Godolphin runners strongest in Jebel Hatta, City of Gold

Godolphin, as usual, has dominated turf-route racing during the 2019 Dubai World Cup Carnival and they did so again on the Super Saturday card at Meydan Racecourse.

Dream Castle, trained by Saeed bin Suroor, won the Group 1, $400,000 Jebel Hatta, leading a Godolphin sweep of the top three placings, while Old Persian stormed home to win the Group 2, $300,000 City of Gold heading a Godolphin one-two.

Dream Castle, a 5-year-old Frankel gelding out of Sea Vixen, by Dubawi, has been perfect this winter, adding the Jebel Hatta to victories in the Singspiel and Al Rashidiya earlier in the season. Under Christophe Soumillon, he raced midpack in this 1900-meter prep for the $6 million Dubai Turf before taking command in the final furlong and beating the Charlie Appleby-trained Wootton by 1 1/4 lengths. Wootton was 2 3/4 lengths better than stablemate First Contact.

Dream Castle, timed in 1:48.17 for 1900 meters on good turf, has made massive progress over the form he showed a year ago in Dubai. Whether he’s ready for the step up in class March 30 in the Dubai Turf, especially after three straight wins, remains to be seen.

Old Persian is a different story. The 4-year-old colt, trained by Appleby, won multiple Group 2 races over Europe’s undulating courses but handled the flat, left-turning Meydan oval equally well Saturday in his Dubai debut. Trapped behind horses much of the stretch run, Old Persian and William Buick finally found a seam with a little more than a furlong to race, Old Persian instantly accelerating to get up by a nose over slow-pace-setting Racing History.

The top two were much the best, with third-place Desert Encounter three lengths behind. Old Persian, a 4-year-old son of Dubawi and the Singspiel mare Indian Petal, was timed in 2:32.68 racing 2400 meters, his best trip, over a good course. Old Persian raced keenly during the middle stages while starting for the first time since Sept. 15, and Appleby believes he can improve three weeks from now in the $6 million Sheema Classic.