The win in the 2012 Group 2 UAE Derby, sponsored by the Saeed and Mohammed Al Naboodah Group, may prove as the springboard for success in Daddy Long Legs (USA) attempt to become the first European trained winning of the Kentucky Derby.

The Irish-trained three-year-old son of Scat Daddy, will be making his second appearance at Churchill Downs as he finished a lackluster 12th in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile in the 2011 event as a two-year-old.

Runner-up in the Ascot Gold Cup last summer to Fame And Glory, Opinion Poll secured a Gold Cup of his own when taking the Group 3 US$1,000,000 Dubai Gold Cup, sponsored by Al Tayer Motors, at Meydan Saturday night under jockey Frankie Dettori.

Owned by Godolphin, Opinion Poll became a millionaire with the victory, his ninth wins from 24 starts, including back to back victories in the Group 2 Londsdale Cup at York.

It was a toss-up as to who was the most excited between the Vice President of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed, and French-based jockey Mickael Barzalona when Monterosso won the Group 1 $US10 million World Cup, sponsored by Emirates Airline at Meydan on Saturday night.

Barzalona stood high in the saddle with his arm even higher as Monterosso hit the line well clear of stablemate Capponi giving His Highness Sheikh Mohammed’s Godolphin stable the top two finishers in the world’s richest race.

Cirrus des Aigles again thrust French trainer Corine Barande-Barbe to the forefront of the world’s racing focus as he battled his way to success in the Group 1 US$5,000,000 Dubai Sheema Classic, presented by Longines.

Under the dazzling floodlights of the imposing Meydan Grandstand, Oliver Peslier’s mount stretched for the wire as Breeders’ Cup winner St Nicholas Abbey chased him home, but the Irish raider could get no closer than a neck in second place.

Ciyscape unleashed blistering acceleration at the top of the stretch to turn the Group 1 US$5 million Dubai Duty Free, sponsored by Dubai Duty Free, into a procession at Meydan Racecourse on Saturday.

The six-year-old was ridden aggressively by James Doyle to lower the track record previously held by Mahbooba by 0.14 seconds. He tallied by 4¼ lengths from Mutahadee, who emerged from midfield to claim the runner-up berth, with City Style back in third place.

Krypton Factor struck a huge blow for Bahrain trainer Fawzi Nass when finishing off the race best of all under the powerful urgings of Kieren Fallon to wear down defending champion Rocket Man and Felix Coetzee, drawing away in the final 100m to win the Group 1 US$ 2 million Dubai Golden Shaheen, sponsored by Gulf News by two and a quarter lengths.

Rocket Man broke alertly from gate 1 to take an early but never uncontested lead. He was pressed all the way in the early stages by U.S challenger Giant Ryan who led briefly going into the turn before Rocket Man reasserted.

Ortensia struck another blow for the prowess of Australian turf sprinters as the mare burst from near the tail of the field to win the Group 1 US$1 million Al Quoz Sprint, sponsored by Emirates NBD.

Trained by Paul Messara and coolly ridden by Craig Williams, Ortensia looked to have plenty to do halfway during the 1,000m dash down the Meydan straight before unleashing a matchless finishing kick in the final furlong to score by a length and quarter from Irish sprinter Sole Power with Joy And Fun and neck back in third.