… he’s still good! That’s the word on Al Nefud who stormed back to his best in the Listed Dubai Creek Mile [Presented by Palm West Beach] at Meydan Racecourse.

Once a Dubai World Cup hopeful after chasing home Hot Rod Charlie in the 2022 G2 Maktoum Challenge Round 2, the Bhupat Seemar-trained five-year-old had been off the track since March of that year but could hardly have been more impressive here.

Up against a stellar field, including Group winners Golden Goal, Atletico El Culano and Secret Ambition, the Dubawi gelding was given a confident ride by Tadhg O’Shea, who kicked clear off the home turn and showed no signs of running out of steam. Al Nefud powered home by six and three-quarter lengths from Golden Goal. Secret Ambition, winner of this race in 2019, was third.

Al Nefud was running for the first time in the silks of Michael and Negar Burke, who purchased him at the recent Al Rashid Stable dispersal sale for AED800,000.

“I said to Michael [Burke] and the owners that he hadn’t run for 600 days, but I don’t think there’s anything his equal over the mile in this country,” said O’Shea.