Soumillon and Cladocera cruise to Balanchine Stakes victory at Dubai World Cup Carnival

In doing so, she became the third Cape Verdi winner to follow up in this 1,800 metre turf feature.

Ridden by French jockey Christophe Soumillon for Alain De Royer-Dupre, she was held up well off a decent early gallop before being asked to close as the runners turned for home.

She was clearly going well but Soumillon chose to take his time before shaking the reins about 100 metres out and settling the race in a matter of strides.

“We were drawn nine so the tactics were pretty much decided for me,” said Soumillon.

“They went a reasonable gallop which has helped her settle nicely and the only brief moment of worry I had was when forced a bit wide in the straight.

“She has a lovely turn of foot as we saw there and is going to improve with age and racing.”

The main feature race of this latest round of Dubai World Cup Carnival action was the 2,000 metre Listed Dubai Millennium Stakes, named after Sheikh Mohammed’s favourite horse.

And it was perhaps fitting that Godolphin’s trainer, Saeed bin Suroor, who saddled the winner as Hunter’s Light provided them with a fourth consecutive win in the race and a third for Bin Suroor.

A Group One winner in both Europe and the UAE, Hunter’s Light had been freshened up before making a winning reappearance, three weeks ago, in a handicap, also over 2,000 metre on turf.

“He has retained all his ability,” said Doyle. “I wish they had gone a bit quicker tonight as he travels so strongly but I was always pretty confident. He picked up nicely at the top of the straight and ran on well.

“The whole team will have to sit down and discuss future plans as he has plenty of options.”

The meeting opened with the 1,400 metre Group 2 Bani Yas on dirt, the only Purebred Arabian race on the card. It turned into something of a procession by Manark, trained by Erwan Charpy for HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum and ridden by the owner’s retained jockey, Paul Hanagan.

TM Super Bird set a good gallop with Hanagan’s mount not far behind. However once the jockey asked for his challenge, Manark responded immediately, bounding clear to eventually cross the line more than nine lengths clear.

UK-based trainer, Tony Carroll must have suffered a nasty feeling of déjà vu in the 1,000 metre turf handicap, but eventually he need not have worried. His horse, Caspian Prince, had made a blistering start and had led all the way, until he was challenged 300 metre from the line by Hototo.

Seven weeks ago, on the opening night, Carroll’s charge tried to make all over the same course and distance, only to be denied close home by Hototo and then also losing second spot to Fityaan.

However, history was not to repeat itself this time around and despite drifting across the track under Richard Hughes, he was actually running away from his old rival at the end to take the win.