Khawlah wins $2-million UAE Derby

Khawlah has won the $2-million UAE Derby, barely edging Master of Hounds to hand a second victory to the stables of Dubai’s ruler Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

Khawlah’s stablemate Xin Xu Lin set the pace early before handing it over to the Aidan O’Brien-trained Master of Hounds. But the Saeed bin Suroor-trained Khawlah came on down the stretch, catching Master of Hounds and then winning by a nose in a photo finish. The Mike de Kock-trained Mahbooba came in third.

It was the seventh victory for Suroor in the UAE Derby and the first for a filly in the race’s history. It followed Skysurfers win in the $1-million Godolphin Mile earlier in the day. Both Skysurfer and Khawlah are owned by Mohammed’s Godolphin stables.