Moon Ballad Captures UAE Challenge Stakes

Irish-bred Moon Ballad, owned by the Godolphin racing stable and ridden by Frankie Dettori, won the Group III Sheikh Maktoum Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Challenge (Round II) at the United Arab Emirates' Nad Al Sheba Thursday.

Trained by Saaed bin Suroor, the 4-year-old chestnut colt by Singspiel scored a six-length decision over American-bred Go Underground in the 1 1/8-mile event run in 1:47.98. British-bred Seeking the Prize was third, another four lengths behind. Curule took fourth in the six-horse field.

Also Thursday at Nad Al Sheba, South Africa's Victory Moon captured the Group III UAE 2000 Guineas for 3-year-olds, with Western Diplomat second and Bourbonnais third.

The bay son of Mufti, owned by Mad Syndicate and ridden by W.J. Smith, won the one-mile event by a half-length in 1:37.04.