Vercingetorix easily accounted for Godolphin’s True Story to make a most impressive reappearance in the Al Rashidiya at Meydan.
Trained by South African maestro Mike de Kock, Vercingetorix won the Group One Jebel Hatta at last year’s Carnival and went on to fill the runner-up spot behind Japanese superstar Just A Way in the Dubai Duty Free (now Dubai Turf) on World Cup night.
Making his first appearance since finishing third in December’s QEII Cup in Hong Kong, the six-year-old appeared to have plenty on his plate faced with a race-fit True Story, but it ended up being a one-sided clash.
Saeed bin Suroor’s one-time Epsom Derby contender True Story looked to have got his career back on track with a Listed victory at the track at the start of the month and the $2.10 favourite moved kindly for much of this Group Two contest.
However, the $2.50 chance Vercingetorix loomed in the straight under a motionless Christophe Soumillon before accelerating clear for a brilliant victory.
De Kock said: “You know you’ve got a horse. He’s had a long lay-off and a couple of niggles in between. It’s nice to see him back.”
Soumillon was also victorious in the other Group Two on the card as Alain de Royer-Dupre’s French challenger Cladocera showed great acceleration to win the Cape Verdi.
James Doyle teamed up with Godolphin’s two principal trainers to complete a double on the evening.
The jockey first struck on Bin Suroor’s $3.25 favourite I’m Back, who dominated from the front in the Emirates Global Aluminium Handicap Trophy.
Doyle was on the mark again as the Charlie Appleby-trained Ahtoug ($5) edged out Dean Ivory’s Lancelot Du Lac by a head in the Emirates Global Aluminium Excellence Handicap Trophy.
There was a thrilling climax to the Emirates Global Aluminium Billet Trophy, with Doug Watson’s $6 chance One Man Band just holding the late surge of Filfil.
Winning jockey Richard Hughes was riding for the first time since last year’s high-profile meeting in Hong Kong.
Watson struck gold for the second time on the night as the Paul Hanagan-ridden Muaanid ($4) clung on in the Emirates Global Aluminium Casthouse Handicap Trophy.
