Dubai leaves UK raiders feeling flat

FLAT racing galloped back into view at the weekend from points as far apart as Dubai and Doncaster.

All eyes on Saturday were firmly trained on either the spanking new complex at Meydan in the desert or the more homely environs of Town Moor in Yorkshire.

The former venue staged the world's richest-ever race day, spearheaded by the Dubai World Cup, while Donny's jewel in the crown came in the guise of the William Hill Lincoln.

Sadly, Henry Cecil and Marco Botti failed to make an impact in the $10m World Cup as Twice Over and Gitano Hernando lacked the gears to trouble shock winner Gloria De Campeao.

Despite a thrilling climax, which resulted in officials needing a close inspection of a photograph of the finish to separate Gloria De Campeao from Lizard's Desire, supporters of the British team were left downcast.

Breeders' Cup Classic third Twice Over weakened back into tenth, while Kieren Fallon steered Gitano Hernando past the post in sixth. The former's jockey, Tom Queally, said: "He got a slight bump on the first turn and he never was really travelling well after that."

Fallon added: "They went no pace and consequently there were traffic problems and everything was blocking up in front of me."

John Gosden provided a little salvation on a brutal night for the British challengers as Dar Re Mi led home a fillies' one-two in the Sheema Classic.

William Buick was having just his fourth ride for his new boss in the mile-and-a-half turf event and brought up his first winner in style by seeing off the challenge of Japan's Buena Vista, not to be confused with the David Pipe-trained winner of the Pertemps Final.

Irish-born trainer Carl O'Callaghan could be a new face at Royal Ascot in the summer after hitting the big time with his American raider Kinsale King in the Golden Shaheen, while Al Shemali sprang a huge surprise when landing the Dubai Duty Free at Meydan under Royston Ffrench.

Although World Cup night saw its fair share of upsets, salvation for punters arrived in the Lincoln courtesy of Penitent. The lightly-raced gelding, long targeted for the event by trainer William Haggas, had shortened markedly in the betting when handed stall one in Thursday's draw.

Johnny Murtagh is usually a notable booking for Yorkshire-born Haggas – successful in the Lincoln twice before – and the acclaimed Irishman always had the 3-1 favourite in the perfect position.

Bottom-weight Prime Exhibit had first run, but Murtagh picked him up without much trouble and pulled away an impressive two-and-a-half-length winner.

Paul Hanagan and Richard Fahey achieved near-domination on the rest of the card, with the former just outdoing his boss with a 1495-1 four-timer. Three came for Fahey, the pick of which was Irish Heartbeat, who could be a pretty formidable performer judged by his victory in the William Hill Spring Mile.

Hanagan also picked up a decent spare on Inxile (17-2), who showed tigerish qualities to prevent Prime Defender collecting the Williamhill.com – Live Casino Cammidge Trophy for the second year running.

Yesterday, Hanagan and Fahey were at it again on Town Moor with wins for Deadly Encounter and Kaldoun Kingdom, the latter defying a welter-burden in the williamhill.com – In Play Handicap.