Godolphin’s Cavalryman advertised his wellbeing ahead of the Group 2 Dubai Gold Cup on World Cup night, a race he won last year when it carried Group 3 status, with an victory in yesterday’s featured Group 3 Nad Al Sheba Trophy.

At the 2,810m turf contest, 390m shorter than the Gold Cup, the Saeed bin Suroor-trained Cavalryman was ridden patiently by Silvestre De Sousa, with the pair charging clear 300m out to win comfortably.

De Sousa said: “We were very confident as he has been in great form in the mornings and he has such good acceleration for a stayer. Hopefully, he is the one they all have to beat in four weeks time.”

Jockey and trainer were completing doubles having won the1,400m Tapeta handicap with Free Wheeling.

The meeting opened with a 2,000m Tapeta handicap, won by Mickael Barzalona on the Ahmad bin Harmash-trained Samurai Sword. Barzalona’s mount produced a telling turn of foot to lead 200m out.

Trainer Ahmad bin Harmash said: “We expected a big run today as he has a touch of class and a great turn of foot.”

There was a nail-biting finish to the 1,200m turf handicap with Kavanagh and Christophe Soumillon leading right on the line to win the race for the second year running for South African Mike De Kock.

Soumillon said: “It was tight but I thought we had just hit the front on the line when my horse’s head was down.”

The meeting concluded with a 2,000m turf handicap and Sanshaawes completed a double for the trainer and jockey.

Capital Attraction, runner-up in last year’s Burj Nahaar, could bid to go one better after his victory in a handicap over the same 1,600m Tapeta course and distance.

Tadhg O’Shea rode the winner for Ernst Oertel, who said: “He will be back next week – probably in the Burj Nahaar.”