Ruling Court returned from a lengthy absence with a hugely impressive display in the Jumeirah 2000 Guineas at
.
An easy winner at Sandown on his debut, the Justify colt, who cost Godolphin €2,300,000, went on to finish third in the Acomb Stakes at York.
The winner of that race was Aidan O’Brien’s The Lion In Winter, currently favourite for the Derby, while the second Wimbledon Hawkeye, won the Royal Lodge.
William Buick was not in the greatest position as the field approached the final bend but when he manoeuvred him into place to challenge, his acceleration was hugely impressive.
He was left unchanged at 12-1 for the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket by Paddy Power but is as low as 8-1 in a place for the Classic which his trainer Charlie Appleby also has Shadow Of Light and Opera Ballo prominent in the betting.
“He was superb there and I couldn’t have asked for a better effort from him,” said Buick.
“Charlie was keen to let him learn a little bit today to bring him forward, his acceleration was instant and he’s got a huge amount of talent. He’s a very exciting horse.
“I’m pretty confident he’ll get a mile and a quarter, he’s a much stronger horse this year.”
Mountain Breeze was expected to win the Jumeirah 1000 Guineas and it went as smoothly as expected.
The Spanish-trained Octans gave her a nice lead but when Buick pressed the button she quickened nicely clear.
Buick said: “We were (expecting that). Obviously she’d only ran over a mile once before and it didn’t really happen for her that day so that was the only question mark, but we thought she would stay.
“As important as anything else, it was important for her to do it nice and smoothly, not having to be asked and hopefully this will set her up for a nice campaign back home.
“I think she’s proven at stakes level, a solid Group Three and she’s improved a bit from two to three.”
Nations Pride went off the bigger price of two Appleby runners in the Singspiel Stakes but held off Holloway Boy by a length and a quarter in the Group Three.
Victory gives him an automatic entry into the Dubai Turf, where Romantic Warrior will lie in wait.
“He just got lost the last twice he ran and for no apparent reason – maybe the track didn’t suit him at Gulfstream (in the Pegasus World Cup Turf),” said Buick.
“He’s a consistent horse, he always turns up and I love him. I think he can take a step forward from this, but we all know how good Romantic Warrior is.”
Silver Knott was another easy winner for the duo in the Dubai City Of Gold, with Buick allowed an easy lead before quickening clear in the straight.
The race also saw the return of one-time 2024 Derby favourite Arabian Crown, who finished back in fourth on his first run since last April.
Buick said: “He spent most of last season in the States and we learned there he was very effective from the front.”
George Scott’s West Acre was sent off the 4-7 favourite for the Nad Al Sheba Turf Sprint but it was harder work than expected for Callum Shepherd.
Having lit up the track on his last appearance, the three-year-old had to show a different side to reel in Ponntos, a veteran of big sprints around the world.
Shepherd said: “It was harder work. We got away well and took up a nice position.
“Ponntos got into his normal groove just slightly away from us and that maybe didn’t suit us as it would have been nice to have had direct aim at him.
“He dug deep and was gritty and I fancy he could be better over six furlongs in the Al Quoz.”