Dubai : High-flying UAE jockey Ahmad Ajtebi grabbed the spotlight yet again as he delivered a virtuoso performance aboard the filly Siyaadah to land the Gulf News UAE 1,000 Guineas, the first Classic of the season, at Meydan on Thursday.
Siyaadah's rousing win in the night's feature race capped a brilliant three-timer by Godolphin trainer Saeed Bin Surour.
Sportsperson of the year: Ahmad Ajtebi
Earlier Bin Surour wins on Thursday came courtesy of Mendip in the 4Men Condition race and Highland Glen in the InsideOut Handicap. Both scorers were led home by Godolphin first jockey Frankie Dettori.
Ajtebi, who was notching his third success at the Carnival after narrowly escaping serious injury when he was unseated from his horse on the opening night on January 28, said he was not surprised with Siyaadah's performance.
"To be honest, it is not that big a surprise to me. She (Siyaadah) was working like a machine at home and her form was good in England," Ajtebi told Gulf News after he produced Siyaadah from the back of the field to win in emphatic fashion.
"I was drawn wide so I gave her every chance and everything went well for me," he added. "When I asked her to go, she just took off and passed all her rivals in the straight.
"I thought I was going to get there from about 200 metres out."
Thursday's Classic win adds to an impressive string of victories for the former camel jockey who landed a double at last season's Dubai World Cup meeting and claimed a famous win in the Breeder's Cup Juvenile at the end of 2009.
Ajtebi was greeted in the winner's enclosure by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai.
Confirming Siyaadah's future plans, Bin Surour said that the ‘UAE Oaks' will be the filly's next target.
Commenting on his other winners, Bin Surour added: "Mendip is an improving young horse, but we have no ambitious plans as yet. Hopefully, he will build on this, but we will take our time and next week's UAE 2,000 Guineas will come too soon, I think."
The four-year-old Highland Glen, making his Godolphin debut in an 11-furlong handicap on the all-weather, won impressively and winning jockey Dettori said: "He travelled well and quickened nicely. Hopefully, he can improve."
Thursday's three wins now takes Godolphin's and Bin Surour's tally in the ongoing Carnival to nine wins while Dettori and Christophe Soumillon are leading the jockey's pack with five wins each.
