Godolphin's African Story stormed along the rail to win the $200,000 Burj Nahaar Sponsored By Emirates Holidays (UAE-III) over Capital Attraction while U.S.- based Dullahan was unplaced in his warm-up for the Dubai World Cup (UAE-I) later this month.
African Story took last year's edition of the Burj Nahaar by four lengths from Snaafy before a handy four-length victory over Viscount Nelson in the Godolphin Mile (UAE-II) on the Dubai World Cup undercard last March.
The British-bred 6-year-old Pivotal gelding raced in mid-division early in this year's 1,600-meter (about one mile) contest, then angled over to the rail entering the straight before overtaking frontrunners Capital Attraction and Godolphin teammate Moonwalk in Paris for a 2 1/4-length win.
African Story finished the distance on the all-weather track in 1:36.89 to improve to six wins, three seconds, and three thirds from 14 career starts. He was the 3-1 second wagering choice in North American pools hosted by Kentucky-based AmWest Entertainment.
Donegal Racing's multiple grade I winner Dullahan was undefeated on an all-weather tracks in the U.S. but could not keep his perfect record intact in his Dubai debut. He was cutting back to a mile for the first time while beginning his serious preparations for the main event March 30.
The 4-year-old Even the Score colt, favored at 5-2, broke slowly under Kieren Fallon and could not improve from mid-division, finishing 11th in the 14-horse field.
African Story, trained by Saeed bin Suroor, was making his first start in more than nine months after a sixth-place finish in the BMW Champions Mile (HK-I) last May at Sha Tin, his only other start after winning the Godolphin Mile.
Bred in Great Britain by Darley, African Story is out of the Gone West mare Blixen.
