Jacobson's Banishing Claims Shock Godolphin Mile
Banishing And Commissioner King Fight It Out
Defying his odds and the weight of local expectation, Banishing sweeps to victory in the Gr.2 Godolphin Mile over 1,600 metres on the dirt at Meydan on Dubai World Cup night, claiming the US$1,000,000 (AED3,673,000) prize under Silvestre De Sousa for New York-based trainer David Jacobson. The 6YO chestnut gelding by Ghostzapper, drawn in stall four, travelling powerfully into contention approaching the final furlong before asserting decisively to score by two and a quarter lengths, leaving the two market principals in his wake and delivering the opening upset of a spectacular evening at Meydan. Banishing is Godolphin-bred, making his victory in the Godolphin Mile a fitting outcome, becoming the seventh American winner of the 1,600-metre dirt feature.
The result rewards a campaign that has required considerable patience. Banishing arriving at Meydan on the back of two unplaced efforts at the very highest level, finishing eighth of 13 in the Gr.1 Saudi Cup at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in February, beaten 10 3/4 lengths behind the extraordinary Forever Young, and sixth of 12 in the Gr.1 Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Park in January, beaten 11 lengths in a field of similar calibre. Both appearances coming at a furlong beyond Saturday's trip and against company operating above the level of this Gr.2 assignment, and Jacobson's decision to route the gelding to Dubai at the drop in class proving entirely vindicated on the night.
The form behind the victory carrying weight. Banishing posting a Gr.2 success at Charles Town in August 2025 and a listed win at Ellis Park in July of the same year, confirming the gelding's natural ability at below the highest level and laying the foundation for a Middle East campaign that has now delivered its intended reward. Saudi owner Sharaf Mohammed Al Hariri, whose blue, silver and white colours were worn by De Sousa, has made a habit of buying into American horses to target Middle East riches, his silks previously carried to victory in the Gr.1 Saudi Cup two years ago by Senor Buscador. De Sousa, booked to ride ahead of the meeting with connections monitoring the ground conditions in Dubai throughout race week, producing a masterful front-running display and reading the pace with precision before asking the decisive question in the final quarter-mile.
Jacobson, speaking from his Kentucky base, expressed his delight at the result. "I'm very excited, he ran a super race. I knew he was doing good, he looked great and my assistant (Marino Carlos) has done a great job with him. It's terrific, what can I say? It's indescribable."
Jacobson added: "I wasn't sure about the trip. I knew Commissioner King had a lot of speed and was going to the lead. I was hoping we'd stalk, just like it worked out. Looked like he was getting in a little trouble there, but the jockey rode him perfect. Took him out, got him in the clear and Banishing ran one of his top races."
De Sousa reflected on a race in which the pace proved pivotal. "My horse was coming back in trip and it suits him, he's a proper miler. There was a lot of pace in the race and I just held the horse where he wanted to be. He took the turn a bit wrong, with the wrong leg, but he responded well under pressure. I was happy to follow him [Commissioner King] and also to have Mendelssohn Bay on my inside. I just took the safe option but the horse wasn't helping me, he was lugging to the outside when he came into the straight."
Commissioner King Fills The Runner-Up Role
Commissioner King, the pre-race market leader on an official rating of 112, running with characteristic purpose from stall one under Tadhg O'Shea to fill the runner-up berth and collect US$200,000 for trainer Bhupat Seemar. The 6YO son of Commissioner, a winner of the Gr.3 Burj Nahar over the same course and distance in February by four lengths, tracking the pace efficiently before finding only the winner too strong in the closing stages. Commissioner King scorched the Meydan dirt with a 21.4-second split between the 1,400-metre and 1,000-metre marks, setting a fierce tempo that ultimately brought Banishing into the race.The result a defeat, yet one that confirms Commissioner King's standing as among the UAE's most consistent dirt milers and secures a valuable placing on the most significant night of the Gulf season.
The wider context of the race making Seemar's position all the more remarkable. The dual UAE Champion Trainer saddling six of the 12 runners, the largest number any single handler has ever fielded in one race at the Dubai World Cup meeting, with Commissioner King and stablemate Mendelssohn Bay heading his team as the two most exposed performers at the mile trip. Speaking ahead of the race, Seemar had reflected upon the depth of his squad: "It's not about quantity, it's hopefully about quality. I think they're all doing pretty good actually, so hopefully we can run really well there. Commissioner King and Mendelssohn Bay are the form horses, they've got the ratings, but then there are some young pretenders who are coming along at the right time." (Source: The National, March 25, 2026.) Securing second and third in a race of this quality, while suffering a surprise defeat at the hands of the American raider, nonetheless representing a considerable achievement across the full breadth of the Seemar operation.
Mendelssohn Bay Completes A Seemar Podium
Mendelssohn Bay, a 5YO dark bay gelding by Mendelssohn, ridden by Richard Mullen from stall two, filling third position to collect US$100,000 and completing a one-two-three that sees Seemar's stable account for the first two finishers behind the winner. The Suited and Booted Racing Syndicate's representative arriving at Meydan as the Gr.3 Firebreak Stakes winner on Super Saturday in February, having beaten Commissioner King by 2 3/4 lengths in January before the positions were reversed between the pair at the Gr.3 Burj Nahar the following month. The familiar ebb and flow of form between the two stablemates running right to the close of the season, yet on this occasion both finding the step up to Gr.2 company and the class of the American raider beyond them.
The Godolphin Mile result delivering an early statement on Dubai World Cup night, reminding the Meydan faithful that form from the highest level does not always translate directly to the Group Two stage when a horse of proven ability at this classification arrives in peak condition. Banishing's victory, set against the backdrop of his two punishing runs in Riyadh and at Gulfstream, illustrates with clarity that class retains its value when applied at the correct level, and that Jacobson's patient navigation of the season's options has produced a richly deserved reward on racing's most spectacular stage.
1st. Banishing (T: David Jacobson / J: Silvestre De Sousa)
2nd. Commissioner King (T: Bhupat Seemar / J: Tadhg O'Shea)
3rd. Mendelssohn Bay (T: Bhupat Seemar / J: Richard Mullen)