Aspectoflove sprints to victory

Thai Haku under Christophe Lemaire was second and River Jetez, ridden by Christophe Soumillon, finished third. Dettori smashed the track record set early in the evening by Derbass by a fraction of a second.

Last year’s UAE Derby contender Solid Choice lived up to his name after coming with a late run to deny the mount of Ahmed Ajtebi, Tybalt in the 1400m Masala Trophy, the opening race on the card. Tybalt lost second on the line.

The four-year-old son of Redoute’s Choice broke awkwardly when the starter said go, but he soon settled under the command of the Belgian jockey Christophe Soumillon before he changed course and sprinted home gamely in the concluding stages of the race. Yirga got up to take second close post as earlier leader Tybalt dropped back to finish third.

Happy Dubai, ridden by Ahmed Ajtebi, landed the 1000m dash Thoroughbreds Handicap Al Hadeerah second race of the evening. The 33-1 long shot raced from the centre of the field and was always going well before he hit the front in the final furlong and stormed home in great style. Monsieur Joe under Christophe Soumillon finished second and behind them came the international favourite Everyday Heroes, ridden by Ted Durcan.

The South African trainer Mike de Kock completed a quick double and Richard Hills partnered Zanzamar to a convincing victory in the 1400m Thoroughbreds Conditions UAE 2000 Guineas Trial.

Hills held the horse in the early stages and the three-year-old colt of Fort Wood won by a length ahead of front runner Splash Point under Ahmed Ajtebi. Bridgefield, ridden by Mickael Barzalona finished third.

Richard Hills completed a back to back double after the Englishman gave Derbaas everything to smash all the records in the 1600m Thoroughbreds Handicap Falcon fourth race.

It was equally a double delight for leading owner Shaikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and UAE Minister of Finance, and the national trainer Ali Rashid Al Raihe who have both scored earlier in the evening.

Derbaas set a new track record for the mile distance on the Tapieta last time out, he returned to the Meydan to establish a new mile turf record which is 1m, 36 seconds point 55. The former record was held by stable-mate Snaafy of 1m, 37 seconds point 25.

Frankie Dettori rode his first winner of the evening aboard Spring Of Fame to land the 1900m Thoroughbreds handicap Al Sarab Trophy. Haatheq came up with a late run under Richard Hills to finish second and public favourite Star Empire, ridden by Christophe Soumillon, was third.

Race results at meydan racecourse

Race One: 6.35pm Thoroughbreds Handicap 1400m (a 7f) Masala Trophy sponsored by Bab Al Shams. Purse: US$110,000: 1. Solid Choice (Mike De Kock) Christophe Soumillon 2. Yirga (Ali Rashid Al Raihe) Patrick Cosgrave 3. Solid Choice (Mahmoud Al Zarouni) Ahmed Ajtebi

Race Two: 7.10pm Thoroughbreds Handicap 1000m (a 5f) Al Hadeera Trophy sponsored by Bab Al Shams. Purse: US$150,000: 1. Happy Dubai (Ali Rashid l Raihe) Ahmed Ajtebi 2. Monsieur Joe (Walter Swinburn) Christophe Lemaire 3. Everyday Heroes (Saeed bin Suroor) Ted Durcan

Race Three: 7.50pm Thoroughbreds Conditions 1400m (a 7f) UAE 2000 Guineas Trial sponsored by Bab Al Shams. Purse: US$50,000: 1. Zanzamar (Mike de Kock) Richard Hills 2. Splash Point (Mahmoud Al Zarouni) Ahmed Ajtebi 3. Bridgefield (Mahmoud Al Zarouni) Mickael Barzalona

Race Four: 8.25pm Thoroughbreds Handicap 1600m (a 8f) Falcon Lounge Trophy sponsored by Bab Al Shams. Purse: US$120,000: 1. Derbass (Ali Rashid l RaiheA) Richard Hills 2. Here To Win (Mike De Kock) Christophe Soumillon 3. Kingsfort (Saeed bin Suroor) Lanfranco Dettori

Race Five: 9.10pm Thoroughbreds Handicap 1900m (a 9.5f) Al Sarab Trophy sponsored by Bab Al Shams. Purse: US$150,000: 1. Spring Of Fame (Saeed bin Suroor) Lanfranco Dettori 2. Haatheq (Ali Rashid l Raihe) Richard Hills 3. Star Empire (Mike De Kock) Christophe Soumillon

Race Six: 9.50pm Thoroughbreds Group-2 1500m (a 8f) Cape Verdi sponsored by Bab Al Shams. Purse: US$200,000: 1. Aspectoflove (Saeed bin Suroor) Lanfranco Dettori 2. Thai Haku (Mike Delzangles) Christophe Lemaire 3. River Jetez (Mike De Kock) Christophe Soumillon.

• Horse racing