RACING at Meydan on Thursday featured a Group 2 race for purebred Arabians, while the main thoroughbred contest, the Longines Master Collection over a mile, was dominated by trainer Satish Seemar, who saddled the first two, with the Tadhg O’Shea-ridden, Irish-foaled George Villiers prevailing at the death.

A four-year-old son of Dubawi, George Villiers has now won four times, twice at Meydan for owner Mohd Khalifa Al Basti after having raced successfully for John Gosden. The half-brother to Hong Long legend Viva Pataca now has a Dubai World Cup Carnival rating of 92. O’Shea said: “The team always hoped he was a Carnival horse and this suggests he can be.”

Seemar also supplied a one-two finish in the six-furlong handicap where Connor Beasley and Lady Parma took command inside the final furlong to snatch the honours. A three-year-old daughter of Exchange Rate, the Parmar Family-owned filly had shed her maiden tag over the trip at Jebel Ali recently. She was also third in the Listed UAE 1000 Guineas previously.

A seven-furlong maiden for two-year-old colts and geldings was won in determined fashion by Al Modayar for jockey Fernando Jara and trainer Ali Rashid Al Rayhi. A son of the first-season Coolmore America sire Competitive Edge, the bay improved on his debut fourth.

Owned by H and B, he was a $75,000 foal, $40,000 yearling and most recently sold 50,000gns at the Tattersalls Craven Breeze-Up Sale to former UAE champion jockey Ted Durcan. Al Modayar is a half-brother to a winner in Panama, the birthplace of his rider Jara.

Galaxy Road flew home in the six-furlong maiden to win under Antonio Fresu for trainer Musabbeh Al Mheiri and Galaxy Racing. The three-year-old Elusive Quality colt has been busy, having his third start this season.

Under an enterprising ride from Xavier Ziani, Gundogdu was allowed an uncontested lead in the nine and a half-length handicap, taking control at the top of the straight. Owned by Hamad Rashed bin Ghadayer and in the care of Salem bin Ghadayer, the four-year-old gelded son of Bernardini was winning for the third time.

The last race on the card, a seven-furlong handicap, was won in workmanlike style by Mohd Khalifa Al Basti’s Zaajer, a Shadwell-bred son of Shamardal who previously raced for Sheikh Hamdan. Ridden by Fernando Jara, the victory gave trainer Ali Rashid Al Rayhi his second of the night.