Settled in last by Danny Tudhope, but never too far off the modest early pace, the 9yo Whipper gelding was pulled wide early in the straight before making relentless progress over the final 400m, hitting the front with about 125m remaining and with the race in safekeeping.

A dual Group One winner, including the Jebel Hatta over this course and distance on Super Saturday last March, the globetrotter also won the Group 3 Bahrain International Trophy in November and was, reportedly, in need of his Meydan return when a never dangerous fourth in the Group 2 Al Rashidiya three weeks ago.

Tudhope said: "He is a horse you have to ride for a bit of luck and they went a steady but consistent gallop so I was always in a nice rhythm.
"We knew he had improved from his first run back and he is a real star who owes nobody anything. It is always special to win a big prize on him."

For 3yos over 1600m on dirt, the Group 3 UAE 2000 Guineas proved the perfect opportunity for Russia to add another winning flag to the winning roster, Antonio Fresu producing Azure Coast  fast and late to land the Classic in the colours of Vladamir Kazakov for trainer Pavel Vashchenko.

Having his first start as a 3yo, the Street Sense colt is now unbeaten after three starts having won a local Group Two over 1600m on debut in Russia in September before making a winning UAE bow in a 1400m conditions contest at Meydan in December.

In both Meydan outings he has been virtually last entering the home turn before powering home in the straight and he looks an exciting young horse.

Winning owner Kazakov said: "Obviously we are very happy with that and we were keen to race at Meydan which it is such a wonderful facility and to win a big race is just amazing."

The quality card concluded on the dirt, over 1200m, with the Group 3 Al Shindagha Sprint producing a progressive winner in the shape of Meraas , Antonio Fresu completing a double, this time riding for Musabbeh Al Mheiri in the colours of Maitha Salem Mohammed Belobaida Alsuwaidi.

A 5yo Oasis Dream gelding, he was registering a fifth career success and has now landed both his local appearances having won a handicap over this 1200m dirt course and distance seven weeks ago.

Fresu said: "He is just naturally very quick but I was soon able to get to the front and he stayed on well in a much better race than the one he won last time."

Over the same 2000m on dirt as the Dubai World Cup, the Listed Curlin Stakes was won in gritty fashion by local debutant Appreciated , Fernando Jara in the saddle sporting the silks of R3 Racing for Doug O'Neill.

O'Neill enjoyed a carnival double last week and this 6yo gelded son of Acclamation added to that to record his own sixth career success but just second on dirt. It was hard work though with runner-up Sanad Libya pushing him all the way to the line but unable to regain the lead he had relinquished at the 2000m pole.

Jara said: "We were squeezed at the start so I was a lot further back than I planned and we had to come wide on the turn but, once in the straight, he picked up and galloped on strongly but had to really battle because the second would not go away."

Over 1400m on turf, the Listed Business Bay Challenge was contested by a capacity field of 16 but only one ever really mattered, Storm Damage soon in front under Pat Cosgrave and clear throughout the final 300m to win stylishly for Saeed bin Suroor, leading home a Godolphin 1-2-3.

They were chased home by stable companion Mutafawwig with Charlie Appleby's Modern News  third, establishing a new track record in the process.

A 4yo homebred Night Of Thunder gelding, Cosgrave's mount was winning for the fourth time on just his sixth racecourse appearance and was building on a promising local debut, when fourth over the same course and distance, three weeks ago.

Cosgrave said: "He was a bit unlucky the first time and we thought he had a decent chance. He enjoyed himself bowling along in front and is still improving."

The 2410m turf handicap also went to Godolphin, who were responsible for six of the 15 runners, Charlie Appleby saddling Global Storm for a relatively smooth victory under William Buick.

Settled just behind the leaders, the 5yo Night Of Thunder gelding quickened to the front entering the final 200m and stayed on strongly to record a fourth career success on what was his first start since early November, at Doncaster, 97 days ago.

Buick said: "It was a competitive, strong handicap but my fellow had some good form in the book and we were very happy with him at home.
"He always runs a good race and that was a deserved victory so I am delighted not only for the team but the horse himself as he does not win that often but always goes well."

The only Purebred Arabian contest kicked off proceedings with AF Alajaj scoring easily in the Group 2 Mazrat Al Ruwayah, over 1600m on the dirt track, Tadhg O'Shea in the saddle for Khalid Khalifa Al Nabooda and Ernst Oertel, the duo also responsible for distant runner-up Shabih Alreeh.

Settled in third by the Champion Jockey, the homebred 5yo entire cruised into serious contention on the home turn, O'Shea sat motionless, until easing his mount to the front about 450m out after which the result was never in doubt.
Clearly improving, the horse has now won half of his ten career starts, two from five on dirt and was posting by far his biggest success to date, improving on a maiden and three handicap victories.

Oertel said: "We have always really liked this horse and we were very confident coming here tonight. That was his first race here but he works at Meydan probably once a week so we knew he likes the surface.
"The Kahayla Classic is 2000m but he will stay that far and, for a Purebred Arabian, he has a really good turn of foot. He is an exciting horse."