Prince Bishop delighted connections with a stunning victory in the Al Naboodah Travel & Tourism Handicap at Meydan.
The Godolphin-owned five-year-old showed a blistering turn of speed in the hands of Frankie Dettori to put his rivals to the sword.
Leading over a furlong and a half (300m) out, the 11-8 favourite quickly put daylight between himself and his rivals.
He came home 5-1/4 lengths clear of stablemate Spring Of Fame, who ran on strongly from the rear under Mickael Barzalona to grab second place on the line.
“Prince Bishop has improved a lot from last year and he looks much better physically,” trainer Saeed bin Suroor told www.godolphin.com.
“He was 85 per cent fit today but he has won easily and I think that he will improve for this run.
“We will keep the options open for him at the moment and see how he comes out of the race, but he could take his chance in one of the remaining rounds of the Maktoum Challenge.”
First City (10-1), formerly trained at Newmarket by David Simcock, made a winning debut for Ali Al Raihe when getting up in the last stride to open her Group Two account in the one-mile (1600m) Cape Verdi.
The odds-on favourite Mahbooba proved a tough nut to crack as she made a brave attempt to make all the running, but First City was up to the task.
Answering every call from her rider Royston Ffrench, the six-year-old mare got her nose in front where it mattered to land the spoils by a slender margin.
“She picked up really well. She and Mahbooba are very tough fillies and fought it out to the line,” Ffrench said.
“It was very close but fortunately it went our way.
“I think she will definitely get further.
“She wasn’t stopping and she only got up on the line, so I think further would probably benefit her.
“On form Mahbooba was the filly to beat, but every horse is beatable.”
PA AAP TURF
