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Mohd Khaleel Ahmed's Recordman needed a top performance to push him over the edge to a rating (90+) worthy of the DWC Carnival and that's just what the son of Dubawi gave in the turf feature at Meydan Racecourse on Saturday evening.

Trained by Satish Seemar, who won his third consecutive race of the card, the Tadhg O'Shea-piloted Godolphin-bred sat in mid-pack until the stretch, seized the lead inside the final furlong and then held off a strong challenge from Ahesta Bero by a short head. Tafaakhor was a valiant third, 1 3/4 lengths back, as the trio passed the post in a time of 2:02.75 for 10 furlongs. The victory was the 6-year-old gelding's third from 11 starts and first since winning a 12-furlong handicap three races back on Dec. 15, 2019. 

O'Shea said: "He just had niggling problems. He was supposed to run about a month ago and he pulled a shoe. Just little things (have bothered him). It's good to get him back tonight (for) Satish Seemar. Ted Durcan had originally picked him out of a sale in the UK. He tried the dirt before and I wouldn't put them off trying it again. He's a strong traveller. I think he's improved again. He'll be Carnival-rated after tonight and I think there'll be more to come." 

RACE 1 (17:30) - Lincoln Continental (1400mT Maiden)

Erwan Charpy-trained Spirit Of Light  always seemed to be a bridesmaid in his hard-trying runs, but finally pushed through to win in his first attempt on turf in the Meydan opener over seven furlongs.

Owned by Sayed Hashish and a Racing in Dubai Sale graduate, the Godolphin-bred son of top stud Dark Angel closed resolutely inside J & J Syndicate's Le Factor, who appeared home free at the top of the stretch. Collaring that foe in the final 150m, the 4-year-old gelding won by 1 3/4 lengths in a time of 1:23.67. The victory was jockey Clement Lecoeuvre's first in the UAE. Le Factor held on for second, clear 2 3/4 lengths of Varsha in third. The win came in Spirit of Light's ninth career try. 

"He's a good horse, but he's a horse who is a little bit soft and I think the turf has helped him," Charpy said. "Now we have a few options with him. He always threatened to run a race like that. Today was the first time he just went and went away (to win) and I think the turf was why. He's this kind of horse." 

RACE 2 (18:05) - Lincoln Nautilus (1900m Maiden)

Godolphin's Bright Start  had just that in his initial UAE run, going gate-to-wire to the tune of a 7 3/4-length win under Pat Cosgrave for trainer Saeed bin Suroor. Ridden with confidence, the son of Medaglia d'Oro out of a Distorted Humor mare ran to his dirt-friendly pedigree and left Zero to a Hundred and Just You Wait in his immediate wake, separated by 1 1/2 lengths. The final time was 1:58.16 for the 1900m (9.5 furlongs). 

The win came after five starts in the UK for the Godolphin homebred, including a trio of runner-up finishes, twice on turf and once in the all-weather of Chelmsford. 

"I was quite taken by his performance today," Cosgrave said. "It's his first run for a little while and he hasn't done loads of work. He's been beaten by good horses (in the past). With his pedigree, he may be even better on this surface. It wasn't a very strong race and I didn't really see him getting beat tonight, but I was quite taken by the way he won."

RACE 3 (18:40) - Lincoln Navigator (2000m Hcp 75-89)

The evening's co-featured dirt handicap, over 1 1/4 miles (2000m), was won in determined style by Twelfthofneverland , who found his happy thought nearest the wire.

Racing wide and mid-pack after an alert break, the Airdrie Stud-bred son of Istan was always comfortable under Nathan Crosse. Set down for the drive in the lane, he ran down a strong-finishing Karnavaal in the final strides by a neck. Secret Trade was another three-quarters of a length back in third, as the winner's pace-setting Satish Seemar-trained stablemate Harbour Dance backed up another two lengths to fourth of the 11 runners. The final time was 2:05.76. 

Previously trained by Ray Handal in the USA, this was the winner's second run in the UAE and third win from 12 starts. The win was also Crosse's first at Meydan and fourth in the UAE. 

"I was happy all the way," Crosse said. "The only thing is he was a little bit wide, but the main thing is he has done it nicely. I watched his races and thought the step up in trip would suit him. He's a big, massive horse with a big stride, so the trip today really favoured him."

RACE 4 (19:15) - Lincoln Corsair (1600m Hcp 65-74)

Layoff of 470+ days or not, Imperial Empire  was not to be denied for trainer Satish Seemar and jockey Tadhg O'Shea, holding on by a nose over Kanood in the turf mile handicap. A son of Dubawi out of UAE Oaks (G3) winner Falls of Lora, the 4-year-old chestnut gelding bolted for home turning into the stretch, quickly opening up on the field, but appeared to have possibly moved to soon when Kanood set sail for his flank. Holding on at the end, the Al Rashid Stables colour-bearer won for the second time in five starts and appears one to follow moving forward. It was another 2 3/4 lengths back to Antonio Vivaldi in third. The final time was 1:37.77 over the good turf. 

"He's a very laidback horse at home and it takes a while for him to get going at home," O'Shea said. "He was drawn wide and I got over and had a nice position and the leaders faltered off the bend and I gave him a kick, but the response was immediate. He picked up and shot five (lengths) clear and I got there too soon. He's a lovely horse with a turn-of-foot who may even be better dropping back a furlong and a true-run seven furlongs would be right up his street around here. I would have been ruing myself if I got beat. I wasn't expecting that when I gave him a kick. The response was immediate."

RACE 6 (20:25) - Lincoln Aviator (1600m Hcp 60-75)

The night ended with a hard-trying victory by Bouresly Racing's Celtic Prince , who overcame a 344-day layoff to land the one-mile dirt nightcap handicap over a begrudging runner-up Rich and Famous. Ridden by Fabrice Veron--enjoying an excellent season--the Racing in Dubai Sale graduate son of Shamardal won for the second time in seven starts and first time since breaking his maiden over this course and distance in December 2019. It was a half-length between the winner and runner-up and a short head back to One Vision in third. 

"Before the race he was very quiet, but in the race he was travelling okay," Veron said. "He missed the start a little bit. It was the first time for me today (to ride him), so I can't talk too much (about him), but when I asked him, he answered and answered. He's tough."