Five years after taking the reins at Godolphin following the Mahmood al-Zarooni doping scandal in early 2013, Charlie Appleby delivered the greatest prize of all for Sheikh Mohammed's operation.
Third to Saxon Warrior in the English 2000 Guineas at Newmarket, Masar reversed that form at Epsom Downs on Saturday when striding clear under William Buick to become the first horse to carry the royal blue silks to victory in the Investec Derby.
The son of 2008 Derby winner New Approach (IRE) kept on strongly in the closing stages to defeat Dee Ex Bee (Farhh), who is owned by Sheikh Mohammed's son Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, by one and a half-lengths with Roaring Lion (Kitten's Joy) a half-length back in third just ahead of the odds-on favourite Saxon Warrior (Deep Impact).
Champion Australian sire Redoute's Choice had a runner in the race, the 50/1 shot Sevenna Star, who beat two home.
Appleby has garnered a fearsome reputation in Australia in recent years and he was thrilled to capture his first Epsom Derby.
"That was absolutely amazing," Appleby said.
"All I could think of in the last furlong was that I wanted to be the first trainer to win the Derby in the Godolphin blue. It was a fantastic team effort. Brett Doyle rides him every day and has been so sweet on him since the 2000 Guineas. We just wanted to get him to switch off and we thought he'd stay. William's given him a brilliant ride but the last 100 yards seemed a long time."
Sheikh Mohammed said: "I was jumping up and down in the final furlong. Horses are in my blood, I love them.
"It's not easy to win the Derby, but we have won it. We are pleased to be here today. Charlie Appleby is a very good trainer and the horse came from Dubai."
The result was another triumph for the champion racemare and staggeringly influential blue-hen Urban Sea who features on the top and bottom line of Masar's pedigree.
The daughter if Miswaki is, of course, the dam of New Approach's unstoppable sire Galileo, while she is the third dam of Masar's mother Khawlah, a daughter of Cape Cross, who was the winner of the UAE Oaks and Derby at Meydan.
Another former shuttler, Cape Cross (IRE) has also left his mark on the race as the sire of winners Golden Horn and Sea The Stars (sire of 2016 winner Harzand) and Oaks heroine Ouija Board (dam of 2014 winner Australia).
New Approach (IRE) shuttled to Australia from 2009 to 2012 where he found it hard to gain traction, leaving an average of 55 foals per season.
His best was the Group 1 SAJC Schweppes Oaks winner May's Dream in addition to talented performers Sword Of Light, Montsegur, Astronomos and Charlevoix as well as the imported Zipping Classic winner Beautiful Romance.
New Approach's 4-time Group 1 winning son Dawn Approach (IRE) is showing distinct promise with his first crop on the track in Australia.
It was an important milestone for New Approach (IRE) whose star was also on the wane in Europe with his fee less than half of the career high of £80,000 in 2014.
