Review of the racing from Meydan and the Dubai Carnival

A review of the action from the Dubai Carnival where Mubtaahij ran out a convincing winner of the UAE 2000 Guineas Trial.

Mubtaahij ran out a convincing winner of the UAE 2000 Guineas Trial at Meydan after odds-on favourite Maftool ruined his chance by being slowly away.

Supporters of the Godolphin-owned Maftool knew their fate as soon as the Saeed bin Suroor-trained colt lost several lengths coming out of the stalls.

James Doyle did his best to turn the race around but Maftool, winner of the Group Three Somerville Tattersall Stakes and fifth in the Dewhurst, got tired in the final furlong after working hard to get into a challenging position and had to settle for third.

Mubtaahij (8-1), trained by Mike de Kock and ridden by Dane O'Neill, kicked on a furlong and a half out and went on to win by five lengths from his stablemate Ajwad. Maftool was a neck away third.

"He's grown up a lot after his last win in maiden company. He had to come here and step up again which he did, more impressively than the last time," O'Neill said.

"I just said to Mike he's had a real race today and there'll be more improvement again. As there was a lot of pace I had to bide my time. When I did get a gap he impressed me the way he came home."

Doyle said of Maftool: "It was a good run. I missed the break five lengths and he's been beaten five.

"I've given away a load of ground trying to keep out of the kick-back. He came home well, had a good blow which will bring him on and a furlong further in the Guineas will be spot on."

There was better luck for the Godolphin team when Doyle forced Local Time (5-4 favourite) up on the line to take the UAE 1000 Guineas Trial.

Ad Idem had looked like making all the running and still held a clear advantage a furlong out but Doyle would not give up on the Bin Suroor-trained filly. His perseverance paid off as he nailed the long-time leader on the post for a short-head verdict.

"I knew she was tough. I had ridden her a couple of times before and won the Oh So Sharp on her at Newmarket," said Doyle.

"She toughed it out that day as well. She's definitely a grinder. I think this race will out her spot on for the Guineas. I think she'll improve going up a furlong to the mile."

Doyle repeated the trick to complete a double on Bin Suroor's Haafaguinea (5-2 favourite), who wore down Mr Pommeroy in the dying strides to lift the Jebel Ali Port Handicap by a short head.

Reynaldothewizard (4-1) turned in an impressive performance to land the Listed Dubawi Stakes.

Satish Seemar's gelding defied his nine years as he swept past the 6-4 favourite Muarrab under Richard Mullen to score by a length and a quarter with last year's winner United Color third.

"He normally doesn't give 100 per cent on his first race and today he was on a mission," Seemar said.

"He needs to be lightly-raced until World Cup day so he might have another race, Super Saturday or something like that. We'll see."

Mullen doubled up as trainer George Baker landed the Mina Rashid with smart handicapper Belgian Bill.

There was no fairytale start for Godolphin's former racing manager Simon Crisford as his first runner as a trainer, Knavery, was well beaten in the Fujairah Container Terminal Handicap won by Pat Dobbs on Doug Watson's Layl (6-1).

Royston Ffrench enjoyed an emphatic victory on Le Benardin (9-2) for trainer Ali Rashid Al Raihe in the Mina Al Hamriya Handicap.