Electrocutionist has sparks flying

Electrocutionist impressed on his debut for Godolphin when charging home in the Group Three Maktoum Challenge III at Nad Al Sheba.

The 6-4 favourite romped away with the 10-furlong race to set himself up for the Dubai World Cup in three weeks’ time.

The five-year-old was always going well under Frankie Dettori and, once eased to the front two furlongs out, was never in danger.

Winner of the Juddmonte International in the summer for previous connections, it was a pleasing start to his Godolphin career and he should progress.

Dettori, rushing off to join Mick Kinane and Johnny Murtagh on a plane to Saudi Arabia, was impressed, and said: “He has won well, travelled well and picked up well.

“The opposition was not the greatest but you can only beat what is there on the day and that is a good start to his Godolphin career.

“He can only improve for the outing and experience of the surface.”

Godolphin racing manager Simon Crisford added: “We are delighted as he has done it exceptionally well and that is a great introduction to dirt.

“The draw was helpful as he was able to race slightly wide out of the majority of the kickback but Frankie said he faced it when he had to.

“We have left plenty to work on for three weeks’ time. He travelled very well and quickened nicely but you would expect that – his form is in the book. The surface was the query and he should go well in the World Cup.”

Trainer Saeed bin Suroor added: “I am very happy and he has done it very well.

“He will now go for the World Cup and has appeared to handle the dirt well. We were confident he would run well as he has a touch of class and will have improved for that outing.”

Alex Pantall’s Touch of Land was the impressive winner of the Group Two Jebel Hatta.

Settled in rear by Christophe Lemaire, he was always travelling well and, once able to secure a run over a furlong out, was able to swamp Godolphin’s Valixir, and was always holding the challenge of Charles O’Brien’s Lord Admiral.

The trainer was delighted, saying: “I was hopeful of a big run but he will improve for the outing as I have left something to work on.

“He is a very good horse and thrives on travelling. Christophe knows the horse very well and has given him a great ride off a slow pace.”

Marbush, a course-and-distance winner seven days previously, won the Group Three Burj Nahaar to book his place in the Godolphin Mile in three weeks’ time.

Jockey Johnny Murtagh said: “He is improving all the time and that win last week has done his confidence the power of good.”

Ian Jory, once an assistant to Sir Michael Stoute, will be double-handed in the UAE Derby after his Simpatico Bribon ran out an impressive winner of the Al Bastikiya, giving Murtagh a quick double.

The winner will join stable companion Gold For Sale, winner of the UAE 2000 Guineas, in the UAE Derby.

Murtagh was impressed, and said: “He had been working well and we were hoping that he would be able to reproduce that on the track and he has certainly done that and more.

“Mr Jory has two nice horses for the UAE Derby and I will be riding this fellow.”

Mile De Kock’s Oracle West secured his third Carnival win when winning the Group Three Dubai City of Gold.

Kevin Shea was left to do the steering with Weichong Marwing electing to ride Falstaff and Shea always looked confident in mid-division, before bringing his mount to challenge two furlongs out.

He ran on too well for John Oxx’s Alayan, with Falstaff closing in third.

“The winner has done it well and has won over this trip at home. That was never a worry. He has shown a great turn of foot off that modest pace,” said De Kock.

“The pace was too slow for Falstaff and he has done well to finish that close really. He will be back.”

Shea added: “I was quite happy that Weichong selected Falstaff as I won on this horse earlier. He is a good horse, stays well and has a great turn of foot. I was always confident throughout the race.”

Ali Rashid Al Raihe’s Tropical Star was another horse to record a second win in a week when landing the six-furlong Mahab Al Shimaal in good fashion under Royston Ffrench.

Never far off the pace, the six-year-old ran on well to land the spoils.

Ffrench said: “That win last week has done him the power of good and he has done that well. We will just keep him ticking over until the Golden Shaheen on World Cup night and he has to have a chance. It just depends if the Americans have anything special.”