The Newsells Park Stud bred Ispolini won the Gr.3 Nad Al Sheba Trophy by an impressive 10½l at Meydan on Thursday 28th February for Godolphin.

A winner at the track a few weeks ago, this four-year-old son of Dubawi won his maiden at two, and finished second by a nose in the Gr.3 bet365 Classic Trial at Sandown at 3.

Trainer Charlie Appleby said: “I always knew that stepping up in trip was going to open new doors for him and he showed that in his last start, his first one over this trip.  We thought he was going the right way going into this evening.  He was a horse we felt was going to be very competitive.  Going forward, he could be a potential horse for the Gr.2 Dubai Gold Cup on World Cup night.  There are plans for him to potentially go to Australia as well.”

Jockey Mickael Barcelona said: “He did it very well and he has been very impressive today.”

Ispolini was also sold by Newsells Park Stud as a yearling where he was knocked down to Godolphin for 1.2m guineas at the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 1. 

He is a half-brother to the Stakes performer Playful Sound (Street Cry) out of the Gr.2 New York Stakes winner Giants Play (Giant’s Causeway), a daughter of Gr.1 Fillies’ Mile winner and Gr.1 Irish Oaks second Playful Act (Sadler’s Wells).  Ispolini’s third dam is the blue hen mare Magnificient Style, dam of eight Stakes winners including Newsells Gr.1 sire Nathaniel.  Giants Play also has a yearling colt by Frankel currently at Newsells Park Stud, and a two-year-old full sister to Ispolini who sold for 1.2m guineas to Stroud Coleman Bloodstock at last year’s Tattersalls October Yearling Sales.