Some surprises some slow times and two fast times.
That was pretty much how it went. On the Dubai City of Gold Hukum saluted much to the relief of Owen Burrows and after showing lots of tenacity in a tight struggle with Without a Fight who should be renamed after he showed plenty of fight. They together with third placed Global Storm will return on World Cup nights, with their precise entries to be confirmed.
The Burj Naheer sorted out some of the local candidates for the Godolphin Mile with the win going to Desert Wisdom 33/1 with Adrie de Vries riding for Al Shamali. Mubakkar was second by 1 1/4l and Tuz third.
The Nad Al Sheba Sprint saw a brilliant run from Man of Promise (Appleby-Buick) who lowered the record and won by several lengths easing down. Prix de l'Abbaye winner A Case of You was second and the last-minute emergency Alkaraama 50/1 rook third. Parsifal was a decent run for sixth which not only pays decent money but should see him get a run in the Al Quoz.
Delight for the South Americans when they Uruguayan Quality Boone won the Al Bastikkaya by 1 ¼ lengths from Withering with Bendoog who ran out of gas just holding third.
The third round of the Maktoum Challenge saw Hypothetical emerge the winner from Remorse 9/1 and Everfast. No luck this year for Salute The Soldier.
The new race the Ras Al Khar over 1400m turf saw Saeed bin Suroor saddle the quinella of Storm Damage and Mutafawwig with Path of Thunder third.
The Jebel Hatta was a bit of an upset and a bit of a messy race due to the lack of pace with the win going to Alfareeq 14/1 for Al Mheira with Dane O'Neill riding. Finest Sound 14/1 was second and Ursa Minor 80/1 third. Lord Glitters was running home well but from the back of the field finishing 6th with our roughie Felix 5th. Barney Roy was scratched and Zakouski also undone by the lack of pace.
The Mahab Al Shimaal over 1200 dirt was full of upsets – the winner Eastern World was 16/1, the second Manjeet 28/1 and the third Ejtilaab 10/1.
