Dubai: Dubai World Cup dreams could materialise from the dust at Meydan Racecourse as the 2015 Carnival — a spectacular event featuring ten nights of high-quality racing and some of the richest purses in the sport — kicks off at the iconic venue on Thursday.

The opening day’s action is highlighted by round one of the Al Maktoum Challenge, the first in a series of three dirt races with the potential to offer some valuable clues in the build up to the season’s major races.

A big field of 15 horses has been declared for the 1,600-metre contest, including big-race hopefuls like Godolphin’s Outstrip and Emirates Flyer, Mike de Kock’s Zahee and Royal Ridge, the Zabeel Stables-owned and 2014 Dubai World Cup contender Surfer, and last season’s runner-up Empire Storm.

Together with other contenders including Enobled Friend, Frankyfourfingers, Haatheq, Ocean Tempest, Grand Salute and Mashaaref, they form a formidable line-up in the $250,000 contest, which was won last year by Godolphin’s Shuruq, who went on to contest the Group 1 Godolphin Mile on Dubai World Cup night.

Long-serving Godolphin handler Saeed Bin Surour, who has been Champion Trainer at the Dubai World Cup Carnival for seven successive years from 2008 to 2014, sends out Emirates Flyer, who delivered some big performances in last season’s UAE 2000 Guineas (G3) and UAE Derby (G2).

“He is working very nicely,” said Bin Surour. “Obviously it is a very tough race but this horse always tries his best and should give a good account of himself. He will improve for the run but we are hoping he runs well.”

Charlie Appleby, co-trainer at Godolphin, saddles 2013 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) winner Certify, who faces a stiff test on his UAE and dirt debut.

“We are really looking forward to running him,” said Appleby. “He is a real favourite in the yard as he was my first Group One winner and he was running with credit in good company last season.

“We train on dirt and he handles it really well at home. He should really like Meydan and the turns so we are hoping for a big run. We just need to see how he copes with any kickback in a race situation.”

However, the horse that has already proven he is more than capable of handling the dirt is the locally-trained Surfer.

The son of Distorted Humour was a disappointing last but one behind African Story in last year’s Dubai World Cup on the all-weather track, but looks a different propostion on dirt.

“We are really looking forward to campaigning him this year and, hopefully with the way he has handled the dirt, we hope he can improve further and prove his class in the big races,” jockey Richard Mullen said.

The Al Maktoum Challenge is the sixth of seven events on an exciting opening night’s Carnival card and is a race not to be missed.

This year’s Carnival will culminate with the 20th running of the Dubai World Cup on March 28.