Dubai: Godolphin's Mahmoud Al Zarouni signed off the 2011 Dubai International Racing Carnival in style when his Rileyskeepingfaith won the Dubai Duty Free-sponsored Group Two Zabeel Mile with jockey Ahmad Ajtebi on board.
Running over 1600m for the first time, Ajtebi stayed on strongly to the delight of his trainer and come up with a strong finish.
Al Zarouni's fellow Godolphin handler Saeed Bin Surour was in fine form and went on to saddle a treble with Whispering Gallery winning the main support race, the Group Three DRC Gold Cup, a 3200m Turf race which is the longest contested during the UAE season with champion jockey Frankie Dettori in the saddle.
The Italian had been earlier on Emirates Champion in the 2200m The Dubai Duty Free Golf World Cup handicap to deny long-time leader and top-weight Brock the honour.
Bin Surour next saddled his 16th winner of the 2011 Carnival when Ted Durcan partnered Honour Systems to victory in the 1900m The Dubai Duty Free Double Millionaire handicap. This win had all the ingredients of a champion as it helped Bin Surour to finish the Carnival one winner ahead of South African trainer Mike De Kock, on 15.
Finest surprise
There was joy for Christophe Soumillon as he finished ahead of Dettori 11-10 in the jockeys' standings.
Roger Teal's Steele Tango won for a second time in the carnival while landing the concluding 2000m The Dubai Duty Free Millennium Millionaire on Turf under jockey Ryan Moore, while JJ Jet Plane established itself as the one to watch on race night on March 26 by winning the 1200m Turf handicap, The Dubai Duty Free Finest Surprise in fine style for trainer Michael ‘Lucky' Houdalakis under Bernard Fayd'Herbe.
Racing had opened with a 1400m Turf conditions, The Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, restricted to three-year-olds and won by Crying Lightening who was providing her trainer Peter Chapple-Hyam with a first UAE winner. Jimmy Quinn was in the saddle on the filly owned by footballers Joey Barton and Claudio Pizarro.
