Decree delights on Dubai debut

Mick Kinane was seen at his very best aboard Formal Decree as the Cambridgeshire winner made a perfect local debut in the fourth Dubai International Racing Carnival at Nad Al Sheba this evening.

The four-year-old was having his first start for Ismail Mohammed since winning the big Newmarket handicap under the guidance of North Yorkshire trainer Alan Swinbank in the autumn.

Settled off the pace in the nine-furlong Sahm Trophy on the turf, Kinane made steady progress through the field to race on the heels of the leaders a furlong out and when a gap appeared he took it, with the race over as a contest thereafter.

“That was a good effort from a young horse who is improving. He travelled well and has picked up when I asked him,” Kinane said.

Mohammed added: “I was hopeful beforehand as he has been working well and is a nice horse. We will make plans when we see how he is after the race.”

Imperialista, representing Brazil, comfortably landed the feature Group Three Maktoum Challenge (Round One) over a mile on the dirt.

The three-year-old was chased home by compatriot Impossible Ski, who was arguably unlucky having lost a lot of ground at the start.

Always close to a furious early gallop, the winner was taken to the front two furlongs out and was never going to be caught afterwards under Marcello Cardoso.

Winning trainer Cosme Morgado said: “I am obviously very pleased with that and he will run in the UAE 2000 Guineas next.”

Mick Channon and Ted Durcan combined to win the Dayjur Trophy over an extended seven furlongs with Obe Brave, on whom his rider stalked the early pace before committing for home two furlongs out.

“That is a great start to the Carnival and I knew the horse was in good form having ridden him work on Monday,” Durcan said.

Rarely does a Carnival meeting pass without a Mike De Kock winner and he only took to the second race to open his account when Asiatic Boy made every yard of the running in the seven-furlong three-year-old conditions race on dirt.

The son of Not For Sale made virtually all under Weichong Marwing and will be aimed at the UAE 2000 Guineas.

De Kock explained: “He is a nice horse and we expected him to run well. He will have come on for that and the UAE 2000 Guineas is the target.”

Stan Moore’s Traffic Guard was an excellent second.

De Kock’s South African compatriot Herman Brown followed him into the winner’s enclosure thirty minutes later after Indochine won the grass handicap for fillies and mares.

A Group One winner in her native Brazil and only a three-year-old, she will now switch to dirt for the UAE 1000 Guineas.

Settled off the pace by Kevin Shea, she was produced to challenge a furlong out and won well.

Brown said: “We were very hopeful of a big run and Kevin has given her a great ride. We hope she is at least as good on the dirt so will go for the UAE 1000 Guineas.”

Pat Dobbs always looked confident on Doug Watson’s Dubai Honor and the eight-year-old ran out an easy winner of the nine-furlong dirt handicap.