First Four For Godolphin

Godolphin had four runners in the concluding Jaguar XF Handicap at Meydan on the evening of Thursday, February 18 and they came home first, second, third and fourth.

Carry On Deryck (David Probert) and Udododontu (Frederik Tylicki), both trained by Saeed bin Suroor, were first and second, while Secret Brief (Mickael Barzalona) and Flash Fire (William Buick) from Charlie Appleby's stables finished third and fourth.

The Godolphin team took on 12 rivals in the mile race on turf so it was remarkable that Carry On Deryck, a four-year-old son of Halling carrying the first colours, beat Udododontu by a half-length, with another length and quarter back to Secret Brief and Flash Fire a neck further in arrears.

Udododontu, settled in sixth, moved up to fourth entering the straight and took the lead with almost a furlong and a half to race.

He looked all over the winner before Carry On Deryck, who raced in eighth on his first start since June last year, came with a powerful run to gain the advantage in the closing stages. The winning time was a fast 1m 36.14s.

Saeed bin Suroor said: "It is good to have first and second.

"Carry On Deryck won well and we will race him and Udododontu at between a mile and a mile and a quarter."

David Probert added: "He stayed on very strongly and will probably be a better horse over a mile and a quarter.

"They went quick early on and that suited him. He challenged up the straight and was never going to get beat.

"Carry On Deryck is a likeable horse, straightforward and he settled really well in the race.

"It is great to have my first Dubai World Cup Carnival winner in these colours. I must say massive thanks to Saeed for putting me up, though it was unfortunate that James (Doyle) had appendicitis and was not able to ride tonight."