Mikhail Glinka, African Story on song

Abu Dhabi: The Herman Brown-trained Mikhail Glinka made it a start to finish affair in the Dubai City Of Gold Group 2 contest on turf and is now likely headed for the Dubai Sheema Classic (Group 1) on Dubai World Cup night.

Royston Ffrench hit the front on the five-year-old bay Galileo son, who showed his superb fitness despite running for the second time in a week and then held on despite a chasing duo from Godolphin.

Mikhail Glinka had taken a good lead halfway through the 12-furlong race and then kept ahead even as Cavalryman under Olivier Peslier came up with a searing finish on the outside. But Glinka, who finished second to Simon De Montfort over ten furlongs a week ago, held on to win by a length from Cavalryman while Campanologist under Kieren Fallon and another Godolphin runner Songcraft under Silvestre De Sousa dead-heated for third half a length behind.

Earlier in the Group 3 Burj Nahar on the All-weather, Godolphin scored through African Story who was brilliantly steered home by Frankie Dettori. African Story finished nearly four lengths ahead of Snaafy, who ran a good second for trainer Musabah Al Muhairi while Mike de Kock's Musir had to remain content with third place.

Fresh

"He won well today and we will now keep him nice and fresh," said Saeed Bin Surour after African Story won his fourth race in 11 starts. "He will be now going for the Godolphin Mile," the Godolphin trainer confirmed.