Dubai: South African trainer Mike de Kock and jockey Christophe Soumillon set the early pace bagging a double each while Godolphin trainer Saeed Bin Surour opened his account, but the honours on Meydan's first race meeting was shared by Gloria De Campeoa and three British trainers.
After No Risk Al Maury — owned by Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai Deputy Ruler and Minister of Finance — entered record books as the first winner on the all-weather Tapita surface at this futuristic Meydan Race course, winning the Group 1 Maktoum Challenge for Purebred Arabians, it was the Group 3 Maktoum Challenge for thoroughbreds which provided a thrilling finish.
While all eyes were on Godolphin's Midshipman it was trainer Pascal Barry's Gloria De Campeoa — second in last year's US$6 million (Dh22 million) Dubai World Cup, who unleashed a superb run on Thursday night to serve notice to rivals bidding for this year's US$10 million Dubai World Cup.
Midshipman under Frankie Dettori looked to be cruising along on the homestretch — but starting from box 14 and making most of the running on the outside saw the 4-year-old son of Unbridled Song challenge weaken over the final furlong. Gloria De Campeoa gained strength over that decisive furlong and finished strongly to win the Carnival's opening day feature.
Winning trainer Pascal Barry said: "This horse loves Dubai and never runs a bad race. We will be aiming him for the World Cup in which he was an excellent second last year.
"Commenting on Midshipman's fourth-place finish, Bin Surour said, "He needed the race and will come on a lot for it."
Victory
Bin Surour and Dettori however did taste some success when Whispering Gallery made it a pillar to post victory in a 10-furlong race. The four-year-old colt's fourth success in five career starts and first win on an artificial surface delighting Bin Surour. "I am very happy with a winner on the first night of Meydan. Whispering Gallery did it well."
"It's the start of a new era — what a place we've got. The first winner is always sweet and let's hope it is the first of many," said Dettori.
Bin Surour and de Kock have been traditional rivals in the Dubai International Racing carnival and though Godolphin had lined up quite a few fancied runners it was de Kock who struck twice with horses owned by Shaikh Mohammad Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum.
Christophe started off his Carnival partnership with de Kock scoring in his very first outing when Raihana won the UAE 1000 Guineas trial in impressive fashion.
The double came in the very next race when Soumillon on Lizard's Desire led a 1-2 for de Kock with King Of Rome under Kevin Shea following the winner home.
"It is obviously very pleasing to win the opening Thoroughbred races at the new course," de Kock was quoted on his website. "Raihana is the best three-year-old filly we have bought to Dubai and the UAE 1000 Guineas will be her next target."
