Australian bred filly Mahbooba was beaten as a long odds-on favourite in the G3 UAE Oaks at Meydan on Thursday night.  

Mahbooba (Galileo) was coming off a Listed victory in the UAE 1000 Guineas three weeks ago but she couldn’t catch Godolphin filly Khawlah and went down a length over 1900m.

Khawlah tracked stablemate Abtasaamah before Frankie Dettori sent her to the front in the straight.  Mahbooba appeared to be travelling supremely well but there was little response from the favourite when Christophe Soumillon asked for a challenge.  

“We like Khawlah and had been very pleased with her work,” trainer Saeed bin Suroor said.  “She was Group placed at Newmarket in October and we will target the Musidora Stakes with her this year.”

Khawlah (3f Cape Cross – Villarrica by Selkirk) gave Sheikh Mohammed and bin Suroor their seventh victory in the UAE Oaks.  She is closely related to Cape Cross champion Sea The Stars.  Her second dam Melikah (Lammtarra) was a Listed winner of the Pretty Polly Stakes at Newmarket and she is a half-sister to four Group 1 winners including Galileo and Sea The Stars.