Australian stakes winner Free Wheeling has won his first race for Godolphin at Meydan.
Formerly trained by Peter Snowden and now prepared by Saeed bin Suroor, Free Wheeling had been placed three times in Dubai over the past year but a switch from turf to the Tapeta surface proved the key to Saturday’s victory.
“We changed Free Wheeling from turf to Tapeta and he handled the surface really well,” bin Suroor said.
“He showed some class with his work in the mornings and that gave us the chance to go for this race.
“Free Wheeling showed a good turn of foot over the distance and Silvestre de Sousa kept him nice and handy throughout the race. He won really nicely.
“We will have a look at how he comes out of tonight and find another race for him.”
His stablemate Cavalryman, also ridden by de Sousa, geared up for his defence of the Dubai Gold Cup with a comfortable victory in the Group Three Nad Al Sheba Trophy on the Meydan program.
“The way he did it, you couldn’t ask any more,” de Sousa said.
“I hope he keeps in one piece and I think he will have a big shout on the big night.”
The Willie Mullins-trained Simenon, fourth in last year’s Melbourne Cup, appeared in need of the run and ran on from the rear to finish fifth.