Dubai: Mahbooba beats boys in Al Rashidiya Trial

Mahbooba, a 5-year-old mare facing males, closed from off the pace to win Thursday’s $125,000 Al Rashidiya Trial on the opening evening of the Dubai World Cup Carnival at Meydan Racecourse in the United Arab Emirates.

Sent off favored in a field of 16, Mahbooba, an 11-8 shot with British bookmakers, won by 4 1/4 lengths over Laajooj. Ridden by Christophe Soumillion, Mahbooba finished 1 1/8 miles on turf in 1:48.74. Derbaas, an American-bred 6-year-old by Seeking the Gold, finished third after leading in the stretch.

Mahbooba is trained by Michael de Kock for Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa al-Maktoum. An Australian-bred mare by Galileo, she won the UAE 1000 Guineas and was third in the UAE Derby in 2011. In October, she won the Godolphin Stakes at Newmarket, England.

The Al Rashidiya Trial is a prep race for the $200,000 Al Rashidiya over about 1 1/8 miles on turf on Jan. 26. The Dubai World Cup carnival continues through March 31, the evening of the Dubai World Cup program.

DUBAI WORLD CUP CARNIVAL: Watch live video, free PPs, picks and analysis