JUNGLE Cat claimed top honours in an eventful running of the Group 1 Al Quoz Sprint at Meydan.

There was drama before the start of the six-furlong contest when Jungle Cat's stablemate and hot-favourite Blue Point was withdrawn after blood was found in his nostrils before being loaded into the stalls.

In his absence Jungle Cat was the first string for trainer Charlie Appleby and Godolphin and after being ridden patiently by James Doyle, the six-year-old found top gear late on to get up and beat American challenger Stormy Liberal with something to spare.

Aidan O'Brien's Washington DC finished well to finish fourth, but Dean Ivory's stable star Librisa Breeze was well-beaten.