Godolphin has won this race in the past with the likes of Dubai Millennium and Street Cry, both of whom went on to win the Dubai World Cup (UAE-I), which is March 25 this year. Touch of Land gave France a Carnival victory when taking up the running 200 meters from home and powering to a 1 1/4-length win, under Christophe Lemaire, in the US$250,000 Jebel Hatta (UAE-II), sponsored by Derrinstown Stud. Trained by Henri-Alex Pantall, Touch of Land now looks set to take his place in the US$5,000,000 Dubai Duty Free (UAE-I) on World Cup day. Lord Admiral, trained in Ireland by Charles O'Brien, took second with Seihali in third.
Godolphin's Electrocutionist put up an impressive show for his first outing on the dirt and his new connections when landing the US$300,000 Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum (UAE-II), sponsored by Derrinstown Stud, at Nad Al Sheba Racecourse on Thursday evening over 2,000 meters. Trained by Saeed bin Suroor and partnered by Frankie Dettori, Electrocutionist, the 2005 Juddmonte International (Eng-I) winner, was always well placed in the Round III event with the Ian Jory-trained Saudi Arabian raider Chiquitin setting the pace. Electrocutionist took up the running just over 200 meters out and ran on to a seven-length win. Chiquitin, the winner of this race a year ago, took second with Elmustanser in third.