Sakhee Easy Winner of World Cup Prep

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Sakhee won a 1 1/4-mile conditions race by nine lengths under Frankie Dettori at Nad Al Sheba Sunday.

Dettori told Racing Post, "I was very pleased with him especially as he was only 85 percent fit and race rusty. This will put him spot on for the World Cup."

The Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (Fr-I) winner and Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) runner-up won for the first time on a dirt track in his preparation for the March 23 Dubai World Cup (UAE-I) to be run over the same course.

"It was a nice performance by Sakhee and it will just fine tune him for the Dubai World Cup on March 23rd," said Simon Crisford, Godolphin's racing manager. "He won with plenty of authority, doing his best work at the finish. We couldn't be more pleased with him at this time. He worked on the sand at Nad Al Sheba a few weeks back but this was his first race here and he was also experiencing racing under lights for the first time. Sakhee handled it all very easily."

Sakhee was fourth of five early on and moved into contention approaching the stretch before drawing away easily, completing the distance in 2:01.3. Stablemate Atlantis Prince finished second, with a gap of 15 lengths to third-place finisher Pentagonal. Lord of the Manor and Siege completed the order of finish.

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