Dubai finally finds the right destination
It has been a tortuous route for Dubai Destination since his remarkable juvenile-year success over Rock Of Gibraltar, with a near-fore injury marring any progress over the past year.
"We have had all sorts of problems with him and it has been very much a question of giving him plenty of time," said Sheikh Mohammed.
"Luckily, we were able to give him a long time in the winter in Dubai and now he has got over all his problems. We never thought about retiring him."
It was Sheikh Mohammed's philosophy of the three Ps preparation, planning and patience that enabled Dubai Destination, who started at odds of 9-2, to come back.
"When the Sheikh began the Godolphin operation he had the maxim of the three Ps and they have certainly paid off with this horse," said racing manager Simon Crisford.
"This was a top-class race and they went a proper gallop. He quickened up really well and won like the good horse we have always known he was."
Crisford was always confident the winner would run a big race.
"We weren't afraid of Hawk Wing, though obviously we respected him as a horse on top form after his win in the Lockinge, but we knew Dubai Destination had improved since his win at Nottingham."
After Frankie Dettori produced his usual flying dismount from a Group One winner, he praised his Godolphin colleagues for producing the horse on the day.
"The whole team has done a great job to nurse him back," he said. "The horse was nearly ready and then we had some setbacks, but we were patient.
"When I got off him at Nottingham I said 'wow' this horse is better than ever, and I came into this race with every confidence. I thought he'd run a big race.
"I stalked Hawk Wing so much, I actually got there too early and the last two furlongs I had to do it by myself.
"I had to keep him up to his work, that's why I think he was swishing his tail a bit, but you've got to have a big engine and the will to win and he had that."
Darryll Holland stepped into the shoes of Steve Drowne to enjoy big-race success as Zafeen landed the £270,000 St James's Palace Stakes.
After a bitterly disappointing run when 14th of 16 in the Irish 2000 Guineas on Zafeen's most recent appearance, connections exercised their right to change the man on board and Drowne was replaced by the in-form Holland.
And whether by chance or design, the switch worked to perfection as Zafeen powered into the lead over a furlong out and held off the challenge of favourite Kalaman by one length in the Group One contest.
"I feel sorry for Steve," admitted winning trainer Mick Channon. "He did nothing wrong in Ireland, but that is the way it goes sometimes.
"All I can do is keep putting him up on as many horses as I can. It's the same for all the lads for Steve, Ted Durcan, Sam Hitchcott, Chris Catlin, they all come in every morning and do their bit.
"It's times like this that you have to remember just what a team effort it is."
"Zafeen has always been a very good colt and very consistent until Ireland," Channon said. "Steve had to use him a bit early to get a position but to be honest I don't know what happened that day."
Trainer Roger Charlton and jockey Richard Hughes took honours with a first and last race double through Three Valleys and Deportivo.
Three Valleys is best-priced at 16-1 with Coral and Victor Chandler for the Sagitta 2000 Guineas after putting up a breathtaking performance in the Group Three Coventry Stakes.
The Diesis colt swept into the lead with a quarter of a mile to race and despite edging right he bounded clear to pass the post with eight lengths to spare over Botanical.
Three Valleys is owned and was bred by Khalid Abdulla, and when asked about the 2004 Guineas, Charlton added: "It is nice to hear that he is in the betting for that, but I wonder what the record is of those horses made favourite for the Guineas after Royal Ascot."
Hughie Morrison's Waverley, bred by Michael and Joan Murphy of Blackwater Valley Stud, Lombardstown., Mallow, Co. Cork rallied gamely under Jimmy Fortune to regain the advantage from Researched close home in the Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes but then had to survive a stewards' inquiry.
There was only a neck between them, but it was very near the line when Waverley edged into the runner-up and it was decided that the incident had not affected the result however Fortune was cautioned for careless riding. first day
