Calming Influence gave Godolphin’s newest trainer, Mahmood Al Zarooni, the best possible start to his career when storming home under Ahmed Ajtebi to win the US$1-million Godolphin Mile (Sponsored By Etisalat) at Meydan on Saturday, March 27.
H.H. Sheikh Mohammed, Godolphin’s founder and driving force, greeted the Group Two winner amid huge cheers from the crowd ringing around the new Meydan racecourse.
Ahmed Ajtebi was always well placed on the five-year-old, racing in second before hitting the front after entering the straight with a quarter-mile to go.
He kicked his mount on and Calming Influence gained a decisive advantage and they held on well from Green Coast by a length, with another Godolphin runner, Skysurfers, a further length back in third. The winning time for the mile on Tapeta was 1m 36.57s.
Mahmood Al Zarooni, saddling his first runner as a trainer, said: "This means everything to me. I would like to thank His Highness Sheikh Mohammed for giving me this chance.
"I'm very happy and happy for Godolphin. I expected Calming Influence to run very well, but I didn’t think he would win.
"I didn’t sleep well last night - I was nervous and excited. We have a plan and I will discuss it with Sheikh Mohammed and Simon Crisford but the horse will go back to Europe."
Ahmed Ajtebi added: "I am very happy for Mahmood - this was the first runner under his name and on World Cup night. I am so glad. I have worked with him and I am very happy to give him something back. It is wonderful for Godolphin.
"Turning for home, I knew I had plenty left under me. I am so happy. I have ridden him three times before and he loves this surface. I gave him every chance from near the front today."
Simon Crisford, the Godolphin racing manager, commented: "That was fantastic. It was great run and effort from Calming Influence to win and I am really pleased for Mahmood and Godolphin.
"The horse has been out here for this winter and the winter before. Tonight he was very settled and relaxed - a good winner. Ahmed gave him a confident ride.
"We will take the horse back to Europe now and look forward to seeing him in some of the feature mile races in Europe.
"He has always been a nice horse, running well last time and previously he won a good handicap. So we have always liked him and his victory did not come as a complete surprise.
"Sheikh Mohammed has put his trust and faith in Mahmood and starting with a winner on World Cup night at Meydan is something very special - even more so because it was his first runner.
"We have great support from the crowd who really enjoy following Godolphin horses here and all around the world.
"Desert Party was drawn wide and it looked to me that he was just a bit keen and seeing too much daylight. He never really gave himself much chance to get home. That was very disappointing. We liked him a lot coming into today’s race.
"Skysurfers ran really well - Ted (Durcan) said he gave a huge effort. Skysurfers will come back to Europe as well."
Skysurfers, trained by Saeed bin Suroor and ridden by Ted Durcan, raced towards the back of the 14-strong field before moving up in the straight and coming with a good late run to take third.
Saeed bin Suroor remarked "Skysurfers came from behind and ran a good race."
Ted Durcan added:"My horse ran well. He travelled and it opened up like the Red Sea coming up the middle in the straight. He went there to win and maybe flattened out in the last 100 yards. I am over the moon - a great run."
Desert Party, with Frankie Dettori up, raced keenly on the outside in mid-division. He was ridden turning for home and weakened in the straight to finish 11th.
Frankie Dettori commented: "Desert Party had a bad draw and we were never in the race."
Godolphin has a brilliant record in the Godolphin Mile, with the this success being the ninth in all, following on from Two Step Salsa (2009), Firebreak (2004 & 2003), Festival Of Light (2001), (Lend A Hand (1999), Allied Forces (1998), Kassbaan (1997) and Tereshkova (1996).