YESTERDAY started in the most perfect way imaginable for Qatar when Dubday, successful in the Group 3 Betfred Glorious Stakes, became the first horse trained there to win a race in Britain.

Arriving on the outside for Frankie Dettori, who missed some scrimmaging on the inner, the five-year-old son of Dubawi went on and defied the steady, unavailing late run of 15/8 favourite The Corsican with Windshear third.

Far from friendless at 11/2 on this occasion, Dubday had finished second in listed races at Newbury and Newmarket. This was a step-up in class but he handled it well and there could be even more to come from him.

At present, he is trained at Newmarket by Jassim Al Ghazali but the horse has a prolific record at home and also ran very well over two miles at the Dubai World Cup meeting.

“I was aware of the trouble on the inside and made sure I stayed wide,” Dettori said. “This is absolutely great for us, a first winner in Britain and at the meeting sponsored by the owners Al Shaqab racing. What a week!”

Dubday kept on to score by three-parts despite carrying his head a little awkwardly. According to racing manager Harry Herbert, this race had been the plan for quite some time but future plans are flexible.

“I was thrilled with him at Newbury,” Herbert said. “He won the biggest race in Qatar and, while I’m not saying he is the Frankel of Doha, it’s certainly true that everyone knows him!”

There were disappointments in the race, most notably Luca Cumani’s Connecticut, who was bumped and impeded but never travelled like a winner. Hillstar flattered in front for a while but has not found his form at all this season and soon dropped away.