THURSDAY’S ninth and penultimate meeting of the 2019 Dubai World Cup Carnival featured the $300,000 Group 3 Nad Al Sheba Trophy, a key prep race for the $1.5 million Group 2 Dubai Gold Cup, as well as a pair of listed races.

Run over a mile and six furlongs on turf, the Nad Al Sheba Trophy saw Godolphin field four runners and fill the first three places, led home by the Charlie Appleby-trained Ispolini (Dubawi) partnered by Mickael Barzalona. The winner’s stablemate Brundtland, a dual Group 2 winner, suffered a fatal injury.

Ispolini turned the race into a procession, powering home more than 10 and 11 lengths clear of the Saeed bin Suroor-trained duo of Red Galileo and Bin Battuta.

“He ran well last time and he showed a good turn-of-foot,” Barzalona said. “Today I had instructions to make him settle well in the first part of the race and then to see how it goes. He did it very well and he has been very impressive today. Last time he showed he could travel strongly and today the plan was just to make him relax, but he has got some speed as well.”

“I always knew that stepping up in trip was going to open new doors for him and he showed that in his last start, his first one over this trip,” Appleby added. “We thought he was going the right way going into this evening. He was a horse we felt was going to be very competitive. There are plans for him to potentially go to Australia, as well.”

The $160,000 Listed Curlin Handicap over the same 10-furlong dirt course as the $12 million Group 1 Dubai World Cup was turned into a procession by Dolkong (Afleet Alex) representing South Korea. The five-year-old gelding was bred in the USA, is trained by Australian Simon Foster and had Frenchman Olivier Doleuze in the saddle.

Dolkong was opening his UAE account at the third attempt, having started his campaign when sixth in Group 2 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 1 in January. He then ran third in handicap company over this trip. On Thursday owner Lee Tae In was in attendance for the first time.

“We thought they would go quick, but perhaps not as fast as they did,” Foster said. “The horse is starting to mature and improve with age because he has not had that many races. We will have to look at Round 3 on Super Saturday for him now.” Doleuze, added: “I am very happy for everyone for the connections. He has already had a fantastic Carnival, he won a very good race today and everyone is happy. Now everything from here is a bonus.”

Run over a mile in turf, the $175,000 Listed Meydan Classic for three-year-olds produced a thrilling finish and was won by Sporting Chance (Kodiac) who hit the front a furlong and a half out under Pat Cosgrave. The winner is trained by Simon Crisford, who has a satellite yard at Meydan, and the Abdulla Al Mansoori-owned colt was returning to the form of his juvenile season that saw him win a Group 3 in France and a listed race in England. The victory was a first at the Carnival for Crisford.

The winning trainer said: “I am really delighted for the horse and I think he put up a great performance.

“He battled strongly and is such an honest horse who had a good two-year-old campaign and proved that class again today. At this stage there are no plans for the horse. It was all about today and he delivered. We will get him back to England and decide on the summer.

“We love the Carnival. It’s hard to win a race anywhere, but especially difficult at the Carnival. Dubai is my second home, so this is a great feeling to have.”

Crisford immediately completed a double with African Ride (Candy Ride) and Christophe Soumillon running out comfortable winners of the mile dirt handicap. “He has not been the easiest to train, but Simon and his team have been very patient with him,” Soumillon said. “We hope we can get into the Godolphin Mile after this victory.”

Appleby completed a double for himself and Godolphin with On The Warpath (Declaration Of War) defeating stable companion Mubtasim in the seven-furlong turf handicap with William Buick aboard the winner. The concluding 10-furlong turf handicap was won by Godolphin trainer Saeed bin Suroor and Mountain Hunter (Lonhro). Soumillon completed a double with the win.

The meeting kicked off with the only Purebred Arabian race on the card, the Group 1 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 3 and the 10-furlong dirt contest was landed in style by AF Maher who was never headed under Tadhg O’Shea. This was winner number 501 for O’Shea in the UAE.