American challenger Frosted stamped his class on the second round of the Al Maktoum Challenge at Meydan.
Kiaran McLaughlin's flying grey ran with great credit in two legs of the Triple Crown back in his homeland last season, finishing fourth in the Kentucky Derby and runner-up in the Belmont behind the history-making American Pharoah.
Making his first appearance since finishing well behind the same horse in the Breeders' Cup Classic, Frosted was a warm order as the 10-11 favourite and those who took the prohibitive odds will have had few concerns for the duration of the near 10-furlong contest.
Munaaser held a narrow advantage for a long way, but Frosted, ridden by William Buick for the first time and without the benefit of Lasix, loomed ominously alongside at the top of the home straight and picked up well once popped the question to seal a most impressive victory.
Gold City was best of the rest in second, but not in the same league as the Godolphin-owned winner, who is now 7-1 with William Hill for the Dubai World Cup, for which RaceBets halved his price to 5-1.
Buick said: "He was very impressive and I just heard it's a new track record. It felt very impressive, so I'm not surprised. I was very pleased with the way we've managed to do it. He had a very uninterrupted trip, he didn't have a hard race and it all went very smoothly.
"It was a very nice stepping stone for him because he's had a bit of a layoff. He should have enjoyed that experience and come on bundles for it.
"He gave me a very nice feel. He's got a couple more steps to go before he's there (World Cup), but he couldn't have done much more today, so that's the way we're going."
McLaughlin and Buick doubled up in the Group Three Firebreak Stakes with Confrontation, who hit top gear late in the day to readily beat One Man Band as Mike de Kock's World Cup hopeful Mubtaahij proved very disappointing.
Godolphin also landed the Cape Verdi, with Very Special leading her rivals a merry dance. Runner-up in Listed races at Lingfield and Kempton earlier this winter, Saeed bin Suroor's filly was the 13-8 market leader for her Dubai debut in this Group Two contest.
James Doyle kept things simple in the saddle, sending his mount into an uncontested lead, and Very Special had more than enough in reserve to hold Tom Dascombe's Excilly at bay.
"On all form that she'd shown before, she had to step up, but the guys do a good job with her at home," said Doyle.
"She wears a hood to keep her relaxed and she's quite highly strung. Full credit to the lads for keeping her sweet. She has taken to it out here and has definitely improved for training at Al Quoz on the turn."
Ertijaal continued his rise through the sprinting ranks with an impressive victory in the EGA Billet Trophy.
Considered good enough to run in the 2000 Guineas two years ago by former trainer William Haggas, the five-year-old joined Dubai-based Ali Rashid Al Raihe in 2015 and a gelding operation appears to have helped him raise his game.
Following an impressive comeback victory at this track a month ago, Ertijaal was an even-money favourite to defy top weight and did so with the minimum of fuss in the hands of Paul Hanagan.
Hanagan said: "They went a nice gallop and you can ride him either way - you can go from the front or take a lead - and the quicker they go the better.
"It felt pretty easy. He goes and then coming up to the line he has a look around, so you know there's plenty left in the tank."
Asked about a potential tilt at the Al Quoz Sprint on Dubai World Cup night next month, the jockey added: " There's still a long way to go, but his last two runs have been very impressive and he's on an upward curve."