Ispolini ran out a ready winner of the Nad Al Sheba Trophy at Meydan for Charlie Appleby, but the race was marred by a fatal injury to his stablemate Brundtland.
Having won three of his four races to date and gone close in Group One company in his only defeat, Brundtland was expected to set himself up for a crack at the Dubai Gold Cup on World Cup night.
Having travelled sweetly, he broke down badly before the turn for home, leaving Ispolini to coast home under Mickael Barzalona.
Appleby told www.godolphin.com: “Unfortunately, Brundtland broke down after sustaining a leg injury and had to be put down by the vets.
“It is a big loss for the whole team, as we felt that he was an exciting horse for the future.
“Ispolini has a nice stayer’s pedigree and was mixing it with Classic types in the spring of his three-year-old season. He has thrived since coming out to Dubai.
“We knew that stepping up in trip was going to open up doors for him and we felt he was going the right way based on his first couple of runs out here.
“His homework had been good going into this evening and we thought that he was going to be competitive.
“We had planned for him to go to Australia as well, but he will stay here now for the Dubai Gold Cup.”
Appleby was also on the mark with the former Sir Mark Prescott inmate On The Warpath, ridden to victory by William Buick in the seven-furlong handicap.
It was a red-letter evening for Simon Crisford who enjoyed a double with Sporting Chance and African Ride.
A Listed winner at Ripon in the summer, Sporting Chance won at the same level back on turf having finished down the field in the UAE 2000 Guineas on dirt last time out.
He was ridden by Pat Cosgrave, who said of the Meydan Classic winner: “He’s run well since he got here and fair play to Simon, he’s improved with every run here.
“I took the option at the top of the straight and thought “if he stays, he wins” and thankfully he did.
“He ran with credit in the Guineas, but he’s probably better on the grass.”
Christophe Soumillon rode African Ride to victory in the one-mile handicap.
Dolkong was an easy winner of the Curlin Handicap for Simon Foster, who trains in Korea.
Foster said: “We had a lot of faith in the horse. I’ve only had him about six months and a lot went wrong before we brought him over.
“Pat (Cosgrave) gave us great feedback after his first run, he couldn’t ride but we were lucky enough to to pick up Olivier (Doleuze) who rode him in work so he knew him well. He showed he’s the class rider that he is.
“Olivier said his main ambition today was to get him out in the clear and once he did and gave him a kick, the race was over.
“He’s a tough horse, he’s flying the flag for us and this is a great experience.”
