Dubai : The Dubai Sheema Classic (Group 1) at Meydan next year could be the early season target for Friday's Dubai Duty Free Arc Trial winner Dangerous Midge with third-placed Campanologist heading Down Under for the Melbourne Cup.
Making his first start in Pattern company Dangerous Midge comfortably saw off his rivals to score by four lengths and earn a ticket to the Breeders' Cup at Churchill Downs in November.
Winning trainer Brian Meehan was delighted with the performance and said: "This trip [one mile three furlongs] is ideal for him and I'm delighted," he said.
"He ran a good race in the Ebor, but everything went wrong for him there. He looked impressive at Haydock and he followed it through here".
"I'd like to run him in the Breeders' Cup Turf, but I'll talk to the connections and his owner and we'll see," Meehan said.
Third place
Godolphin trainer Saeed Bin Surour confirmed that Campanologist will head to Australia despite finishing third behind Dangerous Midge.
The dual Group One winner was carrying a stiff seven-pound penalty for his two Group One wins in Germany earlier this year but still ran a respectable race.
"Campanologist will go for the Melbourne Cup now and will go into quarantine on September 25," Bin Surour said.
The Godolphin handler also lavished praise on his two-year-old filly Khawlah who was an impressive winner of the EBF Pie Emporium Maiden Fillies' Stakes at Newmarket racecourse.
The filly had started slowly on her debut but made up for that unlucky second place by landing Friday's mile.
"She is one of the nicest fillies in our yard," said Bin Surour who has an embarrassment of riches in his juvenile ranks.
Smart winner
Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance, saw his famous blue-and-white colours carried to victory in the Dubai Duty Free Finest Surprise Stakes where the improving Sharaayeen was a smart winner.
The three-year-old gelding was held up and quickened well to win easily under a confident Richard Hills.
"He's in the sales but I would love to keep him," said trainer Barry Hills. "He is progressive and he needs riding like that."
The star performance of the day was delivered by Godolphin's Delegator who landed the Dubai Duty Free Cup.
Trainer Brian Meehan, who sold Delegator to Godolphin after his second place finish to Sea The Stars in the 2000 Guineas said: "He looked fantastic today and they have done a great job with him.
"To see the horse come back and win like that is good for me and good for the Godolphin team."
