Dubai pair notch big race double

Dubai training sensation Mubarak bin Shafya and jockey Ahmed Ajtebi enjoyed the greatest night of their careers with a high-profile double on Dubai World Cup night.

Ajtebi, who was formerly attached to Newmarket handler Clive Brittain's yard, last June won the Buckingham Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot aboard Regal Parade - but was forced to return to Dubai due to visa irregularities the following month.

Bin Shafya and Ajtebi firstly struck with Gladiatorus, who benefited from an enterprising ride to win the Dubai Duty Free, making every yard of the running in the Group One contest.

The 10-1 chance continued to find more when asked to cosily repel the British challenge of Presvis, trained by Luca Cumani.
Bin Shafya was over the moon, but not surprised, by his colt's three-quarters-of-a-length triumph.

'I was very confident before the start - he's a special horse,' said the trainer.

'Ahmed is young, but he's learning and was very gutsy in the race.'

Ajtebi added: 'He's a super horse and I think I caught the other jockeys by surprise.'

Cumani was also a happy man after Presvis stayed on for second under Ryan Moore.

He said: 'We can now go to Hong Kong or Singapore - or perhaps both. We'll have to see how the horse comes out of the race. We are delighted we've had three winners in Dubai and have had a great time.

'Winning this would have been great, but second is the next best thing.'

Disappointment of the race was the Richard Hannon-trained Paco Boy, who was never a serious factor.

Hannon said: 'He ran OK, but the draw has done us - it was too far out for him. This horse has a lot to do in England when we get back so I'm not too worried. He might run in the Lockinge.'

Bin Shafya and Ajtebi went on to complete the memorable brace as Eastern Anthem fended off the British challengers in a thrilling finish to the Dubai Sheema Classic.

The 14-1 chance was held up in the early stages but finished like a train to engage in a three-way tussle with Sir Michael Stoute's Spanish Moon and Cumani's Purple Moon.

There was very little to choose between the three of them as they flashed past the post - but it was Eastern Anthem who was declared the narrow winner after a lengthy photo-finish.

Spanish Moon edged out his compatriot to fill the runner-up spot.
Ajtebi said: 'Gladiatorus is a front-runner and with Eastern Anthem you have to sit at the back. With Gladiatorus I was worried about the distance - even though he is a class horse.'

Saeed bin Suroor always seems to have his string primed for Dubai World Cup night and the Godolphin trainer was rewarded with a double on the high-profile card.

The boys in blue firstly struck in the Godolphin Mile, in which Two Step Salsa and Frankie Dettori led home stablemate Gayego to give the trainer a 1-2.

Godolphin racing manager, Simon Crisford, said: 'They both came here with good form from America and we expected a 1-2.
"It was never going to be easy but they did it well.'

The Godolphin team again saddled the first two home in the following UAE Derby - but the result was not what racegoers were expecting as Regal Ransom repelled the challenge of his better-fancied stablemate Desert Party.

The latter was sent off the 2-5 market leader on the back of two course successes earlier in the year and moved menacingly into third soon after turning for home under Dettori. Once asked to pick up Regal Ransom, however, his response was not immediate.
By contrast, the 16-1 chance, ridden by Alan Garcia, galloped all the way to the line.

Although a good result for connections, it was a blow to Desert Party's potential tilt at the Kentucky Derby.

Crisford continued: 'I don't think Desert Party was quite at his best. He didn't pick up when Frankie asked him. Both ran superb races and both are contenders for the Kentucky Derby.'

'Regal Ransom was working well and has always shown a lot of speed. He had the run of the race and kicked clear in the straight. Both are world-class colts and we will make a decision nearer the time. We might run one in the Kentucky Derby and leave the other for the Preakness Stakes, but we will cross that bridge when we come to it.'

Big City Man repelled the challenge of Indian Blessing to win the Dubai Golden Shaheen for Saudi Arabia-based trainer Jerry Barton.

The 11-2 chance travelled strongly throughout under Jose Verenzuela and although strongly pressed by the American filly inside the final furlong, he stuck on most gamely to lift the ultra-valuable Group One prize.

Godolphin's Diabolical picked up third place, but the disappointment of the race was Freddie Head's Marchand D'Or, who was scrubbed along after a furlong and finished tailed off.

A tearful Barton said: 'It feels just how I thought it would standing here. I've dreamed about standing in the winner's circle at Nad Al Sheba and I've finally done it.'

Jockey Davy Bonilla was mystified by Marchand D'Or's lacklustre performance.

He said: 'There was a problem out of the stalls and I was having to push a lot just to keep him up with the rest. It was not a problem with the dirt, I think there is another problem.'