Gladiatorus (image: DRC) was a top-class juvenile in this country and after a quartet of Listed wins in the Criterium Partenopeo at Naples, Criterium Varesino at Varese, Premio Toscana at Florence and Premio Rumon at the Capannelle went down fighting to Scintillo (GB) (Fantastic Light) in the G1 Gran Criterium on this card.

Transferred to Godolphin, the bay failed to appear for the operation at three but was a revelation this year in the care of Mubarak bin Shafya. His dominating front-running displays lit up Nad Al Sheba during the Carnival and he took the Feb. 19 G2 Al Fahidi Fort and Mar. 28 G1 Dubai Duty Free by a total of nine lengths before coming back to Godolphin.

In his first outing in the royal blue, he started the June 16 G1 Queen Anne S. as the 9-4 favorite but could finish only sixth after the aggressive tactics employed in the desert failed to have the same effect at Royal Ascot. Out of the frame in both the G1 Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville Aug. 16 and G1 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp last time Sept. 6, he regained the winning thread in style here at what would have looked generous odds a few months ago.

Rolling to the front after a furlong, he never looked likely to be engaged thereafter and kept up the gallop in isolation in the straight to allow a jubilant Ahmed Ajtebi some time for showboating in the final 50 yards. "Gladiatorus won really well, with plenty in hand. It is pleasing to see him back to his best," Godolphin's Racing Manager Simon Crisford said.

"He did it quite easily and was given a very nice ride from the front--gradually increasing the pace. We may run him again this year, but we don't know where or when."