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The Dubai World Cup has again proven to lead the way in horse racing’s international era, its global appeal emphasised by the Dubai Racing Club receiving in excess of 1,600 entries from 27 countries for the world’s richest race-meeting.
 
The 2009 US$6,000,000 Group 1 Dubai World Cup, sponsored by Emirates Airline, to be run on March 28, 2009, holds special significance as it will be the 14th and final renewal staged at Nad Al Sheba racecourse before racing is moved to Meydan in 2010.
 
ASIATIC BOY and WELL ARMED, second and third behind champion Curlin in 2008, head an impressive list of 263 entries for the Dubai World Cup.
 
Other nominations include Japan’s star mare DAIWA SCARLET, Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile winner ALBERTUS MAXIMUS and COLONEL JOHN.
 
Asiatic Boy’s stablemate HONOUR DEVIL is also entered, the four-year-old out to create history by capturing the Dubai World Cup a year after winning the UAE Derby.
 
A total of 16 countries are represented in the entries for the Dubai World Cup itself, up from 11 in 2008, and, not surprisingly, the three countries to be represented by winners of the Dubai World Cup, the UAE, USA and England, are again prominent in the entries.
 
The UAE leads the way with a total 143 entries, followed by the USA (39), South Africa (18), GB (13), Japan (10), Saudi Arabia (9), Brazil and France (7), Peru (6), Qatar (5), Argentina, Bahrain, Czechoslovakia, Ireland, Mauritius and Uruguay (1).
 
“The Dubai Racing Club and the Dubai World Cup is committed to the era of international racing, and as we can see from the increased number of entries we have received, it proves that, so too are the world’s owners and trainers,” said Dubai Racing Club CEO, Mr Frank Gabriel Jr.
 
“Nad Al Sheba has been the home of the most international race meeting in the world and the Dubai World Cup meeting this year will be the perfect finale to this racecourse before we move to Meydan in 2010.”
 
Champions are prevalent in the other races for the meeting. EAGLE MOUNTAIN and VIVA PATACA, who fought out a thrilling Hong Kong Cup in December are set to resume their rivalry in the US$5,000,000 Group 1 Dubai Sheema Classic, sponsored by Nakheel, the race attracting 280 entries from 18 countries.
 
The Hong Kong-trained Viva Pataca returns hoping to go one better than his second to Sun Classique in 2008.
 
DOCTOR DINO, third in 2008 and winner of the Hong Kong Vase, is set to continue his international travels while the Japan Cup winner SCREEN HERO and Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud and Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe second YOUMZAIN returns for a third attempt after his third in 2007 and fifth last year.
 
In 2008 six individual Group 1 winners emerged from the Dubai Duty Free and the quality of the race is again certain in 2009 with a plethora of stars nominated.
 
The South African JAY PEG has begun his campaign at the Dubai International Racing Carnival in preparation for his defence on the US$5,000,000 Group 1 Dubai Duty Free, sponsored by Dubai Duty Free, a race that attracted 333 entries from 19 countries. It is also the second round of the US$12,000,000 Asian Mile Challenge.
 
ARCHIPENKO and VODKA, third and fourth last year, are set to return and both will have lead-up runs at the Dubai International Racing Carnival while Australia’s Horse of the Year, WEEKEND HUSSLER, is being aimed at the race and will come through the Group 1 Futurity Stakes at Caulfield on February 28, the opening round of the Asian Mile Challenge.
 
LUSH LASHES, winner of the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot and Yorkshire Oaks, and Prix de l’Opera winner LADY MARIAN are also among a star studded array of entries.
 
Champions from five regions headline the 154 entries for the US$2,000,000 Group 1 Dubai Golden Shaheen, sponsored by Gulf News.
 
Europe’s champion sprinter MARCHAND D’OR, America’s INDIAN BLESSING, South Africa’s J J THE JET PLANE, Japan’s SLEEPLESS NIGHT and Australia’s APACHE CAT all figure prominently in the entries and the track record at Nad Al Sheba looks in danger of being shattered.
 
The US$2,000,000 Group 2 UAE Derby, sponsored by S & M Al Naboodah Group, sees Godolphin’s recent recruits MIDSHIPMAN and VINEYARD HAVEN  amongst the 154 entries from 14 countries along with a triumvirate of American Grade 1 winners PIONEER OF THE NILE, SQUARE EDDIE and SKY DIVA.
 
Cigar Mile winner TALE OF EKATI and HARLEM ROCKER are among the 332 entries from 18 countries for the US$1,000,000 Group 2 Godolphin Mile, sponsored by Etisalat.
 
The Purebred Arabian US$250,000 Group 1 Dubai Kahayla Classic, sponsored by Emaar, received 53 entries from seven countries including the defending champion MIZZNA, Al Maktoum Challenge Round 1 winner KANDAR DU FALGAS and the French Group 1 winner NASHWAN AL KHALIDIAH.

Thursday’s second meeting of the 2009 Dubai International Racing Carnival, kindly sponsored by Al Tayer Motors, featured the Group 3 1200m Al Shindagha Sprint on the dirt.
 
It was won in style by the Jerry Barton-trained Big City Man who showed acceleration that the sponsors would have been proud of in one of their Ferraris!
 
Never far off the pace, he went to the front at halfway and quickened clear 200m later.
 
He was never likely to be caught under Jose Verenzuela and Barton was delighted: “That was a very pleasing effort and we will look at the Dubai Golden Shaheen on Dubai World Cup night after the Mahab Al Shimaal on Super Thursday.”
 
Godolphin enjoyed a memorable double with Alexandros sealing the brace in the concluding 1600m turf handicap, the Al Tayer Motors 1600.
 
Frankie Dettori was in the saddle as he had been earlier when Desert Party landed the Ford Flex Trophy, a 1400m conditions race on dirt.
 
Restricted to three-year-olds, it has proven a reliable source of UAE 2000 Guineas winners in the past and that will be this colt’s next assignment according to trainer Saeed Bin Suroor: “The UAE [200] Guineas is the obvious target and he is a horse we like a lot with some very good form in the States.”
 
Mubarak Bin Shafya may be in his firsts season with a training licence but he repeated his double of the first week with Gladiatorus winning the Jaguar XF Trophy, a 1500m turf handicap before Gravitas landed the 2400m handicap, the Range Rover Trophy, also on grass.
 
Ahmad Ajtebi rode both and said: “It has been a great night and the whole season has been brilliant so far.”
 
The 1300m turf handicap divided and South African Mike de Kock saddled Hunting Tower to win the Jaguar XK Trophy under Kevin Shea, before Richard Hills won the Land Rover Trophy on Erwan Charpy’s Munaddam.
 
Luca Cumani’s Presvis was the easiest winner of the night and turned the 2000m turf handicap, the Al Tayer Motors Trophy, into a procession under Ryan Moore.
 
Trainer’s daughter Francesca said: “We were very hopeful of a big run and he is a nice horse who appears to be going the right way.”
 
Local trainer Ali Rashid Al Raihe saddled a 1-2 in the 1700m dirt handicap, the Ford Mustang Trophy which was won by Royston Ffrench on Glen Nevis who denied stable companion Aamaaq close home.
 

Japan may yet to have registered a winner at the Dubai International Racing Carnival, albeit from very few runners, but they do have a great record on World Cup night. 
 Victories for the likes of Admire Moon (Dubai Duty Free), Stay Gold and Heart’s Cry (Dubai Sheema Classic) and Utopia (Godolphin Mile) have seen the Hinomaru (Japanese flag) flown over Nad Al Sheba with pride in the past and this year it appears they could have their strongest team ever.
 
Multiple Group 1 winner Daiwa Scarlett, ruled out of the Dubai World Cup meeting last year by an eye injury, could bid for recompense this year, while Sleepless Night may be aimed at the Dubai Golden Shaheen.
 
Matsurida Gogh, fourth in last year’s Japan Cup, is being aimed at the Dubai Sheema Classic, where he could well be joined by 2007 Melbourne Cup runner-up Pop Rock, while last year’s Dubai Duty Free fourth Vodka will return for another crack at the $5million race.
 
Globetrotter Casino Drive, who won in America last year before contesting the Breeders’ Cup Classic, would hold a live chance in the Godolphin Mile and could emerge as a Dubai World Cup contender.
 
Prep races on Super Thursday are reportedly under consideration for many of the Japanese stars who could be joined by the likes of Tascata Sorte, Black Emblem, Silent Pride, Kikuno Salire, Wonder Speed, Provinage, Suteka Shinsukekun, Tosen Captain, Swift Current, Suni, Incentive Guy, Agnes Jedi, Satono Kokudo and Earth Living who have all been allotted Carnival berths in what promises to be a very strong Japanese challenge.
 
Black Emblem, winner of the Group 1 Shuka Sho over 2000m on turf in October, could be their first representative this season with a tilt at the Group 3 Cape Verdi Stakes, over 1600m, under consideration by trainer Shigeyuki Kojima.
 
The Group 3 1777m Balanchine Stakes would then be her next planned start.
 
Meanwhile, handler Michihiro Ogasa is considering both the Listed UAE 1000 Guineas, over 1600m on dirt, and Oaks, over 200m further for Earth Living, an American-foaled daughter of Yonaguska who made a winning debut and was second in Group 2 company on her only subsequent start.
 
Super Thursday could well see the aforementioned duo Vodka and Casino Drive contest the Group 2 Jebel Hatta, the prep for the Dubai Duty Free and the Group 2 Maktoum Challenge III over the Dubai World Cup trip respectively.
 

The second meeting of the 2009 Dubai International racing Carnival gets underway this Thursday, kindly sponsored by Al Tayer Motors.
 
Al Tayer Motors, one of the UAE’s premier automobile dealerships, is a long-standing sponsor of the Dubai International Racing Challenge.
 
Together with its brands Ford, Lincoln, Mercury, Land Rover and Jaguar, Al Tayer Motors is sponsoring the horse races on January 22 at the Nad Al Sheba racecourse.
 
Frank Gabriel Jr, Chief Executive Officer of Dubai Racing Club said: “Al Tayer Motors has been a terrific supporter of racing in the UAE over the years, and the Dubai Racing Club is indebted for their generous support.
 
“Last week saw our first international winner of the season along with impressive results from our local stables. It’s a taste of things to come and I am sure Al Tayer Motors will be rewarded with an exciting race meeting this Thursday.”
 
Ashok Khanna, Chief Executive Officer of Al Tayer Motors added: “Al Tayer Motors is pleased to continue its support to the DIRC, which is an important part of the build-up to the globally-renowned Dubai World Cup.
 
“This series of exciting races features some of the best international jockeys and the finest horses from around the world resulting in thrilling action-packed evenings.
 
“Al Tayer Motors’ association with such high-profile sporting and social events gives our partners and customers a terrific opportunity to enjoy some of the most glamorous and entertaining events in Dubai.”
 
Thursday’s meeting offers a number of hospitality options available to suit all tastes and budgets in both the Millennium Grandstand and the Maktoum Grandstand.
 
Entrance to the public area of the racecourse is free of charge and there are also complimentary transfers to and from Nad Al Sheba from Dubai Marina (by Spinneys), Arabian Ranches (Shopping complex), Wafi (in front of Pyramids) and Emirates Towers (Boulevard entrance by Cartier).
 
Buses will leave at 6.00pm from these locations, and return departures will be at 10pm from the racecourse.
 

The 2005 Dubai Duty Free victory of Elvstroem, whose half-brother Haradasun won the Group 1 Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot on his second and final run in Europe last year, remains Australia’s Nad Al Sheba highlight. However, who can forget the impact Tony Noonan had when saddling their first Carnival runners in 2007 with Benedetti and Smart and Mighty winning their first three races between them. Leading Australian trainer Danny O’Brien is hoping to repeat the trick with Valedictum, fourth in last SaturdayThe 2005 Dubai Duty Free victory of Elvstroem, whose half-brother Haradasun won the Group 1 Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot on his second and final run in Europe last year, remains Australia’s Nad Al Sheba highlight.
 
However, who can forget the impact Tony Noonan had when saddling their first Carnival runners in 2007 with Benedetti and Smart and Mighty winning their first three races between them.
 
Leading Australian trainer Danny O’Brien is hoping to repeat the trick with Valedictum, fourth in last Saturday’s Chester Manifold Stakes at Flemington and Barbaricus was unlucky when unplaced over a trip on the short side.
 
Both are set to fly to Dubai on Tuesday and one will run on each 5th and 6th February.
 
Valedictum is a Group 1 winner, while Barbaricus was third in the Group 1 Caulfield Cup before a narrow second in the Group 1 LKS Mackinnon Stakes and O’Brien explains that prize money is a major reason behind the raid: “It is impossible to ignore; prize money in Australia has been static for five years so it makes sense and I intend to go to Dubai every year now.”
 
Barbaricus, who could develop into a Dubai Sheema Classic contender on Dubai World Cup night, will run over 1777m, 2000m and 2400m, while Valedictum, will concentrate on handicaps around 1600m.
 
Stable companion Master O’Reilly, winner of the 2007 Caulfield Cup, will have two or three more starts at home culminating in the Australian Cup on March 7 before shipping to Dubai for the $5million Dubai Sheema Classic on Dubai World Cup night where he is likely to be joined by multiple Group 1 winner Weekend Hussler, who is being aimed at the Dubai Duty Free.
 
Trainer Ross McDonald visited Dubai in November and was impressed by the facilities. “We checked it all out and it all looks good for him,” he said.
 
Australian sprint sensation, Apache Cat, is another possible Dubai World Cup night runner with the Dubai Golden Shaheen his target.
 ’s Chester Manifold Stakes at Flemington and Barbaricus was unlucky when unplaced over a trip on the short side. Both are set to fly to Dubai on Tuesday and one will run on each 5th and 6th February. Valedictum is a Group 1 winner, while Barbaricus was third in the Group 1 Caulfield Cup before a narrow second in the Group 1 LKS Mackinnon Stakes and O’Brien explains that prize money is a major reason behind the raid: “It is impossible to ignore; prize money in Australia has been static for five years so it makes sense and I intend to go to Dubai every year now.” Barbaricus, who could develop into a Dubai Sheema Classic contender on Dubai World Cup night, will run over 1777m, 2000m and 2400m, while Valedictum, will concentrate on handicaps around 1600m. Stable companion Master O’Reilly, winner of the 2007 Caulfield Cup, will have two or three more starts at home culminating in the Australian Cup on March 7 before shipping to Dubai for the $5million Dubai Sheema Classic on Dubai World Cup night where he is likely to be joined by multiple Group 1 winner Weekend Hussler, who is being aimed at the Dubai Duty Free. Trainer Ross McDonald visited Dubai in November and was impressed by the facilities. “We checked it all out and it all looks good for him,” he said. Australian sprint sensation, Apache Cat, is another possible Dubai World Cup night runner with the Dubai Golden Shaheen his target.

Presvis will be among the first runners for Luca Cumani at the Dubai International Racing Carnival. 

Pictures courtesy of Dubai Racing Club/Neville Hopwood.

Leading trainer Luca Cumani was on hand at Nad Al Sheba on Saturday morning, supervising final preparations for what will be his first runners at a Dubai International Carnival on Thursday night.
 
Cumani is yet to have a runner at the Dubai International Carnival but was one of the pioneers of the International Stables, training Endless Hall at the facility when that horse was fourth in the 2001 Dubai Sheema Classic before his win in the Singapore Airlines International Cup.
 
Cumani has sent five horses to Dubai for 2009, headed by Dubai Sheema Classic contender Purple Moon with Presvis and Swop due to run this week.
 
 “We will enter both Presvis and Swop this week with the 2000m handicap looking ideal for Presvis. Swop will be entered in the 1500m handicap but, if he does not get in, there is a race the following week for him,” Cumani explained.
 
“I have been here a couple of days now and am delighted with the way the horses look. Purple Moon came from straight from Hong Kong and has settled in nicely, as they all have.”
 
Champion UAE Trainer Doug Watson was one of many spotted supervising horses at Nad Al Sheba on a busy Saturday morning.
 
The American was present to see Fares and Iqte Saab work upsides on the dirt, about half an hour after new recruit Kalahari Gold had cantered steadily alone. He remains in quarantine.
 
Of the other pair, Watson said: “That was very pleasing and they have both gone nicely. They should be out this week or next.”
 
Erwan Charpy was another local trainer working horses and recent Jebel Ali Stakes hero Rampallion worked in company with striking grey Hello Morning who looks an exciting addition to the Green Stables’ team.
 
Bahrain’s Fawzi Nass was on hand to see Eddie Ahern put Jonquil through his paces and reported last season’s Jebel Ali Mile winner to be ‘one piece of work away from a run.’
 
South African’s Mike de Kock and Herman Brown were also well represented with last year’s Dubai World Cup runner-up Asiatic Boy catching the eye from the de Kock string, while Brown, standing in the grandstand, appeared happy with his horses, including Perfect Season who cantered on the dirt under assistant trainer Terry Fripp.
 

Indy, winner of Maktoum Challenge Trophy 

Dubai International Racing Carnival action returned to Nad Al Sheba on Thursday on a seven race card kindly sponsored by Shadwell Estates and featuring the opening rounds of the Al Maktoum Challenge, both over 1600m on dirt.
 
The Doug Watson-trained Kandar Du Falgas became the fourth horse to win the Purebred Arabian Group 1 version twice with Richard Hills in the saddle as the pair repeated their victory of 12 months ago.
 
Never far off the pace, he was sent for home 600m out and always looked likely to hold Rod Simpson’s Fryvolous who was a gallant second under Daragh O’Donohoe.
 
Hills explained: “He is a nice purebred and these are his ideal conditions. We had hoped to get a run into him before but, as you can see, he goes well fresh. His best form entitled him to go close and hopefully he can win again.”
 
Godolphin made a flying start to their 2009 campaign with My Indy running out the very easy winner of the Thoroughbred Maktoum Challenge I, again over 1600m on dirt, in the hands of Frankie Dettori.
 
The four-year-old skipped clear of his field about two furlongs out and was never going to be caught to the delight of his jockey who said: “It has been a great first night back and My Indy has won that well. I assume the second round of the Maktoum Challenge will be his next target.”
 
Earlier, Dettori and Bin Suroor wasted little time opening their accounts with Sos Brillante, their first runner of the campaign, landing the 1400m dirt conditions race for three-year-old fillies.
 
Bin Suroor said: “She is a nice filly and I am very pleased with that.”
 
Ireland supplied the first international winner of the carnival when Miss Gorica won the first turf race, a 1500m handicap for fillies and mares.
 
Champion Jockey Ted Durcan was in the saddle and said: “That is a nice start to the evening and Carnival and I was always travelling well.”
 
Mike de Kock has trained more carnival winners than anybody and Silver Mist opened his 2009 account in style when winning the 1500m turf handicap in the hands of Kevin Shea who said: “We were drawn wide which was a big concern but he has carried me into the race nicely and done it well.”
 
New trainer Mubarak Bin Shafya won the other two turf handicaps with Ahmad Ajtebi, no longer an apprentice, scoring a decisive victory on Third Set in the 1777m race.
 
Ajtebi said: “Things have been going so well lately and this is just brilliant; to ride a Carnival winner on my local track.”
 
Jesus Rosales then won the concluding 2400m handicap on the same trainer’s Crime Scene in the colours of Her Royal Highness Princess Haya.
 

The eagerly awaited opening night of the $31million 2009 Dubai International Racing Carnival arrives on Thursday with a seven race card kindly sponsored by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s Shadwell Estate.

The night features the Al Maktoum Challenge Round I, two 1600m dirt contests, one for Purebred Arabians and one for Thoroughbreds, both of which have attracted the previous year’s winner.

The Group 1 Purebred Arabian race starts proceedings at 7.15pm with nine declared, headed by last year’s winner Kandar Du Falgas of whom a big run is expected by trainer Doug Watson who said: “The yard is going well and we know conditions suit him. He is in good form at home and will go well.”

His big danger, however, has to be Fryvolous who has twice beaten Watson’s second runner Paris Gagner over the course and distance, as well as winning Abu Dhabi’s National Day Cup.

His trainer Rod Simpson said: “He has gone from strength to strength this year but this is a big test for him.”

Happy Boy turned the thoroughbred race, a Group 3 contest, into a procession last year but will be having his first start for his latest trainer, Mubarak Bin Shafya, this time.

That said, lack of a run did not stop him last year and he would be hard to beat if in the same form this year.

Gloria De Campeao chased him home last year and is one of five who return for another crack at Happy Boy.

He has to be respected, as does Erwan Charpy’s Golden Arrow who was third in 2007 and is a course and distance winner this season.

Mike de Kock won the race in 2005 and his Royal Vintage would be hard to beat if returning to the level of form he showed on the Nad Al Sheba dirt last season when runner-up in the UAE 2000 Guineas and Derby, as well as winning the Al Bastakiya.

However, he has been gelded after a disappointing campaign in Europe and his trainer warned: “He will come on for the run and we are just hoping that a return to Nad Al Sheba revives his fortunes after his time in England.”

Jerry Barton saddled a double last week and Don Renato, third in last year’s Godolphin Mile, will be a big danger.

Assistant trainer Stephane Chevalier said: “We know he likes it here and he has been training well.”

Godolphin rely on My Indy, twice behind Royal Vintage last year, but trainer Saeed Bin Suroor said: “We are hoping for a big run as he has improved over the summer.”

Four turf handicaps, one restricted to fillies and mares, and 1400m conditions race on the dirt, the Nayef Fillies, completes the card.

That conditions race was won last year by Godolphin’s Fiesta Lady and Bin Suroor will be hoping that Sos Brillante can follow suit but she looks to face two serious rivals in India Tiberina (De Kock) and Esta Bailando (Barton).

Any race goer picking all seven winners in the Pick Six competitions stands to win outright, or share over AED100,000 if there is more than one winning ticket.

Force Freeze (above) impressed all when winning the Winter Racing Challenge Final over 1,200m on January 1^st to stake his claim for sprint honours during the Carnival. 

The international challenge for the 2009 Dubai International Racing Carnival may be the strongest ever assembled but they will certainly not gave it all their own way with a ‘home defence’ that is certainly the most powerful we have seen.

As always, Godolphin trainer Saeed Bin Suroor has a powerful string at his disposal which includes some very exciting young recruits such as Midshipman and Vineyard Haven who will be aimed at the Classics.

Supported by a team of older, seasoned campaigners and handicappers, they will want merit respect throughout the $31million extravaganza.

New trainers Munarak Bin Shafya and Abdulla Bin Huzaim will be looking to open their Carnival accounts with the former training horses such as Happy Boy and Dijeerr, while Bin Huzaim has Dieerr’s brother Plavius.

Ismail Mohammed, leading trainer at the 2007 Carnival, is also back this year.

Champion Trainer Doug Watson and former champion Ewan Charpy look to have the strongest teams elsewhere with Watson’s Force Freeze and Green Coast two who have already demonstrated their wellbeing this season.

Joined by a plethora of high-profile new recruits, such as Barbecue Eddie, Merchant Marine, Classic Blade, World Ruler, Weald, Pallodio, Shopton Lane, Prince Shaun and Masaalek, supplementing regulars like Mutasallil and Mutamarres, Watson is looking forward to the Carnival: “We have a lot fewer domestic season horses this year and the Carnival has been the focus.

“We have a really nice team thanks to His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum and the other owners, like Malih Al Basti and I am very grateful. Hopefully we can get among the winners.”

Charpy, meanwhile, has a very powerful team at his disposal and Grantley Adams, Emirates Gold and Rampallion have all won Listed races in the first part of the season to advertise their claims.

Carnival regulars Singing Poet, Golden Arrow and Munaddam are joined by exciting horses such as Tajdeef, Hello Morning and Tasteyville and the Frenchman is quietly optimistic: “We have some nice horses certainly but Carnival races are never easy to win as we all know.”

Dhruba Selvaratnam is able to welcome back stable stalwarts Seihali and Marbush this year after injury, while Ali Rashid Al Raihe has made a tremendous start to the season and will be looking to continue in the same vein.

Musabah Al Muhairi’s Leitmotiv was pipped on the line last week, while Satish Seemar’s Pointing North is a horse with a big reputation.

The highest quality Dubai International Racing Carnival to date commences on Thursday with an exceptionally strong equine cast gathering in Dubai for the $31million extravaganza.

Having saddled three of the six Thoroughbred winners on World Cup night 2008, as well as runner-up Asiatic Boy in the World Cup itself, the South Africans have a tough task to emulate last year’s achievements, but both Mike de Kock and Herman Brown have their biggest teams to date.

De Kock, the most successful Carnival trainer of all with 53 winners, with eight World Cup night winners, has about 40 horses based at Nad Al Sheba this season, including last year’s UAE Derby winner Honour Devil and Asiatic Boy (de Kock has won four UAE Derbies), winner of that race in 2007 and World Cup runner-up last year.

Both could clash in the 2009 World Cup according to their trainer: “Asiatic Boy did not settle in the UK last year so we brought him back to Dubai early and he is a lot further ahead in his preparation than 12 months ago as a result.

“He will probably contest the last two rounds of the Maktoum Challenge before the Dubai World Cup,” explained De Kock.

Both Archipenko and Eagle Mountain who, like Asiatic Boy and Honour Devil, carry the ever more familiar predominantly yellow silks of Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa al Maktoum, were Group 1 winners in Hong Kong last year and will be aimed at the Dubai Duty Free and Sheema Classic respectively.

De Kock continued: “Archipenko was unlucky in the Dubai Duty Free last year, while Eagle Mountain missed out through injury.

“I am certain he stays the 12-furlongs (2400m) for the Dubai Sheema Classic and both horses have shown how good they are in Europe, America and Hong Kong.”

Proven Carnival performers like Royal Vintage, Bennie Blue, Engrupido, Drift Ice and Frosty Secret are joined by a plethora of new recruits including South African Champion Sprinter JJ The Jet Plane.

Others joining the Dubai ranks from the trainer’s homeland include Imbongi, Hunting Tower, Rocks Off and Front House.

Throw in the likes of Bankable, Stubbs Art, Macarthur and King of Naples from Europe, as well as the usual youngsters from South America, such as Blues And Rock and India Tiberina and it is easy to see why de Kock feels his team his strongest yet.

The same applies of compatriot Herman Brown whose 13 Carnival winners to date are undoubtedly highlighted by Jay Peg’s win in last year’s Dubai Duty Free (a race de Kock has won twice).

With stable stalwart Linngari retired, Jay Peg is the obvious star name this year but Brown too has his largest ever team.

Brown explained: “We have more horses this year and hopefully it is our best team ever.

“That said, the horses have arrived later this time which is not ideal and we may need a week or two to reach our peak.

“We have left a few here all summer to acclimatise, including Oracle West who has been a great Carnival performer for Mike (de Kock).

Narc is another and he ran in the Sprint on World Cup night last year.

“We have some nice new horses as well with Guineas and Derby winner King’s Gambit perhaps the most interesting from home.

“Traffic Guard has been here before and did well in Europe, while Mourilyan won two here for John Oxx last season.”

Racecar Rhapsody from America, Lipocco from the UK and Basaltico from Italy are three others given a favourable mention but do not be surprised if further names are added to the Brown team in the coming weeks with his owners looking to strengthen their hand.