Kinsale King announced himself as a potent new force in the global sprint ranks by taking out the Dubai Golden Shaheen, sponsored by Gulf News. Although he was making Group 1 debut, Kinsale King was always prominent in the run for jockey Garrett Gomez and never looked like relinquishing the lead having hit the front shortly after the turn for home. In the end, the five-year-old California-based son of Yankee Victor held a half-length margin at the line from the much-touted Singaporean star Rocket Man.

Hong Kong`s One World was a length and a half further behind in third. “I just wanted to get involved in the race early and once got he got involved he travelled well and in the last 400m he stayed on well. It was wonderful,” Gomez enthused.

American horses remain virtually unbeatable in this race. It was the 10th success by a Stateside sprinter since its introduction in 1996. And for overjoyed trainer Carl O`C¸allaghan, 34, the result meant the world as his young career reached its zenith.

“This is what I want to do with my life and hopefully this proves that I can train and that it opens up a few more doors for me,” he said.

Commenting on Kinsale King, he continued: “He`s a great horse. He`s got a lot of heart, he`s a grinder and he just keeps going. His preparation went well. We took him to Golden Gate to work him on the Tapeta surface there and he went well and he travelled over here well – there was never one hitch.”

A date at the Golden Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot now beckons for Kinsale King where he may tackle Hong Kong sprinter Joy And Fun, winner of the Al Quoz Sprint earlier on the programme.