Meydan opens as Sheikh Mohammed registers a win Sheikh Mohammed could have asked for no more than a winner at the first race meeting at his brand-new Meydan course in Dubai. The ruler's equine investment centre around the fortunes of his Godolphin team and the famous blue colours were carried by none other than Frankie Dettori aboard Whispering Gallery in the 10-furlong handicap, the Mustanfar Sponsored By Shadwell Farm. Whispering Gallery, who landed three of his four starts in Britain last season for Mark Johnston, and Dettori took full advantage of being given an easy time in front. Dettori said: "It's the start of a new era - what a place we've got. The first one (winner) is always sweet so let's hope it's the first of many. To us (the jockeys) it looks like a scene from a 3D movie - it's so surreal, like the spaceship from Star Wars." Sheikh Mohammed said: "I am very proud and happy to see horses from all over the world here competing. This is my wish. If they win or we win it doesn't matter. Maybe now we will get more challengers from Europe and they maybe now will come because the track is fair for everybody." With the grass course not yet bedded in, the Tapeta surface staged the action and it worked in favour of the British raiders as Drunken Sailor, Sir Gerry and Leahurst made their mark. Capable sprinter Sir Gerry (25-1) had not shown much in three runs since joining John Best from James Fanshawe but, in the experienced hands of Ted Durcan, he came to life on the wide outside to snatch the Kayrawan six-furlong handicap from Musaalem. Champion jockey Ryan Moore made no mistake in the concluding seven-furlong handicap on the Jeremy Noseda-trained Leahurst, while Kieren Fallon had earlier driven the Luca Cumani-trained Drunken Sailor to victory in the Dumaani handicap. Cumani said: "It's great that our first runner on the new racecourse is a winner. He obviously liked the surface but we've nothing in mind for him now, we'll just see how he is and have a think." Mike De Kock's well-regarded filly Raihana became the first thoroughbred winner in the course's history as she quickened three and a quarter lengths away for Christophe Soumillon and owner Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum.
