Mendip slams rivals in Maktoum Challenge

Meydan: Al Maktoum Challenge Round I (Group 3) 1m, AW, 3yo+

FRANKIE DETTORI partnered the Saeed Bin Suroor-trained favourite Mendip to a comfortable victory in Round I of the Maktoum Challenge, the feature race of the openingnight of the 2011 Dubai Carnival
Carrying the green-and-red colours of Sheikh Mohammed's son Sheikh Hamdan, the even-money favourite was settled just off the pace by Dettori before being brought through to challenge with a smooth run in the straight, after which the result was never in any doubt.

The four-year-old son of Harlan's Holiday, completing a double for histrainer after Wajir's victory in an earlier race, kept on in fine style for an easy victory over Mike de Kock's Imbongi, who stayed on from the rear under Christophe Soumillon.

Mendip, who scored by just over two lengths, was Bin Suroor's seventh winner of the $200,000 event, won last year by subsequent Dubai World Cup hero Gloria De Campeao.

The winner had been absent since finishing third in last year's UAE Derby, his only defeat in five career starts.

Bin Suroor said: "We have given him plenty of time to come back and he has really thrived since coming back into work. I was very hopeful and he really delivered in style."

Dettori, who gave the crowd a flying dismount, remains by far the leading jockey in the carnival's eight-year history.

"He travelled very strongly and I was always confident," said Dettori."Whether that or further is his trip I am not sure but we will find out more in Round II which is over a furlong more."

Dettori was partnering his 73rd winner at the event, while Bin Suroor was moving ever closer to the 100-winner mark, with Mendip his 97th success.

Wajir sets ball rolling for Bin Suroor

EARLIER Saeed Bin Suroor had wasted little time following his Godolphin sidekick Mahmood Al Zarooni on to the Meydan scoresheet as ex-French Wajir (Ted Durcan) thumped his rivals in a competitive-looking 1m4f turf handicap
The five-year-old scored for the first time since winning a Group 3 event at Longchamp in September 2009, drawing nearly five lengths clear of the well-fancied Equiparada after bursting through a gap in the final furlong.

Pompeyano took third under Frankie Dettori from late-running Telluride as the front-runners faltered in a race run at a hot pace.



It's only Rock N Roll but Moore likes it

GODOLPHIN struck for the first time this year at their home fixture when Rock N Roll Ransom (Mahmood Al Zarooni/Ryan Moore) wore down that old stager Halicarnassus in the last 100 yards of the 1m3f all-weather handicap.

Winning trainer Mahmood Al Zarooni, less than ten months into his role as a fully fledged Godolphin trainer alongside Saeed bin Suroor, also saddled third-placed Prizefighting.

Sent off 4-1 market leader with British bookmakers, Rock N Roll Ransom was making his Godolphin debut after being purchased out of Luca Cumani's yard for 240,000gns in October.

Ryan Moore was forced to take a wide passage throughout as Mojave Moon set a pedestrian gallop.

However slowly they go, though, it is a tough job making all at Meydan, and Mojave Moon was swamped in the straight where Mick Channon's Halicarnassus had hit the front before Rock N Roll Ransom was driven past to score by a quarter of a length