The ladies took centre stage on Thursday evening at Dubai's Meydan Racecourse in the one-mile Cape Verdi (G2) on turf.

a fixture that attracted horses from Sweden, France and the UK--but it was the home UAE team led by Godolphin runners that seemed the most imposing on paper in a race that has been won by such standouts as Dubai World Cup night winners Sun Classique and Sajjhaa.

In the end, Godolphin's Althiqa  made a sweeping last-to-first move to prove such, giving jockey James Doyle and trainer Charlie Appleby their third consecutive and fourth overall victory in the 1600m affair, defeating Roger Varian-trained Stylistique (Andrea Atzeni aboard) by 2 1/4 lengths at the line. Last year's UAE 1000 Guineas (Listed) winner Dubai Love and jockey Pat Cosgrave closed well to finish third, one length back of the runner-up. Swedish invader Silent Night ran admirably to finish fourth, while favourite Summer Romance finished a disappointing fifth of nine after setting a rapid tempo. 

"It worked out nicely," Doyle said. "It's a tricky race, as they always are, these types of races. I was trying to work out the race this morning and thought there were plenty of runners who might go forward, but whether they would push forward and push the pace was yet to be seen. She's galloped through the line very well today, so I think--since there isn't anything else for her--it's worth a crack at going to the nine furlongs in the (Group 2 Balanchine), where they might not go as quick as they were today."

Regarding the runner-up, Atzeni added: "I had a nice race. She jumped good and had a really nice position. She travelled nicely and stayed on all the way to the line, but probably was beat by a better filly on the night. Obviously, we're very pleased with her. I think there might be a race in a couple weeks with an extra furlong and she obviously gets the trip very well. This was just a start and she ran a blinder." 

Cosgrave was pleased with Dubai Love: "She ran great. We went really fast. I thought I would be first or second (early on), but I couldn't quite get going. I was travelling nice into the bend and had to sit into the turn, but finished off nice. She ran home well." 

The winner is a Listed-winning Godolphin homebred by Dark Angel and won for the fourth time in eight starts. The victory was her first in Group company, having placed three times in G3 company last year. Speaking to her class, she finished a one-length third to multiple G1 winner One Master three starts back in July.

The Balanchine is scheduled for 1800m on Feb. 18. The past three winners of the Cape Verdi have pulled off the double. 

Soft Whisper Dominates UAE 1000 Guineas

One race later, the first classic of the UAE season took place in the UAE 1000 Guineas (Listed) over one mile on the dirt and Godolphin's Saeed bin Suroor-trained Soft Whisper  vied for favouritism with Al Rashid Stables' Doug Watson-trained Mnasek before the race.

What set up as a great matchup never manifested as Soft Whisper screamed home a dominant seven-length winner under stalk-and-pounce Frankie Dettori tactics and Mnasek missed the break before closing to a distant second under Dane O'Neill. Watson-trained Super Chianti was another 2 1/4 lengths back in third under Pat Dobbs after racing greenly during the final three furlongs. 

The final time was 1:38.67 and the winner landed her second race of the season, following a one-sided tally in the UAE 1000 Guineas Trial three weeks ago. By Dubawi out of the Sea the Stars mare Placidia, the homebred gave Dettori his fourth win in the race this century and Bin Suroor his 12th. Bigger races may be on the horizon for the now four-time winner from six starts. 

"She missed the kick last time, but this time she jumped really good into position and was always in control," Dettori said. "When I kicked, she went--simply as that. I didn't have to do too much. She has a bright future. Saeed mentioned everything--Saudi (Derby), UAE Oaks, UAE Derby--who knows. When you win so impressively, you get excited and you think of big plans. I was just saying to Saeed that the last time I won a race this easily was probably Dubai Millennium in 2000. It took me 21 years to find one just as easy.

"That was good. We have big hopes for her. Maybe she didn't beat the best in the world, but the way she did it, you have to be impressed. We'll take one step at a time. Nothing has tested her today, so it would be wrong for me to say how good she is because I need some better competition, but at the moment everything is in the right place." 

"We got beat by a good horse on the night, there's no doubt about that," O'Neill added about the runner-up. "We got a bit of kickback early on and they got a couple lengths on me on the turn, but when she saw daylight, she stayed on well. She's a timid little filly and likes a little bit of space and out of the kickback. She's a nice filly and she'll probably stay farther next time." 

Regarding Super Chianti, Dobbs added: "She was greener tonight than she was the first night. She travelled well, but when I went for her, she just stuck her head in the air and never went forward for me." 

The $1.5 million Saudi Derby is set for a similar one-turn, one-mile trip at King Abdulaziz Racecourse on Feb. 20 in Riyadh, while the UAE Oaks (G3) over 1 3/16 miles on Feb. 18. The UAE Derby is slated for Dubai World Cup day, March 27. 

RB Frynchh Dude Continues Ascent In G1 Al Maktoum Challenge R2

Kicking off the evening was a Group 1 affair for Purebred Arabians in the 1900m (1 3/16 miles) Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2 (G1) on dirt, a serious prep for the Dubai Kahayla Classic (G1) on Dubai World Cup day.

Market favouritism was in the court of Byerley Racing's Helal Alalawi-trained Rb Frynchh Dude , winner of December's Madjani Stakes (G2) in flying style, and it was well-founded when the US-bred son of Baseq Al Khalediah broke the track record tonight with a time of 2:07.07, defeating three G1 winners in the process. 

Sitting comfortably between horses as G1 winner Bandar sorted out the pace, the chestnut 5-year-old made his move at the top of the stretch, only to run into another G1 winner in Al Maktoum Challenge R1 (G1) victor Brraq. The two engaged, but the winner proved too classy for his rival, pulling away to a 2 1/2-length victory under Pat Cosgrave. It was another three lengths back to Dagui Latois in third. Another G1 winner, RB Texas Hold Em, never appeared comfortable and retreated to fifth of nine starters. 

"He's just so easy to ride," Cosgrave said. "I was sitting in the box seat behind the leader and he's just a good horse. A good horse--you ride them how you want and put them where you want--it's easy. Everything you do with him is flawless. We went quick early, but I thought we steadied up down the back. Then we went quick down the straight. When I asked my horse to quicken again, he did. He's pretty good." 

The winner was bred by Dianne Waldron, who also bred RB Texas Hold Em.

Ya Hayati Leads Home 1-2-3 For Appleby In Zabeel Turf

The Zabeel Turf (Listed) showcased middle-distance turf handicappers looking to possibly make the jump into Group company. The 10-furlong test appeared a battle on form between the Godolphin factions of Saeed bin Suroor and Charlie Appleby, who were represented by multiple runners each. Chief among those were Frankie Dettori-piloted second choice High End for Bin Suroor and Appleby's William Buick-ridden Star Safari, who attracted the market's favour.

In total, 15 went to post, but only one crossed the line first in Godolphin's Ya Hayati , who led home a 1-2-3 for Appleby, beating Bright Melody by 1 1/4 lengths. Mickael Barzalona was aboard last year's Meydan Trophy winner, who was beautifully placed early, allowed to settle well in mid-pack and tipped out to finish strongly. Star Safari had a bit of traffic trouble and finished another 2 3/4 lengths back in third. All in all, Godolphin swept the first six spots, as well as eighth (High End) and tenth. The final time was 2:00.93 for the 2000m. 

Bred by Godolphin, Ya Hayati is a son of Dubawi and American G1 winner Wedding Toast. He won for the third time out of six starts and second time on grass--both at Meydan. 

"I expected him to run a good race," Barzalona said. "I had a nice easy run. They put him in (the gate) last and he was nice and relaxed and in a good spot in the race and did well. Today I was pretty happy because he did everything at the right part of the race and was good enough to go to the line."

Appleby added: "I'm delighted with that. We always thought it was quite competitive with all our horses going into tonight, so it was a difficult choice for (first rider) William (Buick). The weight, the way he was handicapped, (Ya Hayati) was always going to be competitive.

"I was pleased with Star Safari. His run looked like--with a slightly clearer run--he may have got the job done, but I'm pleased with the performance of the first three, for sure. Where we go with Ya Hayati now, we'll just have to see what sort of options we have less and what the handicapper does." 

Uruguay Strikes As El Patriota Takes Al Bastakiya Trial

The Al Bastakiya Trial over 1900m was a compelling renewal, featuring an improving filly in Godolphin's slight market favourite Final Thought  going against Uruguayan Derby winner El Patriota  and UK invader Leopardo from the always-dangerous Mark Johnston yard. In the end, it was age before beauty as El Patriota won like a star in the making, asserting himself and defying the 4.5kgs weight penalty he receives for being born in the southern hemisphere and being approximately six months older. 

Allowing the pace to go on at a steady rate and sitting in mid-pack awaiting racing room under Vagner Leal, the Antonio Cintra-trained son of Ecologo charged strongly down the outside to win with little urging in the end, finishing up the 1 3/16 miles in a healthy 1:58.65. 

Well-regarded Doug Watson trainee Speight'spercomete, who twice has disappointed with considerable market support in the colours of breeder Charles Fipke, overcame his 13-post and wide trip under Sam Hitchcott to finish a strong second, nosing out Endifaa at the wire. The winner was two lengths ahead, giving Cintra his first DWC Carnival victory in a decade. 

The winner was bred in Uruguay by owner Stud La Pomme and won for the fourth time in five starts. Leopardo and Final Thought could only manage sixth and eighth, respectively. 

Cintra said: "I'm very happy. The horse adapted very well to Dubai and he likes the track, which is the most important. I liked his race and he ran very nice today. He was the top-rated in the race, but before the race is different from after the race. The Al Bastakiya is next." 

Leal was very pleased, as well: "This horse is a young horse, but a very good talent. Today he needed the race, but he won. It's a big race for us and for Uruguay. It's very important for us." 

Watson was elated with Speight'spercomete: "I'm really happy with the horse. The winner was very good, obviously. Our horse lost ground on the turns, but he has been training so well at home. We always knew he was very talented and this distance is what he wanted. It's nice to have a horse to go to war with in the Al Bastakiya after this." 

The Listed Al Bastakiya is scheduled for Super Saturday, March 6, over the same 1900m trip. The Group 2 $750,000 UAE Derby is three weeks later and offers 100 qualifying points toward the Kentucky Derby to its victor. 

The evening ended with a wide-open brawl of a handicap, filled to the brim with the maximum of 16 runners and appearing as wide-open on paper as it did at the top of the stretch. A blanket finish saw Godolphin's Saeed bin Suroor-trained Bedouin's Story completing a 1-2 finish for his conditioner under Frankie Dettori.

Pipping Hector Crouch-trained Dubai Mirage on the line by a nose, the son of Farhh won for the fifth time in 19 starts and first time since July 2019. The final time was 1:37.56 for the mile on turf. Zainhom was another neck back in third, followed by a hard-luck Mount Pelion in fourth, making just his second start in Dubai.

The win gave Dettori and Bin Suroor two wins for the day. Charlie Appleby had the only other double on the card.