Charlie Appleby, saddling his first Dubai World Cup meeting runners was over the moon with Cat O’Mountain who stayed on strongly to finish third in the World Cup itself under stable jockey, Mickael Barzalona.

Appleby said: “We have to be delighted with that run and it really justifies the faith we had in his ability to run a big race in this company. We were sweating on an invitation with him but it finally arrived.

“We had an awful draw in 15 and that certainly compromised our chances but Mickael has done everything he could to get him in a competitive position.

“The first two skipped clear at the top of the straight and we did not get a run perhaps as early as wewould have liked but he then ran on very well.

“It was certainly a career best effort from the horse and, if we could not win, obviously it is a great result for Godolphin as a team.

“African Story has provided Saeed bin Suroor and his team with a great victory for them, Godolphin and, of course, Sheikh Mohammed. That is what we were all trying to do.”

Jockey Barzalona was also delighted with the performance and thought that with an improved draw it would have been an even more successful night at a packed Meydan.

He added “Cat O’Mountain has run an absolutely fabulous race, especially considering where we were drawn and the position we were in at halfway.

“He was nice and relaxed the whole way round and enjoyed himself out there. He has picked up really well in the straight before running on strongly to snatch third. With a better draw I am sure we would have finished closer.”