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29 March 2024

Godolphin dominate at Meydan’s Saturday card

Kieren Fallon rides the Saeed Bin Suroor-trained Alkimos to victory in the Saeed & Mohammed Al Naboodah Group Trophy. (Dubai Racing Club)

Published
By Allaam Ousman

Godolphin and Saeed bin Suroor were in treble form at Meydan on Saturday evening with three different jockeys aboard their winners.

Pride of place arguably went to Alkimos, winner of the concluding 2,000m handicap, one of two turf races on a card generously sponsored by Saeed & Mohammed Al Naboodah Group.

Kieren Fallon was in the saddle on the winner, who was opening his account for Godolphin having joined them from Luca Cumani for the 2012 Dubai World Cup Carnival.

Settled well off the pace, Fallon asked his mount to close turning for home and they swept past Jawhar to win comfortably.

Fallon said: “I won on this horse in England but, to be honest, I was further back than I wanted. Luckily they went quick so he has been able to stay on and hopefully this will do his confidence good.”

Silvestre De Sousa initiated the treble on Last Fighter who won the 1,600m all-weather handicap in similar style – leading close home to score a cosy success.

“I was always going well and happy that I was on the best horse. He travelled like a good horse and I would like to think he has more to offer.”

The middle leg of the trio was Mawhub who landed the 1900m handicap, also on the all-weather, with Pat Dobbs in the saddle. He came from off the pace before storming about 300m out with Dobbs explaining: “We were going well in behind and when the gap opened I was keen to take it. He picked up well and we were always in command then.”

Bin Suroor added: “It has been a good evening and we thought we had some good chances so it is nice to be proved right. We will take all three home and look for suitable races.”

Last Fighter’s win kicked off a double for De Sousa who followed up on Innocuous in the 1,400m all-weather handicap for Champion Trainer Ali Rashid Al Raihe.

De Sousa said: “Horses from the yard are always fit and well so you know you have a chance and he deserved that as he has run some good races in defeat.”

Pat Cosgrave was another jockey in double form and steered the Abdulal bin Huzaim-trained Earl of Carrick to win the opening 1,900m maiden.

The pair had to work quite hard to get to the front but won comfortably enough in the end with Cosgrave explaining: “This is a horse who will be better over further so he has done well to win here over this trip. He ran well in a handicap last time and is hopefully a horse with a future.”

He then landed the 1,200m turf handicap on Take Ten for Satish Seemar. Having tracked the fast early gallop, the pair hit the front about 300m out and ran all the way to the line to the delight of the jockey who said: “He was happier back on turf after a disappointing run last time on the all-weather when he boiled over before the race and blew his chance. That was more like it today and he showed plenty of speed and a good attitude.”