MEYDAN staged four group races at the Dubai World Cup Carnival on Thursday, headlined by the Group 2 Zabeel Mile. The Irish-bred Championship won going away in a course record time, one of two track turf records set on the night.

Winner of the Group 2 Al Fahidi Fort a month earlier, the Ahmad bin Harmash-trained son of Exceed And Excel was ridden by retained jockey Colm O’Donoghue, and once they took up the running a furlong and a half from home the race was effectively over. Championship was bred by Natalie Cleary and has improved throughout the season, also winning the Listed National Day Cup at Abu Dhabi over a mile, and O’Donoghue was keen to credit the trainer and his team.