Reynaldothewizard scores impressive Dubai World Cup Carnival victory

Ridden by Richard Mullen, Reynaldothewizard had not won since that victory last year, but he accelerated away in the home straight from a nine-horse field that included last year’s winner of the race, the Dhruba Selvaratnam-trained United Color and Irish challenger, Russian Soul.

It was the Musabah Al Muhairi-trained Muarrab, ridden by Paul Hanagan, who was defending a four-race unbeaten streak, which offered the closest challenge, coming in runner-up some three-and-three-quarter-lengths back.

Godolphin's former racing manager Simon Crisford was out of luck with his first runner as a trainer when Knavery was well beaten in the Fujairah Container Terminal Handicap.

Oisin Murphy soon had the Qatar Racing-owned Knavery in front in the nine-and-a-half-furlong event, but he faded quite significantly with less than two furlongs to run. The four-year-old, who has joined Crisford's Newmarket team after leaving Roger Varian's stable, soon faded out of contention and in the end only beat two rivals home.

Layl took matters up under Pat Dobbs and Doug Watson's runner quickly had the race wrapped up, going on to win comfortably by four and a half lengths from Street Act, ridden by Royston Ffrench. Hanagan's mount Jeeraan was edged out by a nose in third.

One of the main support races of the meeting saw Mubtaahij put his experience of the Meydan dirt track to good use when leading home a one-two for Mike de Kock in the UAE 2,000 Guineas Trial.

The South African trainer had voiced concerns about the suitably of the new surface after watching seven of his runners perform poorly on the main track at the carnival’s opening night seven days ago.

However, any doubts will be forgotten by this performance after Mubtaahij got him up and running at this year’s carnival in dominant style.

A distance of five lengths separated the winner - who also claimed success on the dirt track last month, from stablemate Ajwad at the line. Race favourite Maftool, the highest-rated runner in the field, made late headway but he could not recover from a slow start.

Earlier on the card, Godolphin’s Local Time caught long-time leader Ad Idem close home to take the UAE 1,000 Guineas Trial by a short head margin.

Irish horse Runner Runner came in third albeit a good distance of 10 lengths back.