Mahbooba off mark in Dubai

The South African trainer has enjoyed plenty of success in Dubai, and showed his intent for this year’s fiesta of racing with victory in the feature event on the opening night.

Mahbooba won the UAE 1,000 Guineas last year, before going on to be placed in the Oaks and in the Derby on World Cup night. The five-year-old later went on to record success on British soil at Newmarket and was sent off the 11-8 favourite in the hands of Christophe Soumillon on her first start of the year.

Laajooj and Derbaas led Mahbooba into the straight but the filly picked them up with ease and pulled right away for an impressive success.

The other dominant force on these shores is, of course, Godolphin, and they enjoyed a fine opening night with three winners.

Sarrsar (9-2) swept home in the hands of Mickael Barzalona to deny fellow Godolphin inmate Capponi in the Longines Conquest Collection Handicap.

Frankie Dettori went straight to the front from the outset on the latter, but he was unable to repel the Saeed bin Suroor-trained Sarrsar in the straight.

Bin Suroor was soon on the mark again, with Dettori this time doing the steering on Honour System in the Longines Prima Luna.

Last seen finishing down the field at Newmarket in October, the 7-4 favourite led his rivals a merry dance from the front and had enough in hand as the line approached to hold on.

Racing manager Simon Crisford told www.godolphin.com: “I think that Sarrsar can definitely go on and improve from today. Mickael Barzalona gave him a super ride.

“He finished his race well and I think there is more to come from him. Honour System seems to like Meydan and that was probably his big race today. I am not sure if he will be able to follow up at the Carnival, but winning here is fantastic and he deserved it.”

Dettori again hit the track aboard the Mahmood Al Zarooni-trained Time Prisoner in the Logines-sponsored seven-furlong handicap on turf.

Al Zarooni had earlier enjoyed success on the card when Barzalona produced City Style (9-1), owned by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, with a perfectly-timed run to land the Longines Master Collection Moon Phases Handicap.

European raiders dominated the finish of the Longines Column Wheel Chronograph Handicap, with David Nicholls taking top honours with Addictive Dream.

Ridden by the trainer’s son, Adrian Nicholls, the 10-1 chance picked up strongly in the last of the five furlongs to score decisively.

David Marnane’s Irish contender Nocturnal Affair filled the runner-up spot, while the George Baker-trained Humidor finished strongly to grab third.

Colm O’Donoghue was the winner of the Meydan Masters International Jockeys Championship Handicap. The Irish rider’s mount, Furnace, was all out at the finish, but narrowly held off the Dettori-ridden favourite Paschendale.