Godolphin's Sovereign Prince landed the spoils under William Buick, the pair making every post a winning one, skipping clear entering the final 500m and always looking certain to hang on, the homebred 4yo Dubawi gelding now unbeaten in three Meydan turf appearances.
Buick, having partnered his first winner of the UAE season at just the sixth attempt, said: "He is an uncomplicated horse and nobody else wanted to lead so I was happy to let him stride on. We know he loves it here on the Meydan turf and he will improve as that should take the freshness out of him"
The opening 1400m turf maiden produced something of a surprise winner in the shape of Persian Empire who, having broke sharply, was probably never headed under Rowan Scott in the silks of Ahmed Alsayed Shehab Alhashmi for trainer Hamad Al Marar. It was a first ever winner for the owner but a sixth for the handler who is making quite an impact in his maiden season.
It was a case of third time lucky for the 5yo gelded son of Shamardal, on his first start for Al Marar, having been unsighted twice for his previous trainer in January last year.
Scott said: "He jumped really well and was always travelling strongly before staying on strongly. We went pretty quick so it was a good effort."
For 3yos, a 1400m dirt maiden was won easily by Mr Raj, the result never in doubt after he was driven to the front 300m from home by Ray Dawson riding for Ahmad bin Harmash in the colours of Ahmad Bintouq, the Bolt D'Oro colt going one place better than when chasing home stablemate Flying Hunter on his only previous start at the very beginning of December.
Not the quickest away, Dawson soon had his mount in contention behind the leaders and once he asked for the winning effort they always had matters under control.
Dawson said: "I wanted to be more prominent but he was a bit slowly away but he has handled the kickback and shown a great attitude having shown a decent turn of foot to get to the front."
Jockey and trainer completed a double in the finale, a 1900m turf handicap, courtesy of Gareth, owned by Mohammed Ahmad Ali Al Subousi.
The 1200m turf handicap looked wide open at so it proved with plenty of the 14 runners still in contention entering the final 400m, shortly after Nibraas and Jean Van Overmeire hit the front, the pair seeing off numerous challengers and hanging on grimly for Sheikh Ahmed and Michael Costa.
A 5yo gelded son of Uncle Mo, Nibraas has now won two of his three turf appearances and was third in the other, over 1400m and 1600m respectively.
The winning jockey said: "He has always shown plenty of speed at home so we thought this looked a good spot for him as his turf form was good. Luckily it worked out well."
Antonio Fresu produced Street Mood fast and late to snatch victory in a 1600m dirt handicap, in which plenty of the 16 runners were still in contention entering the final 300m, for Musabbeh Al Mheiri and Jumaa Mubarak Al Junaibi.
