Godolphin celebrated a first win in the £600,000 Bahrain International Trophy (G3) on Friday, as Dubai Future overtook his Saeed bin Suroor stablemate Passion and Glory at Sakhir Racecourse.

With a £600,000 purse both reflecting and reinforcing its status as a rising international fixture, Friday’s fourth running of the Bahrain International Trophy (G3) has attracted a quartet from Godolphin, along with classy Irish mare Insinuendo and a new French recruit for the home team in Dilawar.

For the first 1 1/8 miles of Saturday’s $12 million Dubai World Cup (G1), Life Is Good looked like a good thing.

Elite campaigners from the world over descended upon Riyadh for the $20 million Saudi Cup (G1), but the trophy stayed home thanks to 113-1 longshot Emblem Road.

Saturday’s $20 million Saudi Cup (G1) field includes defending champion Mishriff; Mandaloun and familiar foe Midnight Bourbon; fellow U.S. shippers Art Collector and Country Grammer; the Japanese duo of Breeders’ Cup shocker Marche Lorraine and champion T O Keynes; and the outstanding European turfistes Sealiway and Real World.