True Story impresses at Meydan

The new association between James Doyle and Saeed bin Suroor got the 2015 Dubai Carnival off to a flyer as True Story put his career back on track with a runaway success in the Listed Singspiel Stakes at Meydan.

Godolphin supremo Sheikh Mohammed announced in early November he was radically shuffling his pack of riders, with Doyle coming in as number one for Bin Suroor and William Buick snapped up to ride principally for Charlie Appleby.

True Story looked a potential Classic contender after a brilliant victory in the Feilden Stakes at Newmarket last April, but was beaten favourite in the Dante at York and made little impression in the Epsom Derby or subsequently.

Making his first appearance since August, the 13-8 favourite tracked the pacesetting Warbird and kicked on from the home turn to seal an impressive win. Mushreq was best of the rest in second.

Doyle said: "He's a bit of a boy and was on his toes beforehand, but he's always been like that. He's settled down a touch since they gelded him - it's been the making of him.

"He was well fancied for the Derby and probably didn't quite stay. He's run some good races in top Grade Ones. This was at a lower level, but it was a good performance ."

Bin Suroor had earlier take the Longines Prima Luna Handicap with 16-1 shot I'm Back, ridden by Dane O'Neill.

The main event of the evening was the first round of the Al Maktoum Challenge, with the admirable Surfer striking gold for Satish Seemar and Richard Mullen.

The biggest disappointment of the race was the Appleby-trained Outstrip, who was good enough to finish third behind Kingman and Night Of Thunder at Royal Ascot last year but failed to fire on his dirt debut.

There was a strong British representation in the Longines Master Collection Handicap, but none were able to stop the Fawzi Nass-trained Hototo (6-1) coming out on top.

Tony Carroll's Caspian Prince cut out the early running before fading into third, but both Ian Williams' Sir Maximilian and Speed Hawk from Robert Cowell's yard failed to get competitive.

Appleby's Ahtoug, fifth in last year's King's Stand at Royal Ascot, was a disappointing favourite.

Hototo was partnered by Luke Morris, riding his first winner at Meydan.

"It's nice to get the monkey off my back," the jockey said.

"It was a good performance, he's got a very high cruising speed and he put the race to bed nicely when I went for him. Hopefully he can continue on in the Carnival."

The Doug Watson-trained Faulkner kept his unbeaten record intact in the Longines Saint Imier Handicap in the hands of Pat Dobbs.

Already a winner at Jebel Ali and Meydan this winter, the 4-1 joint-favourite mowed down main market rival Shaishee and another Hamdan Al Maktoum-owned runner Tamarkuz to make it three from three. Tamarkuz just beat Shaishee to the runner-up spot.

"He doesn't travel early (in his races). I know he's a five-year-old, but he's still very immature," said Dobbs.

"He jumped slow, it was a big step up in grade, but he had the class at the end and he faces the kickback, which a massive help. The further he goes the better he'll be."