LONDON: Dubai royal Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al-Maktoum got his Goodwood Festival off to the perfect start when Alfarris won the opening race at the famous meet in England.

The William Haggas-trained four-year-old was the favorite for the 15-runner contest and he did not disappoint, winning by half a length for the deputy ruler of Dubai.

“It was very good and I’m very pleased,” said Haggas. “He’s grown up and he’s a different horse to what he used to be.

“He had a very high testicle, which we thought was bothering him last year, and he had a pretty big operation to get it out.

He’s matured a lot this year. He just got beat at Sandown last time, but he’s made up for that today.”