Godolphin Wins First Australian Race

Godolphin won its first Australian race at Flemington on Nov. 10 as Hatha Anna narrowly defeated the local stayers in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes (Aust-II) over 2,500 meters. The initial success came after Godolphin had for the second time supplied the runner-up in the Melbourne Cup (Aust-I) when Give the Slip was run down by Ethereal.

Godolphin is the racing operation of the Maktoum family of Dubai and is headed by Sheikh Mohammed.

With Give the Slip's partner Richard Hills unable to stay after accepting the mount, Patrick Payne sat in for him. The local rider guided the Sadler's Wells 5-year-old home a long head in advance of Ascana, by Sadler's Wells son Scenic.

The final day of the meeting was headlined by the Emirates Stakes (Aust-I), the $500,000 mile won by Desert Eagle, a son of former reverse shuttler Hurricane Sky. Desert Eagle defeated Emission by a half neck, the previous Saturday's surprise Mackinnon (Aust-I) winner La Bella Dama another half length away third.