Godolphin Scores in Penultimate World Cup Carnival Meet

There were five Thoroughbred races on the Feb. 25 World Cup Carnival program at Meydan Racecourse and Godolphin horses won four of them, including the two graded stakes.

Three times, Godolphin finished 1-2. And in the Nad Al Sheba Trophy Sponsored by Gulf News (G3), the blue crew swept the top four spots in a blaze of heat and light, punctuating the next-last date of the Dubai World Cup Carnival with only Super Saturday, March 6, yet to be run.

Volcanic Sky and Global Heat provided plenty of heat and Brilliant Light added the light in the stretch run of the Nad Al Sheeba, a 2,810-meter (about 1 3/4 mile) turf feature. All three are trained by Saeed bin Suroor.

Volcanic Sky, under Frankie Dettori, and Global Heat, with Andrea Atzeni up, ran second and third into the final bend of the race. Dettori sent Volcanic Sky out to a lead he never quite relinquished while Global Heat first dropped back, then came with a rush in the final furlong to miss by a short head. Brilliant Light was along for third with Ispolini, trained by Charlie Appleby, fourth as the favorite in the international wagering markets.

Volcanic Sky, a 6-year-old Street Cry gelding, improved on a second-place finish in his previous start Feb. 4, also at Meydan.

"He is a tough horse and he always tries very hard," bin Suroor said of Volcanic Sky. "He is a big, strong horse and he always improves after his first race. Frankie was in a nice position all through the race and at the last two furlongs I felt he had a chance to win.

"The horse finished his race really well and this opens up the options for him. We might think of taking him to Dubai World Cup day," bin Suroor added.

The night's second feature, the Dubai Millennium Stakes Sponsored by gulfnews.com (G3), went to the well-fancied Star Safari, with William Buick up for Appleby, over the bin Suroor-trained Bedouin's Story and Dettori.

Star Safari, a 5-year-old Sea The Stars gelding, rallied around the leaders at the top of the lane to take the advantage. Bedouin's Story missed the break badly but put in a late charge down the middle of the course, almost came to even terms, and then settled for second, 1 1/4 lengths in arrears.

Halimi, trained by Simon Crisford, was third with Godolphin's Dream Castle fourth.

"He is a pretty lightly raced horse and I really liked what he did tonight," Buick said of Star Safari's performance. "It was a very straightforward win for him, and he kept fighting all the way to the line. It might not be the best group 3 around, but they are pretty well-seasoned horses and it was a good performance. He has had three runs this winter here, so I guess they might have one eye on the Carnival next winter."

Should Sheikh Mohammed and his trainers decide, either of the evening's features could lead into the 2,410-meter (about 1 1/2 mile) Longines Dubai Sheema Classic (G1) on World Cup night or the Dubai Gold Cup Sponsored by Al Tayer Motors (G2) at 3,200 meters (about 2 miles)

Also on the card:

Bright Melody and James Doyle won the getthat Handicap by 1 3/4 lengths over Dubai Mirage and Dettori, both toting Godolphin silks. The race was 1,800 meters (about 1 1/8 miles) on the grass.

Appleby saddled the 1-2 finishers in the 1,600-meter (about 1 mile) Meydan Classic Sponsored by Agnc3. Naval Crown, under Mickael Barzalona, got home 1 3/4 lengths to the good of Master of The Seas and Buick.

Zainhom shook the mastery of the home team in the evening's finale. The apple didn't fall from the tree, though, as the 7-year-old Street Cry horse races for Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Dane O'Neill booted Zainhom home 1 3/4 lengths in front of Wasim with Godolphin's Dubai Legacy third.