Doug O’Neill recorded a second straight Godolphin Mile (Gr.2) with Raging Torrent (Maximus Mischief), providing a flying dismount for eight-time race-winning jockey Frankie Dettori.
Whilst the four-year-old had been successful over 1400m in the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes at Santa Anita in December, the 1600m distance remained a question mark for Doug O'Neill's charge. Always prominent, Raging Torrent shared the lead with Bhupat Seemar's Mufasa and pulled clear for a comfortable success. King Gold finished second and Kazu Petrin, third.
From a middle gate, Raging Torrent jumped well and shortly after going to the lead but was joined on his outside by American import Mufasa, who was making his UAE debut for Bhupat Seemar and RRR Racing, who won this event two years ago with Isolate.
Having settled well, the winner was asked to extend heading to the home turn it was clear he had the better of Mufasa and the race favourite was able to snatch a winning break to score by three-and-a half lengths.
Frankie Dettori said: "He's such a lovely horse, and he did the rest. You need the horse to lead like he did; he was quick away, and I was able to do my own fractions. In fairness, he's always been a sprinter in America. So, I was thinking of that, I didn't want to kick too early.
"Eight Godolphin Miles, that's a hell of a record. I think it's fair to say I grew up here. It's great satisfaction coming back and winning - and hopefully I can win the World Cup again."
Trainer Doug O'Neill added: "I was confident, but that's why you run these races, you never know. He had a good, clean break, got the lead, got a little breather mid-race. Speed was always going to be his strength. I'm on cloud nine, and I've got to thank everyone here."
It was another second for France, with Nicolas Caullery's King Gold finishing best of the rest after his Dubai Racing Carnival success in February.
Jockey Adrie de Vries said: "Great race. We rode him to get the trip like we did the first time. He actually jumped a little bit slow today and must have thought he was going to go 2000m again, I guess so I had to wake him up a little bit. I was never worried; he came good into the turn. The winner was too good, but it felt like a win to us."
The well-fancied Mufasa, after sharing the lead with Raging Torrent, weakened to finish sixth. Jockey Tadhg O'Shea was pleased with his first-up performance at Meydan:
"We haven't had him for too long and just got tired late. He is a horse for next season, for sure."
