(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) Love was in the air as Godolphin''s Summer Romance clinched the Group 3 Princess Elizabeth Stakes, while Ahmad Al Shaikh''s Khalifa Sat finished a fantastic second in the Group 1 Epsom Derby at Epsom Downs on Saturday.
The three-year-old filly from Kingman, Summer Romance beat Cloak Of Spirits, owned by Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum, by lengths to win her first Group race on her third attempt.
"She''s turned the form around with Cloak Of Spirits. She deserved that. She''s always been perceived as a nice filly within the stable and I''m just glad that she''s got the Group win next to her name. She''s a filly that should go through the grades nicely," jockey William Buick said of Summer Romance, who had finished third in the Group 3 Shadwell Dick Poole Fillies'' Stakes last September.
Meanwhile, Khalifa Sat, the son of Free Eagle, finished 5 lengths behind surprise winner Serpentine, who stunned the favourites.
Meanwhile, fresh from his dominant Group 1 victory in the Guineas Festival at Newmarket, Godolphin star Ghaiyyath will be back at the starting gates at Sandown Park on Sunday, eyeing another Group 1 prize.
The five-year-old son of two Irish Classic winners - 2005 Group 1 Irish 2000 Guineas champion Dubawi and 2006 Group 1 Irish 1000 Guineas champion Nighttime, Ghaiyyath won the Group 1 Coronation Cup Stakes in sensational style early last month.
And British handler Charlie Appleby''s charge will be aiming for a third Group 1 win when he goes up against six other strong contenders in the Group 1 Coral Eclipse Stakes.
Godolphin, owned by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, will be hoping for a sixth success in the race established in 1886, and back then, Britain''s richest.
Hailing had won in 1995 and then went on to defend the title in 1996. Daylami triumphed in 1998, while Refuse to Bend won in 2004. Hawkbill got their last win in 2016.
Ghaiyyath renews his rivalry with Enable after the mare had won Group 1 Prix de l''Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp, France, in October, in their only previous meeting.
And while Enable, owned by Saudi Arabia Prince Khalid Abdullah, will embark on a title defence of the Eclipse, Ghaiyyath will look to keep his unblemished record this year intact. He will strive for a hat-trick of Group winners after triumphing in the Group 3 Dubai Millennium Stakes at the Dubai World Cup Carnival at Meydan in February and the victory at Newmarket.
Meanwhile, 2018 Group 1 Melbourne Cup winner Cross Counter, drops down in class in the Group 3 Henry II Stakes, while Lazuli competes in the Group 3 Coral Sprint Stakes.
Elsewhere, in Chantilly, France, Victor Ludorum will be eyeing a Group 1 double when he races in the Prix du Jockey Club. The three-year-old Shamardal colt had clinched the Group 1 Poule d''Essai des Poulains - the French 2000 Guineas - last month.
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