Midshipman rebounds to win easily in Dubai

Midshipman returned to winning ways at Meydan on Thursday night with a bloodless 3 1/4-length victory over his Godolphin stablemate Asset in a $110,000 seven-furlong conditions race. Midshipman was fourth in Round 1 of the Maktoum Challenge going a mile on Jan. 28, and this step down in class and distance was just what the doctor ordered. Midshipman was fourth in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile and winless since taking a 6 1/2-furlong optional claimer at Belmont Park on Sept. 18.

Ridden by Frankie Dettori, Midshipman came from wide in midpack in the 14-runner field to lead at the three-sixteenths pole while clocking a quick 1:23.39 for the one-turn race on the Tapeta surface. Trainer Saeed bin Suroor must now choose between the six-furlong Dubai Golden Shaheen and the Godolphin Mile for Midshipman's next start.

* Jockey Olivier Peslier was at his brilliant best as he got Deem up in the final strides to land the Group 3, $200,000 Balanchine Stakes for fillies and mares on turf. Deem, an Irish-bred daughter of Arc winner Dalakhani, is trained in Saudi Arabia by Jerry Barton. She had won the Group 3 Cape Verdi Stakes at Nad Al Sheba last year but had been beaten in her last two starts going longer on dirt at Janadriyah. In beating this year's Cape Verdi runner-up, Aspectoflove, by a short head, she clocked a slow 1:53.93 for the 1 1/8 miles on a good to firm course.

* Raihana turned the tables on Siyaadah in the $250,000 UAE Oaks, defeating Bikini Babe by 1 1/4 lengths in the 1o3/16-mile listed stake as Siyaadah came home third, 4o1/2 lengths farther back.

Siyaadah had beaten Raihana by two lengths the last time they met, which came in the one-mile UAE 1000 Guineas on Feb. 11. This time, the Mike de Kock-trained Raihana got first run under Christophe Soumillon to score a handy victory. The time for the 1 3/16 miles on Tapeta was a tepid 1:58.71.