Thursday 17 January 2019 21:45, UK
Poetic Charm gave Godolphin a seventh victory in the last nine years in the Cape Verdi when running away with the Group Two heat at Meydan on Thursday.
The Balanchine will be the objective for the four-year-old half-sister to Teofilo, after she showed the opposition no mercy with an impressive display.
James Doyle was content to stay at the rear until the straight, where he moved Poetic Charm (11-10 favourite) out to make her challenge ,and she quickened in taking fashion to go on and strike by four lengths from Asoof.
Winning trainer Charlie Appleby said: "James gave her a peach of a ride in getting her switched off. I was always confident turning in as she was travelling supremely well and has a finishing kick. She out the race to bed nicely.
"She's been training a lot better this winter than she was last year. She is a stronger individual and more mature.
"She's done that well and I see no reason why she shouldn't see out the Balanchine as well. That is the only race left over here for the fillies and mares so she'll have a stab at it.
"I'm sure she'll run a pretty big race."
Ispolini is set to head for the Group Three Nad Al Sheba Trophy next month after landing a cosy success in the Azizi Riviera Handicap.
Doyle took the Appleby-trained four-year-old to the front over a furlong out and the even-money favourite kicked clear to score by a length and a quarter.
Appleby had a one-two in the Azizi Star Handicap with First Nation (8-1), ridden by Brett Doyle, beating Colm O'Donoghue on Nordic Lights, with Doyle out of luck on Celestial Spheres.
Saeed bin Suroor provided Godolphin with a fourth winner on the card when Desert Fire (5-1), ridden by Chris Hayes, got home from stablemates Race Day and Bedouin's Story in the Azizi Mina Handicap.
David Marnane's Irish challenger Settle For Bay was never able to strike a blow.
