Godolphin’s royal blue silks shine bright in Nad Al Sheba Trophy
dubai — The royal blue silks of Godolphin sparkled, making a clean sweep of the Group 3 Nad Al Sheba Trophy in the ninth race meeting of the Dubai World Cup Carnival at the Meydan Racecourse on Thursday night.
The racing operation took the top three spots in the 2810 metres contest, which is a prep for the Group 2 $1.5 million 3200 metres Dubai Gold Cup on World Cup night.
Leading Carnival trainer Charlie Appleby’s Ispolini won the race on turf followed by Emirati Saeed bin Suroor’s charges Red Galileo and Bin Battuta, who came in second and third respectively.
And it was an utterly commanding display from Mikael Barzalona’s mount with Ispolini winning by a mind-boggling 10.5 lengths over Red Galileo, the ride of Patrick Cosgrove.
Bin Battuta was even further back, 11.5 lengths adrift of Red Galileo.
Meanwhile, the evening had begun with Af Maher winning round three of the Group 1 Al Maktoum Challenge for Purebred Arabians.
Af Maher, the charge of Ernest Oerter and the ride of UAE Champion jockey Tadhg O’Shea, won by 3.5 lengths over Ziyadd.
Goshawke was third, 0.75 lengths behind Ziyadd.
Sporting Chance won the Meydan Classic, an eight-furlong run in turf, with Golden Jaguar and Irish Trilogy second and third respectively.
Meanwhile, African Ride beat Bochart by 3.5 lengths to land the District One Crystal Lagoon Trophy. Dolkong beat out Doug Watson’s Etijaah to clinch the Curlin Handicap.
This was the last Carnival meeting with Super Saturday to be held next weekend.