Land Of Legends (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}) provided a throwback result in Thursday's G2 Al Fahidi Fort at Meydan, giving the once-prolific trainer and jockey combination of Saeed bin Suroor and Frankie Dettori-together responsible for so many big-race moments in Dubai–their first wins at the 2021 carnival.

Unraced at two, Land Of Legends strung together three wins-a novice race and a pair of handicaps–in the summer of 2019. He managed a pair of seconds in handicap company going a mile on the turf at last year's carnival and had not been seen since finishing 10th in the G3 Nad Al Sheba Turf on Super Saturday, after which he was gelded.

Bouncing out of barrier two on top, Dettori eventually settled Land Of Legends back in third on the rail, allowing Silver Line (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) to move forward and set the tempo. Finding an opening in front of him as they turned for home, Land Of Legends gradually wore down the lead of Silver Line approaching the final quarter mile. The dark bay surged to the lead as the last two winners of the Al Fahidi Fort, Charlie Appleby's D'Bai (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Glorious Journey (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), came to swamp him on either side, but Land Of Legends had been the subject of a well-timed move and had enough left in the tank to win by three-quarters of a length under a hand ride in the dying strides.

Pedigree Notes

The third foal out of the unraced Singspiel mare Homily, Land Of Legends is a grandson of the G2 Challenge S. winner Last Resort (GB) (Lahib), who also produced the dual graded stakes winner Rebellion (GB) (Mozart {Ire}). Last Resort is a half-sister to the G2 Goldene Peitsche scorer Barrow Creek (GB) (Cadeaux Genereux {GB}), while a plethora of black-type horses under the third dam also includes the G2 Prix du Rond Point Grand Hotel Barriere winner Trans Island (GB) (Selkirk) and the G3 Meydan Sprint scorer Fityaan (GB) (Haafhd {GB}). The fourth dam, the G3 King George S. winner Scarcely Blessed (Ire) (So Blessed {GB}), produced College Chapel (GB) (Sharpo {GB}), whose five group wins included the G2 Prix Maurice de Gheest and G2 Cork and Orrery S. Homily has a 2-year-old colt by Kodiac (GB).

Thursday, Meydan, Dubai
AL FAHIDI FORT SPONSORED BY CREEK VIEWS BY AZIZI-G2, $163,000, Meydan, 1-21, NH4yo/up & SH 3yo/up, 7fT, 1:22.55, gd.
1–LAND OF LEGENDS (IRE), 126, g, 5, by Iffraaj (GB)
1st Dam: Homily (GB), by Singspiel (Ire)
2nd Dam: Last Resort (GB), by Lahib
3rd Dam: Breadcrumb (GB), by Final Straw (GB)
1ST STAKES WIN. O/B-Godolphin (IRE); T-Saeed bin Suroor;
J-Frankie Dettori. $97,800. Lifetime Record: 10-4-3-0,
$202,095. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
Werk Nick Rating: B+.
2–D'Bai (Ire), 126, g, 7, Dubawi (Ire)–Savannah Belle (GB), by
Green Desert. O-Godolphin; B-Lodge Park Stud (IRE); T-Charlie
Appleby. $32,600.
3–Glorious Journey (GB), 126, g, 6, Dubawi (Ire)–Fallen For You
(GB), by Dansili (GB). (2,600,000gns Ylg '16 TATOCT). O-HH
Sheikha Al Jalila Racing; B-Normandie Stud Ltd (GB); T-Charlie
Appleby. $16,300.
Margins: 3/4, 3/4, 1 1/4. Also Ran:  Silver Line (Ire), Could Be King (GB), Final Song (Ire), Medahim (Ire), Velorum (Ire), Almoradi (Brz), Enjazaat (GB).
Click for the Racing Post result. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO.