by Steve Bailey

With every start, Godolphin’s Jalil is proving to be every bit as talented as his enormous purchase price suggested he should be.

The four-year-old Kentucky-bred Storm Cat colt, a $9.7-million purchase at the 2005 Keeneland September yearlins sale, took command about 200 meters out and drew off to a 1 1/2-length victory in the $300,000 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 3 (UAE-G2) on Thursday at Nad al Sheba.

Ridden by Godolphin stable rider Frankie Dettori, Jalil covered 2,000 meters (9.94 furlongs)—the same distance as the $6-million Emirates Airline Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1)—in 2:00.35, slightly faster than the 2:00.60 that Curlin ran over the same distance in his Dubai World Cup prep on February 28.

“He’s learning to be a really good horse, and clearly loves the sand, and the further he goes, the better he is,” Godolphin racing manager Simon Crisford said.

Jalil, who is out of two-time Grade 1 winner Tranquility Lake, by Rahy, earned his first stakes win with the Maktoum Challenge score.

“We gave him a chance as he needed time last year, and it’s paid huge dividends now. He’ll go straight to the Dubai World Cup, and we’ll see Curlin there. He needs to improve again, but he hasn’t stopped yet.”

Jalil, who has not finished worse than second in his past six starts and has won all three of his starts at Nad al Sheba, moved to the outside midway through the stretch to pass Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid al Maktoum Challenge Round 2 (UAE-G3) winner Lucky Find and drove to the wire ahead of Brazilian Group 2 winner Gloria de Campeao.

Lucky Find, finished another length back in third for trainer Mike de Kock.

Earlier on the Super Thursday card, United Arab Emirates Triple Crown winner Asiatic Boy (Arg), also trained by de Kock, was beaten for the first time in six starts at Nad al Sheba as Godolphin’s Elusive Warning held off Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid al Maktoum’s Blackat Blackitten in deep stretch for a half-length victory in the $200,000 Burj Nahaar (UAE-G3).

The 1,600-meter (7.95-furlong) race was supposed to be simply a warm up for Asiatic Boy’s expected battle with Horse of the Year Curlin in the Dubai World Cup on March 29.

Asiatic Boy moved into third and challenged the leaders in the stretch but had nothing left in the final 200 meters to finish a well-beaten third, 2 3/4 lengths behind Blackat Blackitten.

Asiatic Boy entered off a victory in the 1,200-meter (5.97-furlong) Meydan Al Shindagha Sprint (UAE-G3) on January 24.

“In hindsight, we’ve left him short, which has caught us out a little,” de Kock said of Asiatic Boy’s preps in 1,200- and 1,600-meter races. “But we haven’t lost heart and we’re expecting massive improvement in the Dubai World Cup.”

Elusive Warning, a four-year-old Kentucky-bred Elusive Quality colt, won his first two career starts at Aqueduct last spring by a combined 12 1/2 lengths. Purchased by Godolphin for $450,000 at the 2004 Keeneland November breeding stock sale, he finished third in his UAE debut on February 2 in a 1,200-meter handicap.

Godolphin also captured the $200,000 Mahab al Shimaal (UAE-G3) as former United States-based multiple graded stakes winner Diabolical, who was purchased by Sheikh Mohammed’s operation in September, powered to a 4 1/2-length victory in the 1,200-meter (5.97-furlong) race, a prep for the $2-million Dubai Golden Shaheen (UAE-G1) on the Dubai World Cup card.

Diabolical captured his final two North American starts last year in the Emirates Airline Maryland Sprint Handicap (G3) and the Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap (G2) prior to his sale. He finished third behind Asiatic Boy and Salaam Dubai in the Al Shindagha Sprint in his 2008 debut on January 24.

English winner Star Crowned finished second, a nose in front of Brazilian stakes winner New Freedom, who sold for $626,457 (2.3-million UAE dirhams), to top Tuesday’s session of the Dubai International Racing Carnival sale.

  In the $250,000 Jebel Hatta (UAE-G2), a 1,777-meter (8.83 furlongs) turf race that serves as a prep for the $5-million Dubai Duty Free (UAE-G1), Irish Group 3 winner Lord Admiral scored a one-length victory over 2007 South African champion three-year-old colt Jay Peg with Traffic Guard finishing just a short head back in third.

  Hong Kong-based Viva Macau finished fourth and New Zealand 2007 Horse of the Year and champion three-year-old filly Seachange finished sixth in the 16-horse field. Both are expected to enter the Dubai Duty Free.

British mare Gower Song burst through late under jockey Richard Hills to score the upset in the $200,000 Dubai City of Gold (UAE-G3), a 2,400-meter (11.93-furlong) prep for the $5-million Dubai Sheema Classic (UAE-G1).

De Kock saddled the first- and second-place finishers in the Al Bastakiya, the second leg of the UAE Triple Crown, as Royal Vintage held off the late challenge of Honour Devil in the 1,800-meter (8.95-furlong) prep for the $2-million United Arab Emirates Derby (UAE-G2).

For video replays of the Super Thursday races, click here.

Steve Bailey is deputy news editor of Thoroughbred Times