Royal Fleet gives Godolphin’s Charlie Appleby fifth Dubai Millennium Stakes

Godolphin bagged the feature Group 3 Millennium Stakes and the Jumeirah Derby prizes on the penultimate week of the Dubai World Cup Carnival at Meydan on Friday.

Royal Fleet under James Doyle led the first two home for the Dubai racing operation to give Charlie Appleby a fifth successive Dubai Millennium Stakes and the jockey-trainer were back in the winner’s enclosure 35 minutes later with Nation’s Pride taking the Jumeirah Derby.

Star Safari, bidding to become the first dual winner of the Dubai Millennium Stakes, hit the front just past the 300-metre pole, but Doyle’s mount responded to take the win on the line.

A homebred four-year-old Dubawi gelding, it was Royal Fleet's first win at Meydan and a fifth career success in eight appearances.

“He is a young, improving horse who has been progressing all year and everything fell into place tonight,” Doyle said.

“I thought the extra 200m would suit and it did. He has had to battle in fairness when Star Safari came to him but he is definitely getting more professional with experience and racing.”

Doyle enjoyed a smooth success aboard Nations Pride, a conditions race for three year olds.

The pair swept past Frankie Dettori aboard stable companion New kingdom entering the final 300m and the race was soon settled.

A homebred Teofilio colt, Nations Pride was winning for the third time in succession from only four starts.

“We know he stays well so this looked the right race for him and he has done it in pleasing style,” Appleby said.

“He was pretty fresh so it was pleasing and we will probably take him back to England and look at a Derby trial.”

Doyle completed a treble on the night having steered Bhupat Seemar’s Summer Is Tomorrow in the opening contest of the six-race card.

“Th